The Value of Concrete Countertops: Customization Rises Visual Charm and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, differentiating home owners are requiring customized designs and also surfaces in their kitchens. Particularly, they are seeking to share their originality and distinctive style choices with the fast expanding layout material of selection-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have actually come to be somewhat of a status symbol for kitchen areas, equaling granite as well as other premium counter top surface area alternatives. Consumer Information Publication (August 2004) rated concrete highest possible for its "personalization" and "exclusivity" among premium cooking area counter tops. As a customized item, the amount of time and also workmanship needed to produce concrete counter tops puts them as the most labor-intensive and also most expensive amongst leading kitchen counter materials. Nevertheless, concrete kitchen counters are becoming much more obtainable for those on a small budget. The most up to date do-it-yourself (Do It Yourself) fad to astound property owners as well as builders is constructing your own concrete countertop. This sensation has actually acquired popularity greatly because of Cheng's very successful publication Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, as well as Completes for the New Kitchen and also Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete abound. THE SHOWSTOPPER Significantly, homeowners are relocating away from the tedious, manufactured look of conventional kitchen counter surfaces and selecting concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the alternatives for personalizing concrete kitchen counters are limitless: one can color, polish, stamp and also stain concrete or imbed personal objects like stones, seashells and also fossils right into the countertop's surface, including belief and also character. Useful attributes such as drainpipe boards, soap dishes, and also trivets can likewise be integrated to suit the home owners' very own needs and also way of living. Concrete is gradually coming to be demystified as classically chilly as well as commercial. In contrary, this old-time material is cozy as well as surprisingly responsive; people can not assist however touch their smooth, sleek surface areas. Property representative Pleasure Rasmussen, who has recently sold her mountain home-- a temporary financial investment building in Steamboat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open houses, visitors moved to the concrete counter tops-- many people around here have never ever seen them". Happiness's 2,265 sq. ft. hill home was custom construct by her spouse, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, head of state of Standard Special Customized Houses. They constructed pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen area and also 3 restrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand-colored concrete kitchen counters were polished smooth, after that coupled with all-natural slate of varying shades-- like

2. charcoal, rust as well as gold tones-- that develops the backsplashes in the kitchen area as well as baths. As a style accent, tiny rectangle-shaped slate tiles were added to the rim of the shower room sinks, which gave a distinct information to the personalized vanities. When Happiness and also Ken determined to market their residence, their financial investment in concrete kitchen counters verified its worth. "We were able to provide the house $20,000 over market value, as well as had no problems offering it," remarks Happiness, while reviewing the lengthy checklist of upgrades throughout their residence, consisting of knotty yearn solid doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents as well as hardwood floorings. "The concrete kitchen counters were quickly the most one-of-a-kind and impressive of all the surfaces. I think they were a significant component in including worth to the house. Around here, all you see in residences are granite counter tops-- as well as I actually think property buyers are obtaining quite numb with granite." " Concrete counter tops are a distinct offering to homebuyers that see the very same surfaces utilized in house after house they visit," describes Joy, providing her observation as a skilled realtor. "Having concrete counter tops virtually gives you costco cambria quartz countertops boasting civil liberties-- you have something different from your neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD An additional benefit of concrete is its flexibility in either modern or typical setups, particularly when paired with various other materials like varied steels, timber or stone. "Concrete adds a lot of [opportunities] to rock, as well as the combination with slate, which is extremely preferred right here, offers the mountain houses an overall warm, all-natural touch," says Joy. Delight as well as Ken have since constructed a much bigger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers extensive views of the Steamboat Ski Hotel and is suggested to work as a lasting financial investment for the couple. They have actually likewise increased their checklist of customized coatings, consisting of hand-troweled walls, elegant oil- rubbed bronze equipment, knotty want doors that curve at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favored-- concrete kitchen countertops. Unlike in their previous house, KJ as well as his specialized staff poured charcoal-colored kitchen counters using the pre-cast method in the unfinished basement of the brand-new house. Prior to putting the concrete, they sprinkled an array of semi-precious rocks in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. After the surface was ground as well as gently polished, the completed result was an impressive mix of colors, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most extraordinary," states Joy. The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a harsh, rustic rock appearance, enhancing its rugged nation environments. An indispensable drain board and trivets gives feature and also added rate of interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, and a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen island all reverberate with the standard heat and earthiness of the concrete countertops. Joy and Ken's corresponding backgrounds in real estate as well as customized homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have actually helped them recognize that concrete counter tops can include remarkable visual and also financial value to a residence. Concrete's modification as well as "show-stopping" appeal resembles no other kitchen counter surface area. Cheng is an advocate of psychological looks and constructing houses that catch these feelings, as in the case of Joy and also Ken Otterman. Cheng wraps up: "People truly want differentiation, something personal, something custom-- and also concrete can do that for them."