The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Personalization Boosts Visual Allure as well as Realty Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling hill homes in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating homeowners are demanding custom-made designs and also coatings in their kitchens. Specifically, they are wanting to express their originality and unique layout choices with the quick growing style product of choice-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have become rather of a standing icon for kitchens, matching granite and also various other high-end countertop surface alternatives. Customer Information Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest for its "customization" and also "exclusivity" among premium kitchen area countertops. As a custom product, the amount of time and workmanship required to create concrete countertops positions them as the most labor-intensive and also most expensive among leading countertop products. Nonetheless, concrete counter tops are ending up being much more easily accessible for those on a small budget. The most up to date diy (Do It Yourself) trend to captivate property owners and building contractors is developing your very own concrete counter top. This sensation has actually gotten appeal mostly as a result of Cheng's very popular publication Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, as well as Ends Up for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary investment in making concrete countertops, yet the innovative gains of working with concrete abound. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, home owners are moving far from the monotonous, manufactured appearance of typical countertop surfaces and also picking concrete for its earthy, classic charm. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete countertops are limitless: one can color, polish, stamp and also tarnish concrete or imbed personal things like rocks, seashells and also fossils right into the counter top's surface area, including view as well as personality. Practical attributes such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can also be integrated to fit the home owners' own requirements as well as way of life. Concrete is gradually becoming debunked as typically cool and industrial. In contrary, this old-time material is warm and also remarkably tactile; people can not help yet touch their smooth, polished surfaces. Property representative Pleasure Rasmussen, who has lately marketed her hill house-- a short-term financial investment building in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- recounts her visitors' experiences discount countertops denver with concrete: "When I had open houses, site visitors was attracted to the concrete counter tops-- many individuals around below have never ever seen them". Joy's 2,265 sq. ft. hill house was custom-made build by her husband, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, head of state of Standard Special Custom-made Residences. They developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's cooking area and also 3 bathrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand- colored concrete counter tops were polished smooth, then paired with natural slate of differing shades-- like

2. charcoal, rust and gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the kitchen area and bathrooms. As a design accent, tiny rectangular slate tiles were added to the edge of the restroom sinks, which provided an one-of-a-kind detail to the custom-made vanities. When Joy as well as Ken determined to offer their house, their financial investment in concrete kitchen counters verified its value. "We had the ability to note your house $20,000 over market value, as well as had no problems selling it," comments Delight, while talking about the lengthy checklist of upgrades throughout their home, including knotty yearn strong doors, natural slate wall surface accents as well as hardwood floors. "The concrete kitchen counters were quickly the most one-of-a-kind and excellent of all the finishes. I believe they were a massive component in adding worth to the residence. Around here, all you see in houses are granite countertops- - and also I actually assume buyers are getting rather numb with granite." " Concrete counter tops are a distinct offering to buyers who see the exact same surfaces made use of in residence after residence they visit," discusses Joy, supplying her monitoring as an experienced real estate agent. "Having concrete counter tops nearly gives you boasting legal rights-- you have something various from your next-door neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW An additional benefit of concrete is its versatility in either modern or typical setups, particularly when paired with other materials like diverse metals, timber or stone. "Concrete includes many [opportunities] to rock, and also the combination with slate, which is widely popular right here, offers the mountain homes an overall cozy, all-natural touch," says Delight. Delight and also Ken have actually considering that developed a much larger house (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers extensive sights of the Steamboat Ski Hotel and also is indicated to function as a lasting investment for the couple. They have actually likewise expanded their list of custom-made finishes, consisting of hand-troweled walls, sophisticated oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty want doors that arch on top, cabinets in an all-natural, knotty alder, and also their preferred-- concrete kitchen counter tops. Unlike in their previous house, KJ and his specialty crew put charcoal-colored countertops utilizing the pre-cast technique in the incomplete cellar of the new home. Before putting the concrete, they sprinkled a variety of semi- precious rocks in the mold including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Blue-green. After the surface area was ground and gently brightened, the completed result was a remarkable blend of shades, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible," says Pleasure. The L-shaped concrete countertop has a harsh, rustic stone look, enhancing its rugged nation surroundings. An essential drainpipe board and also trivets provides function and also added rate of interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, as well as a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen area island all resonate with the traditional warmth as well as earthiness of the concrete counter tops. Pleasure and also Ken's corresponding histories in real estate and also custom homebuilding, and also as investment property buyers, have aided them realize that concrete kitchen counters can include tremendous aesthetic as well as economic value to a house. Concrete's customization as well as "show-stopping" allure is like no other counter top surface. Cheng is an advocate of psychological aesthetic appeals and also constructing homes that capture these feelings, as when it comes to Happiness and also Ken Otterman. Cheng wraps up: "Individuals truly want distinction, something personal, something customized-- and concrete can do that for them."