The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Visual Allure and also Realty Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching hill houses in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating home owners are demanding customized layouts and also finishes in their cooking areas. In particular, they are wanting to share their originality and also distinctive style choices with the rapid expanding layout material of option-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete countertops have countertops for white shaker cabinets ended up being somewhat of a standing sign for kitchen areas, measuring up to granite as well as other high-end counter top surface area choices. Customer Information Magazine (August 2004) rated concrete greatest for its "customization" as well as "exclusivity" among high-end kitchen area counter tops. As a customized item, the quantity of time as well as workmanship needed to create concrete countertops positions them as one of the most labor-intensive and most costly amongst leading countertop products. Nevertheless, concrete countertops are coming to be much more available for those on a moderate budget. The latest do-it-yourself (DIY) trend to astound property owners as well as builders is building your very own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gotten appeal mostly as a result of Cheng's very successful publication Concrete Countertops: Design, Kinds, and also Finishes for the New Cooking Area and also Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the innovative gains of collaborating with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, homeowners are relocating away from the tedious, manufactured appearance of typical kitchen counter surface areas and also selecting concrete for its natural, classic allure. And also, the options for customizing concrete kitchen counters are endless: one can tint, gloss, stamp and discolor concrete or imbed personal objects like rocks, seashells as well as fossils right into the kitchen counter's surface area, including view and also personality. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap meals, and trivets can additionally be included to match the property owners' very own needs and also way of living. Concrete is slowly ending up being debunked as characteristically chilly as well as industrial. In contrary, this olden material is cozy and surprisingly responsive; people can not aid but touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Property representative Happiness Rasmussen, who has lately sold her hill home-- a temporary financial investment residential property in Boat Springs, CO-- recounts her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, site visitors moved to the concrete counter tops-- lots of people around here have never ever seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. hill residence was customized develop by her other half, Ken Otterman, along with KJ Otterman, head of state of Classic Special Customized Residences. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the residence's kitchen and also three restrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand- colored concrete counter tops were brightened smooth, then coupled with all-natural slate of differing shades--

2. like charcoal, rust and gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the kitchen area as well as baths. As a design accent, tiny rectangular slate tiles were contributed to the edge of the restroom sinks, which supplied a distinct detail to the customized vanities. When Joy as well as Ken chose to offer their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its worth. "We had the ability to list your house $20,000 over market price, and had not a problem offering it," remarks Happiness, while talking about the long listing of upgrades throughout their home, consisting of knotty pine solid doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents as well as wood floors. "The concrete countertops were easily the most special and also outstanding of all the surfaces. I believe they were a huge component in including value to the residence. Around below, all you see in residences are granite countertops-- as well as I really think homebuyers are getting fairly numb with granite." " Concrete countertops are an one-of-a-kind offering to homebuyers who see the very same surfaces utilized in home after home they check out," explains Pleasure, using her observation as a skilled realtor. "Having concrete countertops practically offers you boasting civil liberties-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW An additional advantage of concrete is its flexibility in either contemporary or standard settings, specifically when combined with other products like varied steels, timber or stone. "Concrete adds numerous [opportunities] to stone, and also the combination with slate, which is widely popular below, provides the mountain residences a total warm, all-natural touch," says Pleasure. Joy and Ken have since built a much bigger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that supplies expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is indicated to work as a long-lasting financial investment for the pair. They have actually also increased their list of custom-made coatings, consisting of hand-troweled wall surfaces, sophisticated oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty want doors that curve at the top, cupboards in a natural, knotty alder, and their favored-- concrete kitchen area countertops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty team poured charcoal-colored counter tops making use of the pre-cast technique in the incomplete cellar of the brand-new residence. Before putting the concrete, they sprinkled an array of semi-precious stones in the mold and mildew consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl as well as Blue-green. After the surface was ground as well as lightly polished, the finished result was a remarkable mix of colors, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most incredible," states Happiness. The L-shaped concrete kitchen counter has a rough, rustic stone look, matching its sturdy country surroundings. An integral drainpipe board and trivets offers feature and added passion to the concrete countertop. All-natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall surface accents, and also a butcher block counter top at the kitchen area island all resonate with the traditional warmth and also earthiness of the concrete kitchen counters. Happiness as well as Ken's respective histories in property and custom-made homebuilding, and also as financial investment property buyers, have actually assisted them realize that concrete countertops can include tremendous aesthetic and monetary worth to a home. Concrete's customization and also "show-stopping" allure resembles nothing else kitchen counter surface. Cheng is a supporter of emotional aesthetic appeals and building houses that catch these feelings, as when it comes to Delight as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng ends: "People truly want distinction, something personal, something custom-made-- as well as concrete can do that for them."