The Value of Concrete Countertops: Personalization Rises Visual Allure as well as Property Financial Investment for Home

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching hill residences in the Colorado Mountain ranges, differentiating homeowners are requiring customized designs and finishes in their kitchens. Specifically, they are wanting to reveal their individuality and distinctive layout preferences with the quick growing style product of choice-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete counter tops have actually come to be somewhat of a status icon for kitchen areas, equaling granite as well as various other premium counter top surface choices. Consumer News Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest possible for its "personalization" as well as "exclusivity" amongst premium kitchen area counter tops. As a custom-made product, the quantity of time and craftsmanship called for to produce concrete counter tops puts them as one of the most labor-intensive and also most expensive amongst leading countertop materials. Nevertheless, concrete countertops are coming to be extra available for those on a small budget plan. The latest diy (Do It Yourself) trend to mesmerize home owners as well as building contractors is developing your very own concrete countertop. This sensation has actually gotten popularity mostly because of Cheng's very successful publication Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and also Completes for the New Kitchen Area as well as Bathroom (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of collaborating with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, homeowners are moving far from the dull, manufactured look of traditional counter top surface areas as well as choosing concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. And also, the choices for customizing concrete kitchen counters are unlimited: one can color, gloss, stamp and also discolor concrete or imbed personal objects like stones, seashells as well as fossils right into the countertop's surface, including belief and also character. Practical functions such as drainpipe boards, soap dishes, as well as trivets can also be integrated to suit the homeowners' very own demands as well as lifestyle. Concrete is gradually ending up being debunked as typically cold and also commercial. In contrary, this olden material is cozy as well as remarkably responsive; individuals can not assist but touch their smooth, refined surface areas. Realty agent Joy Rasmussen, who has recently offered her mountain home-- a temporary financial investment residential property in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open residences, visitors gravitated to the concrete kitchen counters-- many people around below have never ever seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. hill residence was custom-made construct by her other half, Ken Otterman, in addition to KJ Otterman, head of state of Standard Unique Custom Houses. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the home's kitchen and also three washrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete counter tops were brightened smooth, after that paired with natural slate of differing shades-- like charcoal, rust and gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the kitchen area and also bathrooms. As a style accent, tiny rectangular slate tiles were included in the edge of the shower room sinks, which gave an unique detail to the custom vanities. When Delight and Ken determined to market their residence, their investment in concrete counter tops showed its value. "We were able to detail your house $20,000 over market price, and also had not a problem marketing it," comments Delight, while going over the lengthy list of upgrades throughout their home, consisting of knotty yearn solid doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents as well as hardwood floors. "The concrete countertops were quickly the most one-of-a-kind as well as remarkable of all the finishes. I think they were a substantial component in adding value to the residence. Around below, all you see in houses are granite countertops-- as well as I really think buyers are getting rather numb with granite."

2. " Concrete counter tops are a special offering to buyers who see the exact same surfaces utilized in house after house they see," discusses Pleasure, using her observation as an experienced real estate professional. "Having concrete countertops nearly offers you bragging rights-- you have something various from your neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW An additional benefit of concrete is its adaptability in either modern or typical settings, particularly when paired with various other materials like diverse steels, timber or stone. "Concrete includes countertops lowest price so many [possibilities] to rock, as well as the mix with slate, which is widely popular here, provides the hill residences a total cozy, natural touch," says Happiness. Delight and Ken have given that developed a much larger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides large sights of the Steamboat Ski Hotel and is indicated to serve as a lasting investment for the couple. They've additionally expanded their listing of personalized coatings, consisting of hand-troweled wall surfaces, sophisticated oil- rubbed bronze equipment, knotty ache doors that arch on top, cupboards in an all-natural, knotty alder, and also their preferred-- concrete cooking area countertops. Unlike in their previous house, KJ and also his specialized crew poured charcoal-colored kitchen counters using the pre-cast technique in the unfinished basement of the brand-new