Concrete Countertop
What’s the difference between concrete and cement?
“Concrete” and “cement” are NOT synonyms. Cement is the glue that holds concrete together. Calling concrete “cement” is like calling cake “flour”.Concrete starts with rocks, sand and cement. Cement is a powder. When water is added, a chemical reaction occurs that causes the cement to harden or “cure”. This is what creates the durable, stone-like concrete.So please, don’t say “cement countertops”! A cement countertop would be powder
What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete countertops compared to other countertop materials?
Advantages:
Custom: Concrete’s biggest advantage is that it is completely custom. You can provide your client with a countertop that is unique to them, and highly personalized.
Versatile: Concrete is extremely versatile. It can enhance any style, from French Country to Contemporary. From Arts and Crafts to Industrial. From Traditional to Modern. The possibilities are endless.
Practical: Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”. In the past few years, especially in 2004-2005, concrete sealer technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and sealer manufacturers are recognizing that concrete countertops have unique and stringent performance requirements with regards to staining, heat and scratching. Although there is still no one sealer that all concrete countertop craftsmen use, ask your craftsman what kind of sealer he uses and what its performance characteristics are. Most concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite with respect to staining. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains.
Imperfections: We believe that this is an advantage. Concrete countertops are hand made and hand finished. Since concrete is a heterogeneous mixture of many different ingredients, subtle variations in color, shade, texture and overall appearance should be expected. All concrete is susceptible to harmless hairline cracks. They will sometimes appear months or years after installation, and are generally a result of seasonal movement of the cabinets and the house itself. These should be considered part of the aesthetic charm of concrete, and not a defect. Concrete exhibits natural beauty rather than plastic perfection.
Disadvantages:
Unrealistic expectations: Again, ask your craftsman what the performance characteristics of his sealer are. Understand the performance and appearance characteristics and educate your client on what to expect.
Lead time: Concrete countertops are a long lead time item. Precast concrete countertops can take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to fabricate.
Good concrete countertop craftsmen can be hard to find: The concrete countertop industry is still young, and currently demand outpaces supply. Many design professionals want to use concrete countertops but can’t find a qualified local craftsman. The best place to look is ConcreteNetwork.com. Click on the Countertops & Elements category and navigate to your area. Be sure to investigate each craftsman you talk to - ask for references and samples of work. Also make sure that he is a good business person who has a proper contract and product documentation and a history of delivering projects on time.Unrealistic expectations: Again, ask your craftsman what the performance characteristics of his sealer are. Understand the performance and appearance characteristics and educate your client on what to expect.Lead time: Concrete countertops are a long lead time item. Precast concrete countertops can take approximately 4 to 6 weeks to fabricate.Good concrete countertop craftsmen can be hard to find: The concrete countertop industry is still young, and currently demand outpaces supply. Many design professionals want to use concrete countertops but can’t find a qualified local craftsman.
Will concrete countertops stain?
Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”.Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”. In the past few years, especially in 2004-2005, concrete sealer technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and sealer manufacturers are recognizing that concrete countertops have unique and stringent performance requirements with regards to staining, heat and scratching. Although there is still no one sealer that all contractors use, ask your contractor what kind of sealer he uses and what its performance characteristics are.
Most concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite with respect to staining. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stainsContrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”.Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”. In the past few years, especially in 2004-2005, concrete sealer technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and sealer manufacturers are recognizing that concrete countertops have unique and stringent performance requirements with regards to staining, heat and scratching. Although there is still no one sealer that all contractors use, ask your contractor what kind of sealer he uses and what its performance characteristics are.Most concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite with respect to staining. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains
Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”.Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to “develop a patina”. In the past few years, especially in 2004-2005, concrete sealer technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and sealer manufacturers are recognizing that concrete countertops have unique and stringent performance requirements with regards to staining, heat and scratching. Although there is still no one sealer that all contractors use, ask your contractor what kind of sealer he uses and what its performance characteristics are.Most concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite with respect to staining. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains
