Concrete countertops can be a unique and cost effective way to get the most out of a kitchen renovation. However, concrete comes with it’s own set of compromises and maintenance requirements.
What’s important to remember is that there is no perfect countertop material. Some may resist scratching, but hot pans can’t be placed on them. Some take the heat well, but stain easily when you spill red wine on them. Concrete is a very porous material, even though it doesn’t look like it. It will soak up liquids quite easily and it penetrates quite deep. It is quite durable on the whole but the corners and edges are vulnerable to chips both in the creation stage as well as throughout it’s life. The countertops are cast upside down in a mold made of melamine (a sheet good with a plastic veneer attached to it) and then flipped over and polished to the same smoothness of stone countertops. Concrete must be sealed in order for it to resist staining. We like to use a penetrating sealer which goes deep into the concrete. This helps liquids stay on the surface longer in order to be wiped up. Leave the liquid on top for too long and it will still stain. This sealer needs to be reapplied every 6 months or so in order to maintain this barrier. We also wax the countertop with beeswax to give it just a little extra protection. If you’re looking for a countertop material that’s going to look pristine on day 1 and 10 years from now, concrete is probably not your answer. Variation in color is common, and they all build up stains over time, no matter how careful you are. To us, it builds character over time that is appealing.
The fun part about concrete is that you can make any shape you want out of it. You can embed things into it that will show on the surface. You can cast recesses for things like cutting boards, drains, and sinks. Most of these are cast in a mold, rather than in place, so care must be taken to make them manageable in size and weight so they can be transported. Stay tuned for more on concrete countertops and how we’ve used them in the past.
To see more of the project above visit www.linealinc.com
I love the idea of concrete countertops (even floors) and embedding with funky glass for our laundry room. I know there will be some issues with staining, but as you said, it will build character in time. And besides, it’s just the laundry room.
My question is, how does concrete countertops (embedded or not) compare to other options? Would you be able to put in order of which material options are most expensive to those that are least? And where does concrete fit in there?
Thanks for your time. Love your project!
If I were to rank stain resistance, the ranking would probably go something like this.
1. Formica
2. Solid Surface (Corian)
3. Natural Stone (although this is highly dependent on the type of stone, some probably are more porous than concrete)
4. Concrete
In order of price (from most expensive to least expensive)
1. Natural Stone
2. Solid Surface
3. Concrete
4. Formica
Formica is the least expensive and most stain resistant, but it feels as cheap as it is. Concrete countertop prices can vary wildly based on how elaborate the design is. The materials are very cheap but there is a lot of labor involved which is where the price can creep up a bit. For a laundry room it might work out just fine. I would be careful about harsh cleaning agents (I’m not sure what would happen to a concrete countertop you spilled bleach on). But since a laundry room is not likely a place you’d spill red wine or lemon juice it could be great. Good luck!