How to install concrete counter tops yourself

Start by washing the countertop and letting it air dry. Following the instructions for your stain or dye, apply it evenly. Quikrete countertop mix is specifically engineered for making concrete countertops.

Quikrete is a more standard concrete mix that is developed for a variety of applications. The first difference is the price. The countertop mix has additives formulated to make building countertops easier. Concrete countertops are not supported by a subgrade, as are floors and other slabs.

They are like cantilevers and must be reinforced to limit structural cracking and ensure sufficient tensile strength and ductility. Most precast countertop professionals use melamine for concrete forms. Simply create melamine boxes and seal the inside corners of your mold with silicone. This is especially true for white concrete countertops! Cement is actually a pretty fragile surface that stains and cracks easily.

It is also highly absorbent and must be sealed before you can use it in your kitchen. Apply two liberal coats with a brush or paint pad. Generally, additional coats will not affect appearance, but may leave a residue if over applied. Properly reinforcing the countertop itself before the concrete is poured is the best way to reduce the likelihood of cracks.

Reinforcing the concrete with rebar, welded wire, or something like our FG Fiberglass Mesh is highly recommended. This price usually includes the countertop design, materials, construction, and installation. While quartz, granite, and marble countertops are popular with designers, concrete remains a desirable option on the periphery, offering flexibility and a creative potential that other materials simply cannot provide. You should also empty out the cabinets under your sink, cooktop, or any other cutouts.

Owens uses Quikrete to make countertops because it is formulated to gain strength in a week while other products typically require 28 days to cure.

Mix the aggregate with water, 80 pounds gives you about 2 linear feet of countertop , making sure what you come up with is stiff, not soupy.

Concrete reinforced with chicken wire or hardware cloth yields ferrocement, a versatile construction material. Concrete is a high-end material when used in kitchen countertops , and fabricating them requires the skill and experience of trained technicians. Concrete counters are expensive, too. Once again, the idea that concrete is used for sidewalks and patios, thus it must be inexpensive, is false.

The price for concrete falls in the mid-range of countertop options. Typically, concrete is more expensive than tile, synthetic solids or laminate, about the same price as engineered quartz or granite countertops and less expensive than marble. Making your own concrete countertop is one of the more challenging—and rewarding— DIY projects. We recommend filling in the low spots first and then applying a final top coat over the entire surface.

Finally, you can apply epoxy over the concrete. This will fill in any rough areas making it smooth to the touch. You can add pigment or keep it clear. As a general rule, traditional concrete should moist cure for a minimum of days before being allowed to slowly and evenly dry out. However, most concrete countertop artisans use high-performance mixes that allow for a cure time of days before proceeding with processing and sealing.

Concrete countertops are actually pricier than granite countertops in general.