The floor is finished, the cabinets have arrived and the plumber and electrician are gearing up for the finishing touches after their installation. Outside in the garage the new appliances wait like shiny, thoroughbred racers, chomping at the bit to take their place in the kitchen. And the nice young lady from the countertop place has called to say that they were poured last week and will be ready to go in a couple of days. Everything is coming together. The excitement is building. Your dream of an ultramodern kitchen is moving to fruition.
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But wait a minute.
The countertops have been poured? What is the deal here, some kind of a new formica laminate or porous composite material?
Don't tell me you are making a left on Cheap Street just when you’ve gone to such extraordinary pains and expense to make everything else perfect. Where are the shiny expanses of granite or marble like the countertops you saw at Aunt Suzie’s place?
Well, this is exactly the response I would have made not even two years ago. . . until I saw my first concrete countertop.
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A new custom home in Wilmington, NC features this dramatic curved concrete countertop. This concrete counter was done by Jeffrey D. Girard, P.E., President of The Concrete Countertop Institute, and his team. |
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When I first heard of concrete surfaces I imagined a
clunky surface resembling a sidewalk on cabinets. However, I soon found out that, unlike other materials, concrete is practical, showy and aesthetic all at the same time. From its humble beginnings as a mushy mess this age-old material
transforms into any shape, size and finish. Then, when it’s dry, you can you can hone and stain the patina to a dazzling finish. And that’s not to mention the countless artistic touches and items you can add to the mix: dyes, shells, metallic objects or colored stones and turquoise from Arizona. In essence, concrete fits in humble abodes, palaces and both traditional and modern settings.
The style has reached such grand proportions that there is a web site dedicated this concrete art: www.concretecountertops.org. On the site it is stated:
"Properly finished and sealed concrete can be virtually impervious to fluids, especially water. The use of hardeners or densifiers can reduce the porosity of concrete to the point where water doesn’t penetrate. And impervious coatings that are properly applied can provide waterproof barriers that seal the concrete and prevent contaminants from actually getting to the concrete. Some coatings actually provide anti-microbial protection, as defined by the EPA."
Are they heavy? Some of the first concrete countertops weighed over 1500 pounds, straining the backs of men and burning out the hoists putting them in place. It was like placing a grand piano in your kitchen via the kitchen window. But new composites and reinforcing methods have brought down that weight to around 17lbs. per square foot, a shade heavier than the 16lbs. per square foot that granite weighs.
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The kitchen designer for this project worked along with Jeffrey D. Girard, P.E. and his team from The Concrete Countertop Institute.
This white concrete countertop features inset primary-colored glass tiles which were taken from the wall tile used in the kitchen.
This striking island with its concrete countertop adds a real zing to the kitchen and ties in the bright colors used by the designer. |
Concrete can also sneak out of the kitchen and bathroom areas. You'll find the designer motifs in fireplaces, patios, garden paths and water features, a cool way to promote a household theme. It can also be used for decorative wall hangings and creative flooring where huge expanses mimic the roughness of slate or the smoothness and coloring of marble.
So, how are they built? Concrete surfaces can be fashioned in a shop and installed on top of the cabinets - like granite - or they can be poured and finished right in the kitchen on the cabinets. The forms used are very finely finished and sturdily built. They must also be perfect to avoid laborious grinding and made to come apart easily so as not to chip pieces off the finish.
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There are “Do-It-Yourself” sites on the web but they all caution the amateur to start on something like a patio top or countertop for a garage cabinet until they get it right. This could mean from six months to six years’ experience before going inside!
You do have to be careful and treat your piece of art with respect. That means no hot pots or spilling grape juice on many of the surfaces. Although there are water-soluble waxes that do nice job of sealing against stains it's better not to experiment.
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Unlike most building designs there are no set standards for the countertops, and no two fabricators will make them the same, so you will have a true piece of creative art. However, keep in mind that you may want to sell your house at some time and so a tasteful eye should outbid a zest for individuality. That means getting some opinions from professional installers and designers to make the countertops compliment your decor.
But if you go this route you will definitely show up Aunt Suzie's granite.
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