HOW ARE CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS MADE?

Source:www.stonediamondtool.com Date:2021/9/2 Read:194

Each concrete countertop contractor has their own proprietary countertop construction method. In general, however, here are the relevant issues:

A concrete countertop being polished or ground. ConcreteNetwork.com

· Countertop Design Options: Many homeowners are taking advantage of concretes flexibility and its ability to incorporate other functional features such as integral sinks, drainboards, and butcher blocks. Lucioni Arts, located in Seattle, Washington, also provides backsplashes and wet walls in complementary colors and textures.

· Countertops are either pre-cast in a shop or built on site:

Contractors who pre-cast like to pour in the shop where conditions are controlled, they use special casting tables, and they have the countertop in their possession while it is curing and until it can be adequately sealed.

· Contractors who like to build countertops on site like to do so because they can form the countertop to any client's particular needs- radius edges, curved corners, etc.

· Whichever method, find a contractor you are comfortable with and has references that vouch that the contractor does the type of quality work you are looking for.

· Countertops are made of cement, lightweight aggregates, and a combination of additives. 

· Additives such as fiber reinforcement, silica fume pozzolan, and acrylic are often used.

· Some type of reinforcement is used such as structural steel, wire mesh, fiberglass, and/or fibers. Sometimes more than one type of reinforcement is used.

· The countertops are cured.

· Countertops are often ground. Jeff Girard of Concrete Countertop Institute, for example, grinds off the surface "skin" with progressively finer diamond polishing stones . This achieves two important objectives for him: durability and beauty.

· Countertops are always sealed. The type of seal, method and number of coats of sealer is unique to each concrete contractor. Tamara at Cityspeak stands by epoxy sealers, particularly in kitchen areas. The epoxy "is harder than the concrete," she says. She notes that epoxy sealers are not inexpensive and it takes over a week to apply due to her using two coats. While this adds to the cost, the quality is superior and the only maintenance that will be required is to apply a good water-based liquid wax every nine months to a year.

These are the general steps in constructing concrete countertops. In a nutshell, you have to go with the contractor you feel comfortable with and are convinced does the kind of work you desire. They each have their own method of construction.