The beauty of concrete is that it is not perfect, bringing it a lot of character and personality. As a result, this material makes a wonderful statement in the kitchen. What’s more, is that you can make your concrete countertop look like virtually anything that you want it to. Indeed, it can have any shape and color while you are also able to embed a variety of aggregates into it to help bring it to life while providing you with the opportunity to add your personal touch to it. In addition, since you are able to pour the concrete in one piece, concrete countertops hardly ever have any seams. If you do end up needing to make separate pieces, though, you can easily cover up the seams to make the slabs look like one seamless countertop. However, you are also free to leave them uncovered; indeed, many even prefer it that way. When it comes to bringing your idea to life with concrete, you are only limited by your imagination or by your budget. The latter is typically the more significant player in this case, however. Thankfully, concrete countertops cost less than other materials. You can even bring down the price even more if you choose to do a DIY concrete countertop project. After all, the process truly is not as complicated as it is made out to be, and then the result is quite rewarding. With a bit of research, the right tools, and the best materials, there is no stopping you from making DIY concrete countertops. You do not even need any previous experience to do so! If this is something that you would like to learn more about, you can visit our website, Concrete Countertop Solutions. Here, you will find all of the resources that you would need to get started and to complete the job. Now, if this has not yet convinced you that concrete is awesome, let’s dive in deeper to see all that it has to offer.
What to Expect from Concrete Countertops
For one, concrete has a fantastic look and feel to it. When it comes to countertops, the first thing that you expect it to be is practical, which concrete most definitely delivers on. However, it is often difficult to kill two birds with one stone, and yet concrete does just that; not only is it durable, but it also looks and feels amazing. With regards to how it looks, what makes concrete stand out from the rest is that it thrives off of imperfections, similar to that of antique items, for example. In other words, while a lot of thought is put into the creation of concrete to make it as perfect as possible, natural variations are inevitable, and concrete embraces those inconsistencies. After all, it is handmade; therefore, each one will be unique. When it comes to how it feels, imagine something very natural and earthy, similar to that of wood, for instance, but cooler, figuratively and literally. In addition, since it is so polished, it is difficult to keep your hands off of it.
As we had mentioned earlier, another significant advantage of concrete is the fact that it is so versatile in design. Indeed, it is not limited to just an industrial design, as many expect from it. They also do not look like the concrete that you are used to on sidewalks! On the contrary, it is a timeless material that you can turn into virtually any design. You can even make it look similar to that of granite or marble, for instance, without paying the hefty price tag associated with these materials.
What’s more, is that since under all of the dyes and the stains still lies concrete, therefore, your countertop will end up outlasting any other material you place. After all, concrete only gets stronger with each year, granted you take good care of it. All that you need to do is make sure that you cover it with a good sealer that way hot pots do not damage it and so that it won’t get scratched as easily. That being said, we do still recommend using cutting boards for the mere purpose of protecting the blades of your knives. However, as you create your concrete countertop, you also have the option of placing a butcher block within it that way, you will always have a designated area to cut your food.
It is also worth pointing out that concrete is quite simple to repair on the contrary to natural stone. After all, you can repair them from the exact materials that you used to make it in the first place. For instance, if you have any stains or etches that you are not able to get rid of, you can use polishing pads to remove them. If you want to give your entire slab a refresher, though, you can easily do so by sanding it down and then refinishing it. It will look brand new!
Last but not least, concrete countertops are much more sustainable than other materials since it is a material that lasts a very long time. In addition, it is made out of materials that are simple as well as easily available. In other words, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint than other surfaces. You can also incorporate recycled aggregate into your countertop, such as recycled glass, to help give some items another life. At the end of its life, you are also able to recycle the entire slab, too; that way, it truly never ends up going to waste!
As you can see, concrete has a lot to offer, making it one of the best countertop materials out there. Building it will not break your bank account, and you can count on it to last you for years and years to come. In addition, you can create virtually any design with it; that way, you will allow you to make your dream countertop, perfectly fitting in with the aesthetic of the rest of your space.