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| A Guide to Concrete Countertops |
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Who would want concrete countertops?
Concrete countertops are the most unique, personal countertop option because they are custom made for each client. To determine whether concrete is right for you, think about whether you believe that:
- you want something unique and personalized
- you want something that looks natural and has character
- you appreciate high-quality, hand-crafted items
- you think granite is too shiny, too formal, too common
- you think synthetic solid surface materials look and feel like plastic
- you need a color or visual texture that is not available with other countertop materials
If so, concrete countertops may be right for you.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete compared to other countertop materials?
Advantages:
Concrete’s biggest advantage is that it is completely custom. Your countertop will be unique to you and highly personalized.
Stains, coloring pigments, various aggregates, and a variety of sealers can give concrete the look, texture, and feel of quarried stone such as marble, granite, and limestone. However, unlike quarried stone, other elements can be added to the concrete to create unique, personalized designs. Concrete can be molded into three dimensions. The thickness of the concrete can be varied to create a dramatic appearance or to slope the surface for drainage into a sink. Many homeowners are taking advantage of concrete’s flexibility and its ability to incorporate other functional features such as integral sinks, drainage boards, and butcher blocks. Custom inlays and multi-color veining can be cast into the concrete, creating virtually endless design possibilities. You can create your own unique design with inlays like metal trivets, ceramic tiles, fossils, polished rocks, stamped forms, and custom artwork.
Concrete is extremely versatile. It can enhance any style, from French Country to Contemporary. From Arts and Crafts to Industrial. From Traditional to Modern. The possibilities are endless.
Disadvantages:
Concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite in this regard. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains. Food, acids and oil will not stain your countertop if wiped up immediately, but if left on for a longer period of time, they may cause a light stain.
While the sealer is very durable, it is possible to scratch it. For example, in kitchens, you should use cutting boards on concrete countertops. |
How much do they cost?
Even though it is a completely custom material, concrete is competitive in price with standard countertop materials, allowing you to create something original and yet practical while saving money.
The price for concrete is competitive with high end granite, ranging from $80 to over $150 per square foot, including installation expenses ($60 to $125 without installation), depending on the overall size, the complexity of the form, the type of finish selected and the number and type of decorative features selected.
We at EarthCast are happy to work with you and your designer to give you an estimate on your project, and we can help you with options to fit your budget. Contact Ervin Piotrowski, at (928) 300-8626 or ervin@myearthcast.com for an estimate on your project. |
Where can I use concrete in my home?
Concrete can be utilized to produce many building products for your home. Concrete products can be used both indoors and outdoors. EarthCast makes concrete countertops for kitchens, bathrooms, offices, patios, backyards and anywhere else countertops are required.
EarthCast also produces integral and vessel sinks, tiles, fireplace mantles, BBQ surrounds, tables, and desks.
Concrete can also be used in vertical applications such as backsplashes, tub surrounds, shower walls and fireplace surrounds. For vertical applications, concrete is generally 3/4" to 1” thick.
Concrete product shapes can be straight, curved, notched, multi-level, etc. Unlike granite or marble, which would drastically increase in cost, creating non-standard shapes simply involves some additional planning and effort in producing the forms and installing the product, resulting in only a modest increase in price.
In addition to the home uses for concrete products mentioned above, concrete floors are increasinly being featured in new and remodeled homes. Ervin Piotrowski, the owner and operator of EarthCast, also owns and operates Ervin Specialty Coatings which specializes in decorative and protective coatings and stains for existing concrete floors. Click on the Flooring button to learn more about options available for concrete floors. |
What colors are available?
Virtually any color can be produced in a solid, speckled or variegated pattern. You can also create your own designs with various types of inlays. Go to our Products page to learn about design possibilities. Or go to our Colors page to look at some of the many colors available. |
How are concrete countertops made?
When concrete countertops are made they are either pre-cast in a shop or built on site (cast-in-place). Pre-cast countertops are made by pouring the concrete into forms at an off-site location, usually at our workshop, where conditions are controlled. The countertop remains at the workshop while it is curing and until it can be adequately sealed. Pre-cast countertops are poured with the topside down and are flipped over after the concrete has cured. Cast-in-place countertops are made by pouring the concrete into forms that are placed in the permanent location of the countertop.
Many countertops can be created using standard forms which are sized for standard countertop dimensions. Other countertops may require custom built forms. To build the custom forms we will create a template at the location where the countertop will be installed. The template will then be used to build the custom form and ensure accurate measurement of the countertop space; or we can use the customer’s drawings. Any drawings submitted by the customer for use in building the countertop forms must be confirmed by the customer to have accurate measurements of the countertop space.
After the form is built the concrete is poured into the form; rods, fibers and/or wire mesh or fiber mesh may be placed into the wet concrete. This provides reinforcement for the countertop and significantly reduces the chances of cracking. After the reinforcement is in place the concrete is smoothed out with a trowel.
After the concrete is allowed to stand for a period of about 2 to 4 days, the forms will be removed and if it is a pre-cast countertop it will be flipped so that the top side is up. The countertop is then sanded, ground and/or polished, depending on the type of finish selected.
The final step is to apply a sealer. Click on the Counter Finishes button to see the choices available for sealers.
In the structural engineering community, it is well known that precast concrete is superior to cast in place concrete, mainly because tighter quality control can be exercised. Curing, which is a critical step that is commonly misunderstood, can be closely monitored. Producing the countertop in a shop allows greater flexibility in terms of the look of the concrete. |
Are there any special structural considerations?
A square foot of 1.5” thick concrete weighs about 17 lbs; a square foot of 3 cm granite weighs about 16.5 lbs. Typically, no special considerations are necessary for standard kitchen or bathroom vanity countertops. Cantilevered slabs, bar tops on knee walls and similar situations sometimes require brackets or other structural supports for the countertops. EarthCast can advise on support requirements. |
Will concrete countertops stain?
Bare concrete is very porous and will readily stain. Virtually all concrete countertops are sealed to prevent staining; however the degree to which these sealers works varies. Commonly used sealers include wax and penetrating acrylic sealer. Both of these are inexpensive and easy to apply. However, neither offer significant stain or heat resistance, and both require frequent reapplication to minimize staining.
Although EarthCast offers a variety of sealers, we feel the best sealer for a kitchen or bathroom countertop is our Wet Look (Penetrating Densifier), because it offers better stain and heat resistance and less maintenance than our other sealers. |
What is the Care & Maintenance for a concrete countertop?
A concrete countertop has a strong a durable surface; however, these simple practices should be followed in order to maintain the quality and appearance of your countertop. Cleaning concrete countertops is much the same as that of other countertops. It is best to clean up spills as soon as possible, especially oils and acidic liquids. We suggest plain soap and water or any natural non-abrasive cleaner, such as Simple Green (dilute as suggested) or Dr. Bronner’s natural soap (5 parts water to one part soap). Avoid using abrasive pads.
Regular maintenance will insure the long life of the concrete and may involve reapplication of the sealer at regular intervals ranging from every six (6) months to once every five (5) years, depending on the type of sealer selected. We will assess the planned usage of your countertop, the look you want to achieve or maintain with the finish/sealer, and the amount of time and money you would prefer to invest in the maintenance, and we will develop an appropriate maintenance plan and schedule for your countertop. |
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