The concrete dye was about $7. ARDEX byitself is a fairly soft product, so it scratches and dents VERY easily. Typically, metallic powders are used for veining and highlights but solid pigments can be used as well. In terms of maintenance, the counters mustbe sealed to protect against moisture. They come in a box and are found in the flooring aisle because they are used to level sub-floors for tile installation. Some epoxy-based systems allow you to replicate the look of granite or marble by using a second batch of epoxy in a complementary or contrasting color. Before I worried about getting the surface perfectly smooth, I first spread the concrete across counter. Concrete countertops exhibit how limitless the possibilities are when it comes to concrete. If your countertops have thin seam lines or scratches, these products will typically cover and hide them. They come in a variety of colors and can be used over existing laminate, MDF, plywood, particle board, concrete, tile, Formica, Corian, cultured marble, butcher block and granite. Since I'd already painted the cabinets a dark grey, I was worried that doing the regular grey concrete color would just make for too much grey in the space and make it feel too cool (as in cool toned, not like awesome cool), and I'd just seen a friend do white concrete counters and loved that look, so I went on the search for a skimcoat product that would allow me to do white concrete. Read our privacy policy and disclosures , 550 Water Based matte Polyurethane Concrete Sealer, DIY Minimal Scandinavian Slatted Headboard, Transform your kitchen with DIY painted cabinets. It's possible to install concrete overlay countertops as a DIY project if you're very sure about what you are doing. They do a concrete overlay product that is specifically designed to skimcoat formica counters, which is what we had. On the minus side, concrete countertops are known for a tendency to develop hairline cracks -- which, however, do not affect the structure. For those of you who are venturesome DIYers, this scale may help you rethink that project you had in mind and contact one of our trusted installers. After the concrete overlay has dried, it is possible to customize countertops with a variety of products, including concrete dye, acid stain, and more. Emy Flint of Semigloss Design is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, How to Install Concrete Overlay Countertops for Less than $100. Im curious about how well the overlay has held up. These systems are typically super-fine blends of portland cement, graded aggregates, and polymers that are trowel applied in multiple coats over a properly prepared substrate. Water-Based vs Solvent-Based Concrete Dye. My countertop in my home was probably very expensive when it was installed in the 1980s. If you're doing a formica counter like me, just give it a sanding before you start to give it some texture to stick to. Another option is to use an epoxy coating system designed for countertop surfaces, such as Ultra Z Poxy from Concrete Countertop Solutions. You can do this technique over laminate. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This is a popular choice for do-it-yourselfers because the materials are readily available, require only water for mixing, and can be applied with nothing more than a trowel and putty knife. They experienced some cracks and chips; read more of Camis thoughts on her countertops here. I know I should just by quartz but cant afford it. Which is fine, thats why I chose to do only the lone counter across the kitchen from all the others. I also have a raised back splash that is part of the laminate countertop, I would need to cut off. Copyright Deco-Crete Supply. At Moon Decorative, we are also always pleased to provide instruction and training to assist both contractors and DIY homeowners in designing and installing these types of countertop resurfacing systems. I didn't make my final coat perfect, and I'm going to assume that most of you who also haven't worked with concrete much won't either. She also left the concrete a bit rougher and then glazed and sealed it for more of a stone look vs. the smoother more polished look. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); It's hard to admit, but we may have a little problem, we are addicted to remodeling and DIY. I was hoping to have my backsplash done in time to take some "after" photos of my counter, but that project is just taking too long to complete, so I'm getting this post up anyway, demo'd backsplash on full display!I'm super thrilled about this DIY for multiple reasons. can you do this over a laminate counter that has epoxy over it. One of its many uses - other than the concrete flatwork on driveways and patios - is as functional, elegant countertops for kitchens and baths. We built a solid wood base to shape our countertops and spread on feather finish concrete underlayment, to create a faux concrete countertop for less than $100.. Most cabinets need to be reinforced to be able to handle the weight. Like no paint color on the planet can make them look good ugly. . Required fields are marked *. The system you decide to use often depends on the final look you want to achieve and the desired performance. Our counter is working fine, though, with two coats of the 550 Water Based Polyurethane Concrete Sealer. Various types of aggregate can be added to the mix to produce an amazing finish when the top surface is polished. Hi Sarah, I used featherweight concrete. You may prefer to order precast counters, made using a customized template and installed in less than one working day. CimentArts Microcement is perfect for resurfacing countertops and backsplashes because it is easy to clean and 100% waterproof. We bought 3 boxes of Henry feather finish and ended up using one. Working Hours (CST): I knew if I didnt like it, its distance from the others would mitigate that and if I didnt have the strength and energy to continue, at least it wouldnt be a case of one counter amidst the rest being different. Most of the time when you see repaired concrete driveways, the repairs dont last. I put five coats on and then put a couple of coat of carnauba wax. Full concrete countertops are also very heavy. Prior to getting started, it is best to line all of the surrounding appliances, walls, underlying cabinets, and sink with plastic sheeting. I used a concrete sealer on the counters. You can pour it directly on the counter and then smooth it out with a trowel. Prices for countertop resurfacing materials range anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot, depending on the system you use, the application thickness, and any pigments or other decorative enhancements you decide to use. These two-part resinous coatings are usually brushed or rolled onto the prepared substrate and can be enhanced with solid-color pigments or metallic powders to create an endless array of decorative effects. Allow 1-2 days for installation, a week or more for the concrete to cure, and several days after that for polishing, staining, and sealing. The concrete's minimum thickness should be 1 1/2", which means that it can be rather heavy (about 18.75 pounds per square foot) unless you use glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC), a strengthened concrete that maybe used in a thickness of only 3/4". This will ensure that your new countertops will continue to look great for many years to come. We used epoxy which hardens and it very durable. Its an incredibly inexpensive way to update an outdated bathroom in a really cool and chic way on a teeny tiny budget! and she rates the countertop as a4 (Great. Did you have to wait long before adding the epoxy? . New countertops are often at the top of the wish list when homeowners embark on kitchen remodeling projects, usually because the existing countertops look worn and dated or the color no longer works with the new design scheme. Hi Tiffany. Columbus, OH43204 One option is to use recycled glass that comes in a variety of sizes and shapes that can be added to the mix to give a unique look. Even with all of the work Sarah has put into her countertops, she says YES, I would totally recommend both ARDEX and Final Coat! Neither of those folks used the same product that I did, so it's not exactly the same, but the finish as a whole seems solid and durable! I bought a mixing accessory for my drill, which I used to mix the concrete. This keeps the mixture workable for a longer period. After the final sanding, the counter should be smooth like a polished stone. Design options are virtually unlimited with countertop resurfacing. Click here for the final reveal! Ive got concrete countertops that Im not happy with and Im thinking about doing an overlay. Is it also possible to make it look like white and gray marble? Learn how to install concrete overlay countertops! Tagged: decor, interior design, DIY, how to, I'm an interior designer, home renovator, and DIY evangelist. I found what I was looking for with Direct Colors Inc. Unfortunately, ripping out and replacing your countertops can be both time-consuming and costly. Its also possible to mix materials such as crushed glass, decorative color chips, and mica flakes into the topcoat to create a terrazzo-like finish. Originally I had planned on doing walnut butcher block counters in our kitchen but since we weren't replacing the cabinets I was worried that removing the original counters would damage the cabinets. RELATED:Concrete Countertop FinishesRemove Stains from Concrete Countertops, Copyright 1999-2022 ConcreteNetwork.com - None of this site may be reproduced without written permission. With special concrete countertop resurfacing products, it is possible to benefit from the look of entirely new countertops without the need to tear out your existing countertops and reconstruct them. At its simplest, a countertop resurfacing system may be nothing more than a feather finish, like Ardex. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.,
Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. They are extremely versatile and can be finished in any one of an enormous variety of colors, textures, or faux finishes. These kits offer easy roll-on application so that you can redo your own countertops in just a few days. Concrete may be overlaid on ceramic tile, Formica, granite, laminate, marble, solid surfaces, or wood. If you are using a cement-based overlay system, it can be integrally colored before placement or topically colored after the overlay has dried by using concrete dyes and stains. In most cases, this will mean sanding, grinding, sandblasting, or acid etching to produce a clean, slightly roughened surface and to remove existing sealers and coatings. Concrete overlay countertops offer a huge advantage. Avoid the use of abrasive cleansers or cleaning solutions that contain harsh acids, chemicals, or bleach because they can discolor or dull the surface. They require much less material and eliminate the need to tear off and haul away your old counters, making their installation both convenient and green. Countertop resurfacing is suitable for both indoor kitchens as well as outdoor kitchens. What are the pros and cons of each? Instead of ripping out and replacing your old countertops, what if you could avoid the hassle and expense by simply covering them with a fresh new surface? Sarah built her concrete countertops from scratch what she calls faux-crete about a year ago, by creating a sturdy wood and OSB countertop to which she then applied the feather finish skim-coating of dyed Ardex concrete (for a darker color than just the traditional gray). Do you think this would work to cover ugly granite? By setting the drain on top of the concrete surface, water collects around the drain and as the sealer wears down, the concrete can darken a bit around the drain, which requires regular re-sealing {we havent had to re-seal any other portion of the vanity yet}. Even if new countertops are not in your budget, countertop resurfacing can prove to be an affordable and relatively easy solution for outdated or worn countertops. Once you get the basics of concrete countertops down the rest is up to your imagination. There are two different processes for creating concrete countertops -- slab and overlay. After the patches dried, I sanded the countertop starting with 80 grit, then 100, 150, 240, 360, 480, 600, and 900. Copyright 2022 Networx Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I didn't realize that I should've also bought a primer sealer which should go on before the 550 Water Based Sealer, so I'd recommend getting that too and applying it before the 550 sealer. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.
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Sed purus sem, scelerisque ac rhoncus eget, porttitor nec odio. Your email address will not be published. Driveways use a different product and are subject to much harsher conditions than a kitchen. (614) 253-3326. Concrete answered both of those problems, as well as the financial issue as well. Even if your countertops are not worn looking, they may still begin to appear dated. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. This product doesn't require a second coat (unless you want to fix some errors) so you just have to wait 24 hours to let it dry and then seal it with the sealer! In both cases, an experienced professional is required to install the concrete countertop and avoid a bad concrete job as the outcome. An overlay is a thin layer of concrete adhered to an existing countertop that has become worn and/or outdated. (330) 682-5678, 7941 Granger Rd. Nulla felis nunc, consequat laoreet lacus id.
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Donec id justo non metus auctor commodo ut quis enim. To seal your finished concrete countertop, Richard James Specialty Chemicals Corp. makes an excellent countertop sealer. How well have your counters held up since youve done them? We let the dust settle from the last bit of sanding, then cleaned it. Feather finish sands very easy, so dont worry about imperfections while working. But they were so ugly. So get some dropcloths/plastic to protect your lower cabinets and floors. This post contains affiliate links. If you like the appearance of natural gray concrete, you can simply coat the overlay with a clear sealer. First Day of School Signs Updated 2022-2023, See reviews for solid poured concrete countertops on the next page >, All Purpose, Every Occasion Wooden Caddy Tutorial. One box of feather finish was plenty for our countertops. I also bought the 550 Water Based matte Polyurethane Concrete Sealer in the Matte finish (I didn't want shiny counters). Cleveland, OH 44125 Hard to believe that concrete used to be thought of as just a utilitarian building material. It cost $10.95 more). For under $100, we were able to give our countertop a new look! If youre looking for an easier and more affordable solution for updating your countertops,concrete countertop resurfacingcould be just answer to your problems. I bought 3 because I didnt think 1 sounded like enough. Over time, countertops can begin to look old and worn out. Find concrete countertop contractors near me. It was over slick corian countertops. But historically I'm not messy with wet/goopy stuff and I was messy with this. [/tps_header], Tasha used a skim-coat process to add Ardex feather finish concrete on her vanity top and integral sink nearly 2 years ago, andshe shared the tutorial with us here (and check out her complete bathroom makeover here!). Time: 01:03. We plan to remove the drain and chisel out the concrete so that we can sit the drain below the surface of the concrete, but we havent had a chance to do it yet, and theres no reason to rush it. They can come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs limited only by imagination. Alternatively, an attractive, unusual aggregate mightbe added in, for example, sea glass, pebbles, mica flakes, or glitter. Edgy and modern, concrete now plays a starring role inside the most stylish homes. Or maybe I'm just messy. No matter what I did, they just werent looking great. There are several options to choose from when resurfacing countertops. Donec efficitur mollis dui vel pharetra.
. We sold this house in the summer of 2021 and the countertops still looked great. Please see our full privacy policy and disclosure here. This post may contains some affiliate links. If youre wondering, where can I find concrete contractors near me? to fulfill your concrete dreams, Networx is the perfect solution for you. I dont miss my baloney counters at all!! With advanced concrete technology, cracking is becoming more and more rare. i love this look and would love to use it somewhere! Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.,
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