Kitchen Counters That Leave Lasting Impressions

Concrete is a widely used material in modernwhich will ensure the maximum strength of the
construction as it can easily be made to resembleconcrete. Concrete counter tops can be formed
other materials in building, including roof shakes,with center voids in order to be compatible with
natural stone and wood siding. In recent years,under-mount sinks, which allows you to brush spills
concrete has also been gaining notoriety in thedirectly into the basin, rather than trying to sweep
interior design world as it is capable of creating athem over a rim. This is what sets concrete
very distinct look in kitchen counter tops, cabinetscounter tops apart from counter top products like
and islands, in addition to other indoor usessolid surface, and plastic laminate.
especially when it comes to tables and bathroomBags of pre-mixed concrete can be used for
vanities. After being properly colored and finished,colors that match ordinary concrete, or are
a concrete counter top can look just like naturaldarker. On the other hand, you will want to mix
stone, or even a solid-surface material. You wouldyour own concrete for lighter colors, by mixing
not even know that the material your counterPortland cement (white), pea gravel and mason's
top is fashioned from also functions as sidewalksand. Try to test various colors on square foot
and garage floor material.samples before deciding which effect to go with.
There may be much easier ways to create andOnce the counter top is built, you cannot drill or
install counter tops, but concrete materials arecut it. Because of this, you need to make sure
inexpensive, and when done right the pay off canthat you have created voids for everything that
be huge because concrete counter tops can last amust be added afterward. When creating block
lifetime. Additionally, you can expect for your newouts, use plywood because the edges of other
concrete counter top to become a conversationwood, especially particle board, can swell when
piece and something of great interest whenwater is absorbed. You can use screws to secure
guests are in the home. Concrete counter topsthe plywood block outs to the bottom of the
may be old news in other parts of the world, butconcrete counter top form.
in the United States, the idea is relatively unheardRandom-orbit sanders along with 100-grit
of.sandpaper can be used to smooth any sharp
The form for a concrete counter top can becorners. Take care not to inhale any of the silica
created using melamine-coated particle board. Theparticles while doing this.
concrete will dry slower using this plastic facing,