With the excessive price of reworking a kitchen or bathtub, many householders are turning to DIY choices as a substitute. One fashionable answer is concrete counter tops. The method of creating DIY concrete counter tops is surprisingly simple, and the fabric price is low. Concrete counter tops are additionally low-maintenance and fully customizable on your structure or shade scheme.
See publish: Flawless Chaos|Full Kitchen Makeover With Concrete Counter tops
This helpful how-to information will stroll you thru the essential steps of creating concrete counter tops!
DIY Concrete Counter tops | Overlaying an Current Floor
The best solution to DIY concrete counter tops is through the use of the countertop you have already got as the bottom. This technique works very nicely over Formica, a stable floor product, and even tile.
Vital Word: For greatest outcomes, take away drop-in sinks, taps, and cooktops earlier than you start.
Step 1: Put together the Floor for the Concrete Countertop Combine
Utilizing an orbital sander or a palm sander, scuff up the floor of the outdated countertop. If the countertop is just too easy or shiny, the concrete countertop combine is not going to adhere correctly. Take your time, and you should definitely sand in every single place. Don’t overlook the edges and edges. Run your hand over the floor, and with the sander, knock down any easy locations that stay.
Step 2: Defend the Surrounding Surfaces
To maintain the concrete combine off of the encompassing surfaces, you should definitely cowl the cupboards, flooring, and backsplash with plastic sheeting.
Step three: Put together and Apply the Concrete Countertop Combine
There are numerous concrete countertop formulation available on the market that float nicely over an present countertop. Two standard manufacturers are Ardex and Henry’s. Whereas it’s attainable to make your individual from a daily bag of fundamental concrete combine, we suggest utilizing merchandise particularly designed for skim-coating for 2 causes. First, you’ll have much less waste since these merchandise can be found in smaller packages (leftover dry concrete combine doesn’t maintain nicely). Second, all the giant particles and gravel are filtered out of those formulation which is essential for skim coating.
Put together the concrete in keeping with the package deal instructions and apply a skinny first layer with a putty knife.
See publish: Bethany Dearden|DIY Concrete Counters Over Current Laminate
Pay cautious consideration to this primary layer. Ensure that the moist concrete covers the floor fully, and make it as easy as attainable. A flat first layer offers a stable basis for subsequent layers.
The product will start to dry rapidly. Don’t rework sections which can be already drying. There might be a possibility to repair errors through the subsequent utility of the concrete countertop combine.
See publish: Elizabeth @ Creating Rustic Appeal|DIY Concrete Countertop!
In case your present countertop has an built-in sink, a sponge is beneficial for spreading the cement on the curved surfaces and edges.
See publish: Elizabeth @ Creating Rustic Appeal|DIY Concrete Countertop!
Step four: Sand the Cement Counter tops and Repeat
After the primary layer is dry, sand away the imperfections with a palm sander or sandpaper wrapped round block or sponge. That is dusty work, so you should definitely put on a masks. Vacuum the particles. Then, repeat the appliance and sanding steps till the whole floor is roofed and easy. Two or three skinny layers is typical. Enable the cement to dry completely between layers.
See publish: Doreen Cagno|DIY Concrete Counter tops Over Current Formica
Step 5: Seal the Concrete Counter tops
After the cement counter tops are fully dry and sanded easy, seal the concrete to stop meals stains and water rings. There are numerous concrete sealing merchandise available on the market, however we suggest selecting one that’s food-safe if you’re utilizing it within the kitchen. Apply the sealer in keeping with the package deal instructions.
See publish: Bethany Deardan|DIY Concrete Counters Over Current Laminate
Over time, concrete counter tops might require occasional upkeep equivalent to filling in cracks and chips or resealing. Nevertheless, with affordable care, they need to keep stunning and practical for a number of years.
See publish: Doreen Cagno|DIY Concrete Counter tops Over Current Formica
DIY Concrete Counter tops | Creating New From Scratch
The second technique of creating concrete counter tops is pouring cement right into a mould. Constructing them this manner is dearer and labor-intensive. Nevertheless, these cement counter tops are extra sturdy over the long-haul, and so they nonetheless price lower than new stable floor merchandise or tile. Constructing model new concrete counter tops is an effective answer if the structure of the cupboards modifications or the outdated counter tops can’t be salvaged.
Step 1: Make a Drawing and Construct a Mildew
Earlier than you start, draw the form of the countertop you wish to construct and take measurements. Bear in mind so as to add 1 ½ – 2 inches of overhang on the entrance and sides which is business customary. The drawing and measurements will function the blueprint for constructing a mould.
Most DIYers construct molds out of melamine. Melamine releases the cured concrete extra simply than common wooden as a consequence of its easy floor.
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Screw the mould collectively nicely. Fill all the cracks with silicone caulk so the moist concrete is not going to leak out.
See publish: Robin Lewis|Concrete Countertop
Step 2: Put together the Concrete and Fill the Mildew
Concrete is easy to organize. Seek the advice of the package deal instructions for the right water-to-cement ratio. It takes some muscle to combine it completely, however take your time and ensure all the powdered cement is integrated into the liquid.
See publish: Robin Lewis|Concrete Countertop
Scoop the moist cement into the mould with a shovel, taking care to push it into all the corners fully. In case your countertop wants a gap for a drain or faucet, place PVC pipes within the right areas, and pour the concrete countertop combine round them.
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Embed steel rebar within the moist cement so as to add energy to the DIY concrete countertop.
See publish: Robin Lewis|Concrete Countertop
Step three: Take away All the Air Bubbles
It’s essential to take away all the air bubbles from the moist cement. Trapped air will make the floor porous and weak. Additionally, If the air bubbles are on the uncovered surfaces of your concrete counter tops, ugly pits and holes will mar the floor, and the countertop is not going to be easy even after vigorous sanding.
Eradicating the air bubbles is straightforward. Tapping the mould throughout with a rubber mallet will convey the bubbles to the floor so they may pop. Alternately, an influence device, equivalent to an orbital sander or drill fitted with a buffing pad works nicely too. Merely activate the device and contact it to the melamine mould beneath and across the edges. The vibrations will convey air bubble to the floor the place they may pop.
When no extra bubbles come to the floor, the concrete is able to dry and treatment.
Word: This step takes time and persistence. Relying on the dimensions of the concrete counter tops, it may take an hour or extra to take away all the air bubbles.
See publish: Robin Lewis|Concrete Countertop
Step four: Enable the Cement Counter tops to Treatment
Seek the advice of the producer’s instructions on the cement bag, however this step usually takes 24-72 hours.
Step 5: Sand and Seal
Similar to skim-coating cement onto an present countertop, the ultimate steps are the identical for a brand new construct. Sand the whole floor till it’s easy. Then, seal it with a food-grade sealer for concrete kitchen counter tops. For lavatory or exterior concrete counter tops, use a number of coats of any water-based concrete sealer.
A Phrase About Coloring Concrete Counter tops
Regardless that fundamental cement is grey, there are two methods to vary the colour. The primary is by including in shade through the mixing part. There are a number of powdered dyes obtainable, and also you’ll discover them in the identical aisle as the baggage of cement. The second approach is through the use of particular concrete stain after the concrete counter tops are dry and able to set up. Concrete stain is available in quite a lot of colours and formulation. It’s obtainable within the paint aisle of the ironmongery store. At all times observe the concrete stain with a correct sealer.
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Whether or not you’re going for the fashionable farmhouse look or a extra industrial vibe, concrete counter tops are enticing in quite a lot of areas together with kitchens, bogs, and out of doors patios.
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The 2 methods of constructing DIY concrete counter tops described on this how-to information are each good weekend tasks. The provides are comparatively cheap making concrete counter tops the perfect answer for low-budget remodels. Discuss with this helpful how-to information to be taught to make your individual, and you should definitely browse Hometalk for added concrete countertop tutorials!
Written for the Hometalk neighborhood by: Stacy | BlakeHillHouse
