Essay

Concrete Countertops Pros and Cons – Essay Tips

Concrete Countertops

Concrete countertops are counters that have a concrete surface. Concrete countertops are frequently used in place of marbles or granite materials.

Concrete is durable yet beautiful, and it can be stained to match the décor of the room.

Importance of Concrete Counter-tops

Concrete countertops have become a popular feature in kitchens over the past few years. With beautiful stain and customized measurements, many homeowners are finding that concrete countertops are the perfect addition to their home.

Many customers choose concrete counter as it is environment friendly. Concrete is durable yet beautiful, and it can be stained to match the decor of the room.

Concrete countertops may develop small cracks over time, but it doesn’t affect the strength or stability. Many homeowners believe that cracks add to the charm and character of concrete countertops.

Design of Concrete Counter-tops

Veined

Veined concrete countertops usually have coloured or white veins running through the concrete. The finished countertops look like marble, and it’s very beautiful. Different pigments can be added to create the colour of your choice.

Edges

Edges can turn concrete countertops into the personalized and unique top. There are many edging types available, from straight to round to customized boundaries. They are simply inserts that can be placed in moulds before it has been poured.

Bull-nosed and chipped-faced are popular edges.

Shape

You can design a unique shape for your concrete countertops. The option is endless as are most design choices involve concrete.

Edge details in Concrete Counter-tops

Adding edge detail is a simple way to customize concrete countertops and give a kitchen, bathroom etc. finished look.

Edge details are created by using special edge form while casting the countertops.

Concrete countertop edges come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Because concrete will take the shape of virtually any form or mould it is cast into its possible to produce the look of stone, rope edges, vines and more.

Contractors can also make an edge for themselves, creating whatever design their client desires. This can be done by buying moulding products such as liquid rubber or liquid plastic and casting custom moulds. Also, there is a company that will make custom moulds and forms of the contractor.

Custom Concrete Counter-tops Moulds

Concrete moulds for concrete countertops come in hundreds of standard shapes and sizes. If you are looking for a unique pattern or style, many concrete contractors can cast custom moulds, complete with edge details.

Concrete Counter-top Cement

Due to the high strength of cement, concrete countertops are made with rapid set glue reduces the curing time from days to hours and hydration process reduces shrinking and cracking compared to most Portland cement-based systems.

For concrete countertops construction, these benefits offer faster turnaround and more durable concrete. This fast strength gain means that large pieces don’t need to stay in the forms of several days while they cure and gain sufficient strength to be stripped, handled and processed.

In many cases, concrete countertops are ground and polished. The quality of the polish depends on the hardness of concrete, and faster strength gains mean diamond polishing can begin much sooner.

Colours of Concrete Counter-tops

When it comes to the colour option, concrete offers nearly limit possibilities shades of white, grey, brown, red, blue, yellow, green, orange and black and more can be created according to needs.

Concrete Counter-tops Thickness

The standard concrete counter-tops slab thickness is 1.5 to 2 inches similar to countertops made up of marble and granite.

Concrete Counter-tops Weight

A 1.5-inch thick countertop made of standard concrete has an approximate weight of 18.75 pounds per square foot.

For large counters, however, where weight can be a problem in terms of both handling and installation. Depending on the application, we will employ a different system to reduce countertop weight.

Size of Concrete Counter-tops

Concrete countertops can be cast in nearly any size and shape. Depending on overall dimensions, joints or seams are often incorporate to accommodate handling. These seem can often be concealed with colour-matched grout on the veined finish, or they can be used as an attractive design element.

Pros of Concrete Counter-tops

Durability

Durability is another positive feature. Most contractors reinforce the mix by adding glass fibres, making the counter both exceptionally strong and lightweight.

Reinforcement allows for long, seamless spans and even daring overhangs which is not possible with granite and other materials.

Customization

Concrete Countertops are extremely customizable. They can be formed to fit most counter configurations, and you get to choose the exact colour, size, and dimension. Custom finishing includes marbling and veining, and you choose decorative materials like stones, coloured glass or metal shavings.

Functionality and Beauty

Concrete counter is beneficial in terms of functionality and many different styles, plus they are intently durable and easy to clean and maintain.

Cons of Concrete-Counter-tops

Maintenance

Concrete countertops do require consistent upkeep. You will regularly need wax to protect the surface of your counters and avoid stains. Spills and messes should be cleaned right away.

Price

Concrete Countertops are handcrafted, which requires a lot of labour, so these countertops are not cheap. The average cost per square foot is $65 to $145.

If labour is quoted separately, they can run an additional $40 to $50 per hour, per person.

Time

If you are short on time, concrete countertops may not be the best choice. To design, cast and cure. It would be best if you thought about turnaround time to be at least a few weeks. Curing itself can take from three to seven days. And keep and mind that the more humid the climate where you live, the longer the cure time.

Staining

Spills need to be wiped up promptly, especially if they are oily or acidic like vinegar, lemon juice, red wine etc. Even exposure of just a few minutes is capable of causing a stain on some concrete countertops.

Heat Sensitivity

Placing hot pots or pans directly on concrete countertops can cause damage. Instead, keep a trivalent handy to protect your countertops.

Conclusion

From above-given pros and cons of concrete countertops, you will be able to think whether to select it for your home decor or not.

I hope this blog post helps you a lot in learning the pros and cons of concrete countertops.

Amit Kumar

FreeEducator.com blog is managed by Amit Kumar. He and his team come from the Oxford, Stanford and Harvard. At FreeEducator, we strive to create the best admission platform so that international students can go to the best universities - regardless of financial circumstances. By applying with us, international students get unlimited support and unbiased advice to secure the best college offers overseas.