The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Customization Rises Aesthetic Allure and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching hill homes in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating home owners are demanding custom-made designs and finishes in their cooking areas. In particular, they are seeking to share their originality and also distinct design choices with the rapid growing design material of selection-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete countertops have actually come to be somewhat of a status icon for kitchens, measuring up to granite and other high-end countertop surface area alternatives. Customer Information Publication (August 2004) placed concrete highest possible for its "personalization" and also "exclusivity" among premium cooking area countertops. As a personalized product, the amount of time as well as craftsmanship needed to produce concrete countertops positions them as one of the most labor-intensive as well as most costly amongst leading kitchen counter materials. Nevertheless, concrete countertops are ending up being a lot more easily accessible for those on a small budget. The current do-it-yourself (DIY) pattern to mesmerize property owners and contractors is building your own concrete kitchen counter. This sensation has acquired popularity mainly because of Cheng's very successful book Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Completes for the New Cooking Area and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary financial investment in making concrete kitchen counters, yet the innovative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, home owners are relocating far from the monotonous, manufactured look of typical kitchen counter surface areas and selecting concrete for its earthy, classic appeal. And also, the alternatives for customizing concrete kitchen counters are countless: one can tint, gloss, stamp as well as tarnish concrete or imbed personal things like rocks, seashells as well as fossils into the countertop's surface, including belief and personality. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap meals, as well as trivets can likewise be incorporated to fit the property owners' very own requirements and way of living. Concrete is gradually coming to be demystified as typically cold as well as industrial. In contrary, this olden product is warm as well as remarkably tactile; individuals can not assist however touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Real estate agent Pleasure Rasmussen, that has just recently marketed her mountain home-- a temporary investment property in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open homes, visitors was attracted to the concrete kitchen counters-- lots of people around below have actually never seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. mountain residence was custom-made construct by her husband, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, head of state of Classic Special Customized Residences. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the home's kitchen area and 3 washrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand- colored concrete counter tops were brightened smooth, then coupled with natural slate of differing colors-- like charcoal, rust and also gold tones-- that forms the backsplashes in the cooking area and baths. As a layout accent, little rectangle-shaped slate ceramic tiles were added to the rim of the bathroom sinks, which offered an unique information to the custom-made vanities. When Delight and Ken made a decision to offer their residence, their financial investment in concrete countertops confirmed its worth. "We had the ability to provide your home $20,000 over market value, and had not a problem selling it," remarks Joy, while reviewing the lengthy list of upgrades throughout their home, including knotty yearn strong doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents and hardwood floors. "The concrete kitchen counters were easily the most distinct and impressive of all the surfaces. I think they were a substantial part in including value to the house. Around below, all you see in homes are granite kitchen counters-- as well as I really assume

2. homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite." " Concrete counter tops are an one-of-a-kind offering to property buyers who see the very same finishes made use of in house after residence they visit," describes Delight, using her observation as an experienced realtor. "Having concrete countertops practically offers you bragging legal rights-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors." BREAKING THE MOLD AND MILDEW One laminate countertops look like wood more advantage of concrete is its flexibility in either modern or standard settings, especially when paired with various other products like varied steels, wood or stone. "Concrete adds numerous [possibilities] to rock, and also the mix with slate, which is hugely popular below, provides the mountain homes a general cozy, all-natural touch," states Pleasure. Joy and Ken have because built a much bigger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides extensive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is implied to serve as a lasting investment for the pair. They've also increased their checklist of custom-made surfaces, including hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty yearn doors that arch on top, closets in an all-natural, knotty alder, and their favorite-- concrete cooking area counter tops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ and also his specialty team poured charcoal-colored counter tops using the pre- cast approach in the unfinished cellar of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprayed a range of semi-precious stones in the mold including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl as well as Blue-green. After the surface was ground and also gently polished, the completed result was a remarkable mix of colors, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most amazing," claims Joy. The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic rock look, matching its tough nation surroundings. An important drain board as well as trivets offers feature as well as included rate of interest to the concrete kitchen counter. Natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, and also a butcher block countertop at the kitchen area island all resonate with the conventional heat and earthiness of the concrete countertops. Pleasure and Ken's corresponding backgrounds in real estate and customized homebuilding, and as financial investment property buyers, have aided them realize that concrete kitchen counters can add incredible visual as well as monetary value to a home. Concrete's modification and "show-stopping" appeal resembles nothing else countertop surface area. Cheng is a proponent of emotional visual appeals and also building houses that capture these emotions, as in the case of Delight and Ken Otterman. Cheng ends: "People truly desire distinction, something individual, something custom-made-- and concrete can do that for them."