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Couple of kitchen area counter top materials are trendier at the moment than high-end concrete. Rock solid and difficult as granite or slate, concrete can be a better fit in modern kitchen area designs than any of those natural stones given that it radiates a modern commercial visual. Adding to the mystique is the truth that concrete can now be etched, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to create a counter top surface that differs from nearly any other offered material. Modern concrete kitchen area countertops are no longer cold slabs of gray concrete (unless you desire that)-- more often, they are warm and gleaming surface areas that are utterly functional and likewise remarkably trendy.
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Couple of cooking area countertop products are trendier at the moment than high-end concrete. Rock solid and hard as granite or slate, concrete can be a much better fit in contemporary kitchen area designs than any of those natural stones because it exudes a modern industrial aesthetic. Contributing to the mystique is the reality that concrete can now be engraved, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to develop a countertop surface area that is unlike nearly any other offered product. Modern concrete kitchen area counter tops are no longer cold slabs of gray concrete (unless you want that)-- regularly, they are warm and gleaming surface areas that are absolutely functional and likewise remarkably trendy. Setup of Concrete Countertops Concrete counter tops might appear like huge slabs, but in reality, they are typically just 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick. The illusion that they are much thicker pieces is usually the result of a drop-front edging on the countertop. Still, these are really heavy countertops, weighing 19 to 25 pounds per square foot. Installers in some cases need to enhance cabinetry and often even the floors in order to bear the considerable weight. While concrete countertops are often formed and put on-site, more often they are made in shops after a professional takes exact measurements of your kitchen area space and goes over all finish options with you. In the shop, forms are built and the countertop is poured, complete with whatever sink cutouts, coloration, or ingredients are asked for. Throughout fabrication, the countertop pieces are normally reinforced with fiber or metal mesh of some type to give them strength and rigidness. After fabrication, the countertop is allowed to treat completely, and the surface may be ground and polished to whatever complete the customer has actually a requested. Some kind of sealant is applied, frequently an extremely hard epoxy. When treating and ending up is complete, an installation crew carefully delivers the countertop to the work website and installs it. As part of the setup, the team may build or install assistance frames for sinks, since it is necessary that the counter top itself not carry the weight of the sink. If the sink is an under-mount style, it is set in place initially, then the counter top is installed over it. The countertop is usually complied with the cabinets with construction adhesives after being carefully leveled and shimmed. Benefits and Drawbacks of Concrete Countertops Concrete countertops have numerous virtues, specifically its capability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen area measurements and completed exactly to your liking. With other countertop materials, you are typically limited to whatever colors and styles are offered, however concrete deals you a wider variety of options. Just ceramic tile comes close to providing an equivalent series of options. On the other hand, if you are conditioned to consider concrete as a practical building material used for slabs and foundations, you may imagine that concrete countertops are cheap and simple to install. Absolutely nothing could be further from the fact. Concrete is a high-end, exceptional product when used in kitchen area countertops, and making them requires a lot of ability and experience. These are among the more costly of all counter top products. Pros They can be custom-sized and shaped to any cooking area configuration. Concrete does not scratch and is impervious to heat. Products such as glass pieces, stones, shells, and fiber-optic lights can be embedded. Concrete produce a very durable and long-lasting surface.
The surface is easy clean-up and maintain, granite colors for white cabinets provide regular sealing is done. Concrete counter tops generally improve realty worth as a "premium" material. Cons They are pricey, costing as much as $150 per square foot. Annual sealing is required to prevent staining. Their weight can strain cabinet frames and floorings. Repair work are almost difficult, and cracking in some cases does happen. Upkeep Assuming the countertop has actually been sealed at first with a good-quality epoxy sealant, ongoing upkeep needs only the application of a great water-based wax sealant every 9 to 12 months. Annual sealing will ensure the surface area withstands staining and will lessen the possibilities of a concrete countertop breaking with time.
