The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Modification Increases Aesthetic Appeal and Property Financial Investment for Homeown

1. From top-dollar houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to stretching mountain residences in the Colorado Mountain ranges, discriminating homeowners are demanding custom-made designs as well as coatings in their kitchens. Particularly, they are aiming to share their uniqueness and also distinct design preferences with the rapid expanding layout product of selection-- concrete. As a matter of fact, concrete kitchen counters have actually become rather of a standing symbol for kitchens, measuring up to granite and other premium counter top surface area choices. Consumer Information Magazine (August 2004) rated concrete greatest for its "modification" and also "exclusivity" amongst high-end cooking area countertops. As a personalized item, the amount of time and workmanship needed to generate concrete kitchen counters positions them as the most labor-intensive and also most expensive among leading kitchen counter products. However, concrete counter tops are coming to be much more easily accessible for those on a modest budget. The current do-it-yourself (DIY) pattern to captivate property owners and contractors is building your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has actually acquired appeal greatly due to Cheng's very successful publication Concrete Countertops: Layout, Forms, as well as Completes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, house owners are moving away from the boring, manufactured appearance of conventional counter top surface areas and choosing concrete for its natural, timeless appeal. And also, the options for personalizing concrete counter tops are unlimited: one can tint, gloss, stamp as well as tarnish concrete or imbed personal items like stones, seashells and fossils into the counter top's surface, adding sentiment and character. Functional functions such as drain boards, soap recipes, and trivets can additionally be integrated to fit the home owners' own needs and also way of living. Concrete is slowly becoming debunked as classically cool and also industrial. In contrary, this olden product is cozy and also remarkably tactile; people can not help yet touch their smooth, refined surfaces. Property representative Joy Rasmussen, that has recently offered her hill house-- a temporary investment home in Boat Springs, Carbon Monoxide-- states her visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open houses, site visitors moved to the concrete counter tops-- many people around right here have actually never ever seen them". Delight's 2,265 sq. ft. hill home was custom develop by her spouse, Ken Otterman, together with KJ ikea countertops solid wood Otterman, head of state of Classic Unique Customized Houses. They constructed pour-in- place concrete counters for the home's cooking area as well as three bathrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their overview. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, after that coupled with natural slate of varying colors-- like charcoal, rust and also gold tones-- that creates the backsplashes in the kitchen as well as bathrooms. As a style accent, little rectangle-shaped slate floor tiles were added to the edge of the bathroom sinks, which offered a distinct detail to the custom vanities. When Happiness and Ken chose to sell their house, their investment in concrete countertops confirmed its value. "We were able to note the house $20,000 over market value, and had no problems offering it," comments Delight, while reviewing the long checklist of upgrades throughout their residence, including knotty yearn strong doors, natural slate wall surface accents and hardwood floorings. "The concrete countertops were easily one of the most special and remarkable of all the coatings. I believe they were a massive component in including value to the home. Around below, all you see in homes are granite countertops-- and also I truly think property buyers are obtaining fairly numb with granite."

2. " Concrete counter tops are a special offering to property buyers that see the very same coatings utilized in house after home they visit," describes Delight, supplying her observation as an experienced real estate agent. "Having concrete kitchen counters practically offers you bragging legal rights-- you have something different from your next-door neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD AND MILDEW One more advantage of concrete is its adaptability in either contemporary or conventional setups, specifically when coupled with other products like varied metals, wood or stone. "Concrete includes a lot of [opportunities] to stone, as well as the combination with slate, which is widely preferred below, offers the mountain houses a total cozy, natural touch," says Delight. Pleasure as well as Ken have since developed a much larger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers extensive sights of the Steamboat Ski Hotel and also is meant to function as a long-lasting investment for the pair. They have actually additionally increased their list of customized surfaces, consisting of hand-troweled walls, stylish oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty ache doors that curve at the top, closets in an all-natural, knotty alder, and their preferred-- concrete kitchen area countertops. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ and his specialty staff poured charcoal-colored countertops utilizing the pre- cast approach in the unfinished basement of the brand-new residence. Prior to putting the concrete, they sprayed a variety of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Blue- green. After the surface was ground as well as gently brightened, the finished outcome was a remarkable blend of shades, "By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was one of the most unbelievable," states Delight. The L-shaped concrete counter top has a harsh, rustic rock look, complementing its rugged nation environments. An integral drainpipe board and trivets gives function and added rate of interest to the concrete kitchen counter. All-natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, as well as a butcher block kitchen counter at the kitchen island all resonate with the traditional heat as well as earthiness of the concrete counter tops. Delight and also Ken's corresponding backgrounds in realty and customized homebuilding, and also as investment buyers, have helped them understand that concrete counter tops can add tremendous aesthetic and financial worth to a home. Concrete's customization as well as "show-stopping" appeal resembles no other kitchen counter surface area. Cheng is an advocate of psychological aesthetic appeals and also developing houses that catch these emotions, as when it comes to Joy as well as Ken Otterman. Cheng ends: "Individuals truly want distinction, something personal, something custom-- as well as concrete can do that for them."