Ask the Professionals at B&W Custom Concrete For More Answers

Do you want to hear a “WOW” when people see your countertops? Although granite, marble, and other materials are popular with interior designers, concrete will give you a unique look.

Here are six things you should know, both pros and cons before you decide whether this is the right material for you. 

1. Concrete can be dyed most colors, poured to any size and shape, and inlaid with materials that can create patterns under its surface. 

2. Concrete countertops can be made to look modern, colonial, any style, and have many functions. 

    A rounded bull-nose countertop can create a contemporary look. Etching details to look like the molding of a cabinet door frame will create a colonial style. There are so many options. You can combine the concrete with woods and metals to create different looks.

3. At first thought, you may think a flat countertop would be best. However, designers have created special inlays for cutting boards and other kitchen essentials. You can create an intentional slope towards the sink so chopped foods drop right into a bowl without creating a mess. The possibilities are endless.

4. Concrete countertops are found in high-end Beverly Hills homes as well as affordable, middle-class suburban houses across the country. It can be extreme or not. These sculpted countertops are so unique, every one is one-of-a-kind. You won’t find anything like it at your local home store.

   It sounds pricey but DIY homeowners can do it themselves at a low cost. There’s no need for special tools. All you need is aggregate, cement, and casting materials.

5. Unlike more common materials, concrete requires regular maintenance. Because of its porous surface, it can easily stain. If you cut your veggies on it, not only will it damage the concrete, it will also dull your knife. Sealing it will help however, it will not guarantee against stains and damage.

   The two types of sealants are spray-on, which only needs to be redone every five years, and acrylic-based, which needs to be resealed every year.

   There are, however, maintenance-free concrete countertops that come pre-finished. IceStone, a store located in Brooklyn, NY makes countertops out of recycled glass and cement and never needs to be resealed. 

6. When you think of concrete, you probably think of a sidewalk. The concrete used on countertops is different. 

    Because of additives, the properties of a concrete countertop are changed which changes the rating. The higher the rating, the stronger the countertop.

   For the new DIYer, high-quality concrete without additives is suggested. This rating will get you a strong product that’s easy to handle with a formula of sand, rocks, cement, and water. 

B&W Custom Concrete can help in your decision. Give us a call today at 716-674-6608 and we can help guide you. For more information on all your custom concrete needs, please visit our website at B&W Custom Concrete.