Express Yourself with Concrete Countertops | Kitchen Ideas …

Concrete countertops are sealed to protect the surface.

Few remodeling alterations in a home are more coveted than new kitchen countertops. According to a National Kitchen and Bath Association survey, about 94 million linear feet of countertops were installed in homes in 2002, with 58 million (or 62 percent) going into kitchen remodels. And the amount spent on countertops ranks second, just below cabinets, in the kitchen remodeling budgets of U.S. homeowners.

Concrete countertops add a rustic touch to kitchen surfaces.

Since the kitchen is the hub of culinary creativity, more homeowners are moving away from the manufactured look of laminates and choosing materials that are as inimitable and timeless as a treasured family recipe. Countertops made from concrete are the latest trend du jour in kitchen interiors. Discriminating homeowners are discovering that this versatile, moldable medium can be handcrafted into a distinctive surface that expresses their individuality, design preferences and even their cooking style. "The clients I work with feel that the current crop of countertop choices granite included are too ordinary, pass or inadequate to satisfy their particular vision for their kitchen," says Jeff Girard, founder of FormWorks, Raleigh, N.C., and president of the Concrete Countertop Institute, a training facility offering hands-on instruction in concrete countertop fabrication. Jeff has seen the demand for concrete countertops skyrocket over the past five years, especially among homeowners eager to participate in the creative process. Residential kitchen and bath remodels represent a large portion of his work.

"Concrete countertops are not simply sidewalk slabs slapped onto cabinets," Jeff explains. "These are carefully crafted, highly engineered slabs that are processed to achieve a high degree of fit and finish."

Most concrete countertops are precast in molds built to the customer's specifications so they can be formed, cured and finished under controlled conditions. However, some fabricators prefer to cast the countertop onsite, setting the mold on top of the base kitchen cabinets and then filling it with concrete. Regardless of the casting method used, these are not cookie-cutter creations. Every casting is custom-made and thus inherently unique.

Concrete countertop makers often develop their own signature looks by using proprietary mix ingredients, casting techniques and surface treatments. Many are artists by trade and will collaborate with homeowners, architects and interior designers on ideas that will add to the character and individuality of the final product. As the photos illustrate, the options for personalizing concrete countertops are endless. Here are just a few of the possibilities:

Concrete can be earthy and natural, with a tactile quality not found in synthetic or stainless-steel surfaces. Because each concrete countertop is hand-cast, it exhibits subtle variations in color and texture. Concrete countertops can also be adorned with botanical imprints from real leaves or embedded with colorful stones, seashells and even fossils.

The environmental benefits of concrete also appeal to homeowners. Concrete is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based synthetic products and nonrenewable natural materials such as quarried stone. Some concrete countertop makers incorporate natural minerals and recycled materials into their creations, such as fly ash (a byproduct of coal production), metal shavings, plastic regrinds, recycled glass and scrap wood chips.

Because of the time and craftsmanship required to build a concrete countertop, the price tag can be high from about $65 to $125 per square foot, depending on the degree of handiwork involved, according to Concrete in the Kitchen, published by The Concrete Network.

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Express Yourself with Concrete Countertops | Kitchen Ideas ...