Although each method has its advantages, for most basic diy projects, precast is. I fought concrete for a while because i really wanted white quartz countertops, but the price of quartz is kinda crazy. How to build a concrete countertop popular mechanics. We have concrete countertops in our kitchen though we made a wood mold and the entire 2. Our corners look really nice because my cousin cut them so well. Cheng takes you stepbystep through the process of making a concrete countertop from building the mold and mixing and pouring concrete to curing, grinding, polishing, and installing the countertop.
How to make homemade concrete countertops for outdoor. Mixing the concrete is a labor intensive job which requires constant vigilance. This is a great products for diy projects because of the ease of use. Build an outdoor table with quikrete countertop mix. My husband did a lot of research and decided on this path that im about to share with you. Jan 15, 2017 this past month i took a course on how to make these amazing marbleized concrete countertops.
Concrete countertops how to precast a concrete countertop. How to create a faux marble countertop using concrete one of the most obvious places to get a major bangforyourbuck in a bathroom update is the countertop. The easiest way for a doityourselfer to create concrete countertops is an inverted form. Ive told myself to just embrace the rustic concrete look, so that im not super annoyed with the counter marks. How to prep and build a paver patio with curves and border \\ diy. This is important, as youll want strengtheners and other filler materials to make your concrete function better for this purpose. About five years ago, after looking at futung chengs book, concrete countertops, i decided that when i replaced my kitchen cabinets, i would build concrete countertops. There are two choices when it comes creating homemade concrete countertops. Three years later the appeal of feather finish concrete countertops is undeniable. However, i dont think its of the highest quality but its a hell of a lot better than trying to use regular quikrete. How to pour a simple concrete countertop howtos diy.
A stepbystep tutorial concrete countertops are ontrend right now, for many people even replacing the granite that was the elite countertop material of choice for the last 1020 years. How to make concrete countertops cheng concrete exchange. How to make a diy wood countertop easier than you thought. One is by using a commercially available bagged concrete countertop mix, and the other is to do it yourself, making a fromscratch mix with basic ingredients. They turned out great and the process was really not too bad. My diy pourinplace concrete countertops are almost finished. Futung cheng is a california architect and designer who has reinvented the kitchenbathroom countertop using the medium of concrete. Concrete countertop solutions provided me with the materials to make my own concrete countertops using their products free of charge, but all opinions are my own. The master of concrete countertops now takes his concrete revolution one step further with his dvdbooks set concrete countertops made simple. Even though i really love concrete, i definitely miss the beautiful butcher block countertops we had in our old house. Here at last is a complete, starttofinish book on creating concrete countertops. However i have been looking for a great way to seal them for years.
Trendy kitchen renovation on a budget wood counter you dont have to be stuck with countertops you dont like. Concrete countertops is an essential book for architects, homeowners and. This guide will walk you through each step from planning to sealing your diy concrete countertop. Concrete countertops for the kitchen instructables. I was a senior in college at the university of nebraska lincoln in 2007 when i was introduced to concrete counters for the first time. Just some cleaning spray and paper towels should do the trick. Im sharing an indepth diy concrete countertop tutorial with a video on how to make diy concrete countertops and save a bundle. I removed the old countertops, replaced them with wood. There are so many diy countertops out there that can be done on a teeny, tiny budget.
Diy concrete countertops simply beautiful by angela. Jan 29, 2020 the complete, stepbystep, fullcolour howto book of designing, forming, mixing, pouring and finishing concrete countertops by the undisputed master of the technique. Diy concrete countertops over laminate surfaces lovely. Making your own concrete countertop is a fun and extremely lowcost project. Concrete countertops, cement counters, whatever you want to call them, are crazy popular now. This brilliant diy is the easiest way to fake concrete. I also highly recommend that you buy the book concrete countertops by futung cheng before attempting any concrete countertop project. How to make concrete countertops with pictures wikihow. This guide walks you through building a form out of 34.
Diy network shows you how to smooth and seal a concrete countertop slab. What concrete to use for concrete countertops the stone head. Plus, concrete can be very difficult to work with, making it a rather tricky look to diy but not if you use this clever hack, featured on hometalk and created by homeowner libbie burling from wyoming, michigan. The top surface will be against the melamine, so make sure the mold is as smooth as possible. Most of all, i love the industrial look the diy concrete countertops add to the kitchen and especially the variation and imperfections in the surface of course. Countertops made of customformed, colored, and finished concrete can look like marble, granite, glass, or sculpturethe look is limited only by the imagination. I created a concrete countertop that impressed the next tenants enough they asked to purchase the property.
This will help tremendously, since two inch thick concrete countertops weigh about 22 pounds per square foot. The brute strength of concrete has made it the goto building material for a variety of such outdoor installations as driveways, walkways, and patios. Concrete countertop overlay creatively living blog. Concrete countertops are all the rage these days, so i thought id create a tutorial to document how to make concrete countertops. Design, forms, and finishes for the new kitchen and bath taunton press, 2002. Zcounterform is hard to beat when it comes to speed and convenience. Precasting a concrete countertop requires fine carpentry skills and elementary knowledge concrete. Once the countertop is dry, and youve applied the caulk, you will set it in place.
Watch several times, watch the video included with this one, then go start building it using this book as a reference at the build site and youll have this book. Diy concrete countertops, part i setting the forms. Diy concrete countertops to build your own concrete countertops, youll need to assemble the tools and materials for making your molds as well as for mixing, setting, and curing the concrete. We got this sanding block from z counterform and it has 3 different diamond sanders with velcro on the back printed with the grit.
I knew i needed an alternative, so once i discovered white concrete was a thing i was under the impression concrete counters could only be gray or stained dark i was completely on board and pretty excited. This diy outdoor countertops project is well within the scope of the average diyer, but if working with concrete is new to you, id recommend trying out a small sample project before diving in and also. Making concrete countertops schiffer book rhodes, buddy, andrews. Making your own concrete counters may require some dedicated time, but the result of your effort can be gratifying. This tutorial shows you exactly how to build and pour your own concrete counters. If you missed part 1 of this process which included building the edge forms for the concrete, you can check that out here diy pour in place concrete. Scoop, shovel or pour the concrete into the countertop form. Diy outdoor living completed outdoor kitchen project.
Make concrete countertops concrete is a striking and practical choice for countertops, made from a diy friendly materials that enables any confident homeowner to achieve quality results. Oct 11, 2019 there are several ways you can make concrete countertops and several recipes for the concrete out there. Simple budget friendly option to save money on a remodel that even you. Melamine material works best for this because it has a vinyl coating that will make it easier to remove when the concrete is dry. So imagine a different kind of countertop material with the heft and solidity of expensive quartz or natural stone countertops, yet coupled with the economy of laminate. Diy concrete countertops diy concrete countertops, concrete. These diy countertop ideas include concrete, painting and more. Most countertop materials are costly and difficult for the doityourselfer to fabricate and install. While books and online instructions for diy concrete countertops abound, theres not so much about making concrete sinks. I know its not natural to just touch your countertops, but the texture of it feels so neat, which im guessing it due to the concrete. Diy concrete countertops do it yourself concrete countertop. I had assumed i would pour the concrete countertops in place, so i. For the price of offtheshelf materials, you can have a oneofakind concrete countertop. Remember the countertop will be upside down in the mold.
Place the remesh on top of the mixture, keeping it about 2inches from the. Jun 24, 2018 how to make concrete counters in this video, diy pete will walk you through the process of building diy concrete counters. Creating one in place requires building a form directly on top of the cabinets or structure the countertop will be covering. Making your own concrete countertop is one of the more challengingand rewardingdiy projects.
This phenomenon has gained popularity largely due to chengs bestselling book concrete countertops. You can pour them in place, or pour separately, and then set in place. A carpenters first time building concrete countertops pro. How to make homemade concrete countertops for outdoor kitchens.
Futung cheng is the master and if youre looking to be the karate kid of concrete countertops, buy this book. I did not know about feather weight concrete, it may not have existed. My house has tons of cultured marble surfaces and practically screamed 80s until now. Your howto guide will really help him, and its especially good to know that well need to let the concrete harden for more than a week before we can sand it. Step by step guide to making your own diy countertop. How to create a faux marble countertop using concrete. Concrete countertops books cheng design sustainable. How to make your own concrete countertops the concrete network. How to make a diy concrete kitchen countertop tutorial hometalk. Diy plywood waterfall countertop by vintage revivals. Aside from ordering concrete from a readymix supplier, there are two basic ways to obtain a concrete mix. May 23, 2016 how to create a faux marble countertop using concrete one of the most obvious places to get a major bangforyourbuck in a bathroom update is the countertop. Concrete countertops photo gallery, countertop design options, available colors, how concrete counters are made, cracking and maintenance issues, pricing, tips for concrete countertops in the kitchen.
How to make concrete countertops with futung cheng. Wire mesh and rebar choosing your concrete coloring the concrete. Plan for basic color treatments and plain edges, and also plan to spend a few weekends on the project. With a little planning, a few basic materials, and a bit of elbow grease, you can create beautiful homemade concrete countertops for a fraction of the cost of what the pros charge. The tops were pretty smooth thanks to all of the effort preston put in during the first 56 hours after pouring, but still got sanded down after the forms were snapped off. Making your own concrete countertop mix will allow you to customize the color of the mixture to complement the theme of your kitchen. Creating the outdoor kitchen with concrete countertops. Follow the below steps to easily and effectively make. If this is your first attempt at making a diy concrete countertop, i would suggest you keep it simple and make a small table top or a. How to build custom concrete countertops ask this old house.
The concrete underneath gives it a rustic, imperfect look, which i absolutely love. More on the sealer in the next post completion photos posted here as well. Ready to get started on your own concrete kitchen countertop transformation. Concrete countertops made simple construction book. Create your own concrete countertop with easy to follow instructions within this book. The concrete countertops were surprisingly inexpensive and easy to make and we couldnt be happier with how they turned out. Diy concrete countertops wont be as smooth as something youd buy from a pro, but youll save hundreds on materials and labor concrete countertops. Concrete is a striking and practical choice for countertops, made from a diyfriendly materials that enables any confident homeowner to achieve quality results. Transporting the countertop and installing it are usually the biggest obstacles to precasting diy concrete countertops. Then check to make sure they are level and shim if necessary. However, this can also be an expensive upgrade, particularly if you love luxurious options such as carrera marble.
Now the diy concrete countertops will dry overnight and they will be ready for the sealer. Also find useful tips on maintaining concrete countertops. The easiest thing to do is purchase premixed bagged concrete that is specially formulated for countertops. Apr 14, 2016 diy concrete countertops to build your own concrete countertops, youll need to assemble the tools and materials for making your molds as well as for mixing, setting, and curing the concrete. How to make concrete countertops with futung cheng youtube. Wear hand protection and press the concrete mix into corners to ensure proper coverage, eliminate any large air pockets and roughly make level. I hope you can find a few useful tidbits that will help on your project. Do it yourself guide for staining concrete floors and kitchen counters by christa bradley 5. Ralph macchio wouldnt even think of doing concrete countertops without futung chengs help. Oct 14, 2019 concrete countertops are typically 112 to 2 inches thick. To create a simple concrete countertop, diy experts show how to build the forms, prepare the concrete mix, pour the concrete and get it in shape to cure.
This is definitely the more time consuming option took my husband about 40 hours total, but i believe these are the best. Simply go around the entire form and gently tap on the sides and bottom to bring the bubbles to the surface. Setting up a small apartment sized kitchen for pour in place tops using zcounterforms and a few other tricks. While the concrete is still wet, you need to get the air pockets out. The edges and underneath the counters are so, so smooth since they were up against the forms. Concrete countertops standard slab thickness, weight, and cabinetry support of countertops. Jan 31, 2014 i removed the old countertops, replaced them with wood. The template will ensure you have the exact dimensions if you are making a precast countertop and using the right forming materials will give you a smooth surface to apply the finish. All selfstudy training 50% off covid19 relief sale. The biggest things i learned is how easy it actually is to work with concrete and that there is an endless range of things one can make with the medium. Concrete countertops can give the kitchen inside your home a distinctly industrial look or provide an outdoor kitchen with a slab that is both functional and durable.
Use enough of the mix to fill the mold about halfway up the sides. Making a template and the form for your diy concrete countertop are two very important steps for success. Having a good size crew will make this task go smoothly. A carpenters first time building concrete countertops. Now its time to make sure your finished countertop looks nice. Learn how to make your own in only a few days with this tutorial. Jun 21, 2012 here are some helpful tips for diy concrete countertops, and things not to do. Several variables in the process can affect the result which can compromise the strength of the concrete and thus the countertop. The biggest things i learned is how easy it actually is to work with concrete and that there is an endless range of things one can make.
Make a diagram of the countertops, noting the dimensions of each side and end. But they are still a bit of a diy maverick and not much has been written about their durability, so theres a valid concern from anyone curious about giving these a shot. Id heard a lot of if youre going to do diy concrete countertops, you must read this book. Concrete countertops are typically 112 to 2 inches thick. Level 1, getting started, diy concrete countertops. This can be accomplished in different ways, the most low tech being a rubber mallet. How to make a diy concrete countertop todays homeowner. This past month i took a course on how to make these amazing marbleized concrete countertops. Diy pour in place concrete countertops part 2 addicted 2. Awardwinning designer and renowned trainer, futung cheng explains and demonstrates countertop making materials, tools, and techniques.
Creating an inexpensive outdoor kitchen with concrete. Aug 27, 2015 diy white concrete countertops august 27, 2015 155 comments ever since we came in contact with the pugmires concrete countertops in their kitchen, we have had it in the back of our minds for oursexcept in white to contrast our dark cabinets. My husband loves diy projects, and he wants to make a personalized countertop for our family for christmas. However, you do not need to invest a large amount of money to create a beautiful look. Futung cheng guides you stepbystep in bringing concrete countertops to life, with advice on mold making, mixing and pouring concrete, curing, polishing, and installing the finished concrete countertop. That look is actually kinda cool and i can handle it, but anytime a kid ran a car over the counter, or accidentally made a scratch which isnt tough considering the sealer on these. Make sure the corners of the forms fit exactly, and cover them with duct tape the way the guys do in the video. Learn how to make concrete countertops with the most popular casting method precast. This is a project that any enthusiastic diyer can tackle with great results. Futung cheng concrete countertops made simple author video. Diy concrete stain stained cement countertops and floors.
This is a project that any enthusiastic diy er can tackle with great results. If building a concrete countertop does not strike you as a traditional home improvement project, you are right. Watch 15 howto concrete videos about building concrete countertops. Dec 23, 2017 i edited this footage into a howto format showing the process and techniques i use when making a concrete countertop. We decided to create the forms right in place to avoid having to lift or move the countertops once complete. A countertop products for diy concrete countertops and professional use as well.
Make sure the mold is on a level surface that can accommodate the weight of the concrete. How to make concrete counters for an outdoor kitchen diy. If you are thinking of building diy concrete countertops for the first time, youve come to the right place. Try one of these diy countertops to transform yours on a tiny budget. Concrete countertops book this is the first and only complete guide to the techniques and design possibilities of concrete in your kitchen and bath. Im going to attempt to make a concrete countertop in a few weeks. Futung cheng is the founder of cheng concrete, a concrete countertop contracting company, and cheng design, a residential and commercial design firm. Concrete countertops will give architects and builders the knowhow and confidence to draw andor build what discerning homeowners are requesting in work. I can not say they require minimal effort, but not nearly as much as i anticipated, and you certainly to not need to be a.
You will also want to use a premixed, high strength concrete. Level 1 make your first successful concrete countertop. Concrete countertops are very trendy these days and add a cool industrial feel to a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room. Making your own concrete countertop is one of the more challengingand rewarding diy projects. This means the bottom of the form will be the top of the counter. But the stepbystep illustrations and detailed advice in the book, plus valuable demonstrations on the dvd, will help you create a flawless countertop in just two weeksall with basic materials and tools. If you want to color your countertops, you can add cement color mix according to the manufacturers instructions. Its nearly impossible to research good diy concrete countertop books without. Enter futung cheng, master of design and construction. Jenise diy fun ideas jenise has done lots of projects with concrete over on her site including full poured countertops, seen later in this post so she tried a new take on the concrete countertops not a skim coat that requires several thin coats, but an overlay that uses one thicker layer to cover up existing countertops. The quikrete white countertop mix is specially formulated to flow well into forms and respond to the detail and smooth finish we needed. Watch the dvd and see designer and concrete countertop expert futung cheng show you how to build it yourselffrom making the template to final finishing. Amazing diy concrete countertops yes, you can make this. Follow the below steps to easily and effectively make your own concrete countertop mix.