Weâve installed the cabinetry in our kitchen and bathrooms. The bottom line? Concrete Countertops: Cons. Expect to pay $150/sq ft or more for full-service concrete countertop fabrication and installation. Pro: Concrete is durable. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Soapstone is another natural stone, usually dark gray in color with a smooth, silky feel. Yes, concrete can scratch and stain, but so can pretty much every other material, including granite and marble. Just do your research, and make sure you do the maintenance. If you're looking for perfection, you might want to look elsewhere. Wax countertops monthly once sealed to prevent stains.". But in reality, even sealed concrete will show markings, especially spills like olive oil, red wine, juice, or coffee. Just like any other home improvement project, you have to consider the benefits and the drawbacks of adding concrete kitchen countertops to your home. Country Living participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Disadvantages of Concrete Countertops. I have cement, marble, and quartz in my home â and ⦠Glass fragments, stones, shells, and even fiber-optic lights can be embedded. And because each countertop is individually handmade, there are endless ways to customize them. This is the main reason why concrete countertops need to be sealed after the installation process. Adding to the mystique is the fact that concrete can be etched, acid-stained, stamped, and sealed to create a countertop surface that is unlike almost any other available material. Once again, the idea that concrete is used for sidewalks and patios, thus it must be inexpensive, is false. Cons â Soft and porous ⦠Difficult to scratch and impervious to heat, Can improve resale value since it is considered to be a premium surface, Expensive, costing as much as $150 per square foot, Regular sealing is required to avoid staining, Its excessive weight can tax cabinet frames and floors, Repairs are difficult for the do-it-yourselfer. In the shop, forms are built and the countertop is poured, complete with whatever sink cutouts, coloration, or additives are requested. Concrete Countertops Pros and Cons _____ Conclusion: Concrete countertops are preferred for their durability and huge customization options. Concrete is more porous than natural stone, so it is more prone to staining. Installation Issues. Something as simple as water spots might result in a pretty sloppy style that would drive a Type A person crazy. Designers and homeowners who opt for this type of countertop material tend to have artful flair and appreciate the beautiful things in life. While concrete is not scratch-proof, it does resist scratches remarkably well, especially when compared to softer counter materials such as solid surface or laminate. After all, concrete is made up of the same material found in sidewalks. Thank Pinterest, thank Joanna Gaines, thank marble madness overload—but concrete countertops have taken over farmhouses in the past few years. Rock-solid and hard as granite or slate, concrete can be a better fit in contemporary kitchen designs than engineered or natural stones since it exudes a modern industrial aesthetic. Versatility tops the list of pros. If the sink is an under-mount style, it is set in place first, then the countertop is installed over it. Con: But it can crack. Installers sometimes need to reinforce cabinetry and sometimes even the floors in order to bear the substantial weight. The costs are similar, with a simple concrete counter being slightly less expensive. Still, cracks happen, whether because of pressure or the natural settling of the house. Concrete countertops have been hot for a while and theyâre not cooling off. There are several great reasons to consider applying an epoxy finish to your kitchen countertops, but the disadvantages of epoxy countertops should be seriously discussed before moving forward with your project.. Guaranteed Durability When it comes to weighing the pros and cons of stone versus concrete countertops, durability is often concreteâs distinguishing factor. Concrete Countertops: Pros. Concrete countertops are a great choice for those looking for a personalizable countertop that can be shaped, colored, and designed in near-infinite ways. Concrete can be cast into any shape and pigmented, stained, or textured with all kinds of shades and finishes; you can even embed tiles, stones, etc. Weigh the pros and cons of different countertop materials to find the perfect fit for your space. The Advantages of Concrete Countertops Generally, most people will find that the pros of concrete countertops outweigh the cons. A concrete countertop is rock solid and hard (just like granite or slate) but offers so much more than the other countertop material. Concrete is notorious for flaunting flaws—the most common complaint of unhappy homeowners. The strength of the cement-and-sand mix alone has some hailing it as a rock solid (we had to) design choice. What are the cons of concrete countertops? More about us. Concrete can be cast into any shape and pigmented, stained, or textured with all kinds of shades and finishes; you can even embed tiles, stones, etc. Moreover, embedding glass beads or colorful marbles can enhance the aesthetic appeal of the kitchen. Concrete Central created the countertops for this West Village townhouse by Zimmerman Workshop. Prior to you start, you must guarantee your base cabinets are actually durable enough to reinforce the body weight of a concrete piece ( 145 extra pounds per cubic foot). The Pros of Concrete Countertops Versatility - The material creates an industrial look but can be softened by adding different, shapes, textures, and more. Con: Concrete is susceptible to stains and scratches. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. PROS. Concrete may be attractively shaped, colored, and textured in an almost infinite number of ways. Pro: Cracks can be fixed. Pro: So is basically everything else. You'll want to reseal every one to three years. Concrete (cement) countertops are beautiful and unique! One con, as mentioned above, is that extra care must be taken to protect surfaces from staining or scratching. Soapstone. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. Plus, weigh the pros and cons to see if cement counters are right for you. More often, they are warm and gleaming surfaces that are functional and also remarkably stylish. According to ConcreteNetwork.com, the average cost per square foot is $65 to $135, and the average cost of installation is $40 to $50 per hour, per person. With new colorizing and staining techniques, their appeal is growing, if anything. Consider how quickly you need them, too: Once poured, it takes 28 days for concrete counters to fully cure. Concrete that has been mixed, prepared, and poured properly is resistant to chipping and cracking. This way, homeowners can match their kitchen countertops with any home décor. Modern concrete kitchen countertops are no longer cold impersonal slabs of gray concrete. Youâll have to deal with a clutter if you choose to have concrete countertops put in spot. Nothing could be further from the truth. Pros â Looks luxurious and is available in a wide variety of colors. If you are averse to regular maintenance, then concrete may not be for you. When Should You Take Your Christmas Tree Down? Of course, you can prevent cracks to a certain extent by adding fiber reinforcement, rebar, and/or wire mesh. IN THIS POST â Pros of Concrete Countertops â Cons of Concrete Countertops â Maintenance of Concrete Countertops High-end concrete countertops have become one of the top kitchen trends for 2020 â and for all the right reasons. It ⦠Concrete Countertop Cons Requires sealing - Concrete is a porous material that is susceptible to stains if left in its natural state. We scratched beneath the surface and found all the pros and cons you need to know. Pros Concrete countertops have many virtues, especially its ability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen dimensions and finished precisely to your liking. The key is to determine what qualities fit your needs. Concrete countertops are vulnerable to accruing stains and scratches . Once curing and finishing are complete, an installation crew carefully delivers the countertop to the worksite and installs it. Because concrete is so heavy, cabinets and often flooring often need to be strengthened to bear the increased weight. Concrete, too, can be customized by the addition of small items pressed into the top surface. Hereâs a look at the pros and cons of three popular high-end options: solid surface, engineered stone and granite. The customization options are endless. Only ceramic tile comes close to offering a comparable range of choices. Recycled glass, tiles, or metal can be laid in the concrete for a unique look. It's easy to see why: Installing concrete counters is a sure way to infuse your home with a rustic yet industrial feel that's at once trendy and unfussy. Design - The sky is the limit when it comes to adding in a design pattern to your concrete countertop. Now itâs time for the countertops. Unique Beauty; A major advantage of concrete countertops is their beauty, uniqueness, and modern flair. Durable Resin Finish; When epoxy hardens, it creates a solid surface that should last for years. As part of the installation, the crew may build or install support frames for sinks, since it is important that the countertop itself not carry the weight of the sink. Itâs durable, and both scratch and heat resistant. Whether you love or hate the "worn in" look, you should know how best to care for your counters. Also, itâs a better fit in contemporary home designs and characterized by a modern aesthetic. In theory, sealing will make your counters stain-, scratch- and heat-resistant. Learn more about the material, including the costs and time it takes. Colors and trends come and go, but most of these super-durable countertops stay in place for 15 to 20 years or more. Pros and Cons of Concrete Counters. While concrete countertops are sometimes formed and poured on-site, more often they are fabricated in shops after a technician takes precise measurements of your kitchen space and discusses all finish options with you. The cost depends on various factors like size, shape, thickness, finish, colour as well as additional features like backsplashes, edge designs, inlays, or decorative aggregates. Pros of having Concrete countertops 1. If youâre not familiar with concrete countertops and what can be done to maximize their beauty, you should learn more about them before making your countertop choice. Obvious positive attributes of concrete countertops include their visual and tactile attractiveness and uniqueness. Still, concrete countertops are very heavy and can weigh upwards of 19 to 25 pounds per square foot. If left unsealed it is highly susceptible to stains, scratches, and harboring bacteria. You want to touch up the sealant regularly and immediately wipe up spills to prevent stains. Quartz can give granite a run for its money (especially considering the cost of higher-end ⦠Here are the pros and cons of 10 countertop ⦠After fabrication, the countertop is allowed to cure fully, and the surface may be ground and polished to whatever finish the client has requested. Perhaps the biggest advantage of concrete countertops is that you can customize to look like any other stone countertop in the market today. msn back to msn home lifestyle. Concrete counters are expensive, too. Concrete countertops may look like massive slabs, but in reality, they are usually only 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick. Concrete countertops require sealing to make them resistant to stains and water damage. Pros and Cons of Epoxy Countertops in Your Kitchen. Yet concrete does have some significant downsides that make this a product you'll want to consider carefully before you make the purchase. Annual sealing will ensure the surface resists staining and will lessen the chances of the concrete countertop cracking over time. Here is a brief summary of all the advantages and disadvantages that concrete countertops come with. Concrete countertops are made with a mortar mix usually consisting of one part cement and three parts sand. Unlike quartz, quartzite is a natural stone type, originating from sandstone. Good ⦠But after testing them out, other homeowners have voiced some serious concerns which made us wonder: Is concrete all it's cracked up to be? Being able to choose aggregates, tints and textures is a chance to exercise freedom of expression and to be truly creative. Concrete countertop cons mostly originate from its surface. The cost of concrete countertops will depend on if you go the DIY route or have them professionally installed (either pre-cast or poured in place)âand how much personalization you want. The cost of concrete countertops will depend on if you go the DIY route or have them professionally installed (either pre-cast or poured in place)—and how much personalization you want. fiber reinforcement, rebar, and/or wire mesh, The Pros and Cons of Butcher-Block Countertops, 4 Different Kitchen Renovations on 4 Budgets, Your Guide to Hardwood Flooring Costs and Types. Assuming the countertop has been sealed initially with a good-quality sealer, ongoing maintenance requires only the application of a good water-based wax sealer every 9 to 12 months. Concrete has a porous surface, which makes it easy to get stained or heat damage. But if you love the rugged aesthetic and are passionate about patina, go ahead and give it a try. Cons of Concrete Countertops 01. Letâs take a closer look at concrete countertops' pros and cons. In the right house, concrete countertops can improve the house's resale value since it is considered to be a premium material, on par with quartz or natural stone counters. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. You won't find anything on the market that's indestructible. Sensitive to heat - Left in its natural state, concrete is very heat resistant. Cons. Pros and Cons of Popular Bathroom Countertop Materials, 15 Striking Kitchens With Concrete Countertops, Hardwood Flooring in Kitchens Review: Pros and Cons, Solid Surface Countertops vs. Quartz Countertops, Travertine Flooring Review: Pros and Cons, Concrete Flooring for Bathrooms: Pros and Cons, Laminate Sheet Backsplash: What to Know Before You Buy. "Avoid abrasive cleaners and scrubbers that can damage sealer," Havenly's Head of Design, Shelby Girard, tells CountryLiving.com. During fabrication, the countertop slabs are usually reinforced with fiber or metal mesh of some type to give them strength and rigidity. That's a risk that comes along with concrete countertops, most commonly when poured in place rather than pre-cast. Thankfully, those fractures are usually not super noticeable and pretty easy to repair. Few kitchen countertop materials are more misunderstood than high-end concrete. Along with all the pros, a few cons for concrete counters include: Susceptible to Stains Concrete is a porous material. The man-made stone offers an increasingly realistic look mimicking materials such as marble, granite, concrete, and more. It shares many qualities with concrete countertops including being strong and durable. Does the thought of a hairline fracture make you cringe? The countertop is usually adhered to the cabinets with construction adhesives after being carefully leveled and shimmed. Concrete is a porous material which can absorb liquids and even form a conducive breeding ground for bacteria. Ingredients such as accelerators, superplasticizers, pigments and decorative aggregates will affect both the performance and final look of a concrete countertop. They are costly as compared to granite, marble, or quartz countertops. Note: If properly built countertops should have reinforcement around the sink area. 25 Concrete Kitchen Backsplashes With Pros And Cons Concrete is a very popular material to use in home decor, and it can be seen in many spaces, from industrial to boho ones. But do take into account all the concrete countertops pros and cons before choosing one for your kitchen or bathroom. Advantages of Epoxy Countertops. The pros of concrete countertops Both designers and homeowners laud concreteâs ability to become any shape and practically any color through the use of various dyes, stains and coatings. Concrete countertops have many virtues, especially its ability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen dimensions and finished precisely to your liking. Ben & Erin Napier Talk 'Home Town' Season 5, 93 Best Easy Low-Carb Recipes With Tons of Flavor, The Easiest Way to Fake Concrete Countertops, The Original Use for Pull-Out Breadboards, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. With other countertop materials, you are often limited to whatever colors and styles are available, but concrete ⦠You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Best Slow Cooker Recipes for Cold Nights, 70 Best Pie Recipes for the Holidays, or Anytime, 70 Best Casserole Recipes for Easy Dinner Ideas, Easy Cast Iron Skillet Recipes to Try This Year, The Best Grout Cleaners on the Market Right Now. CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS VS GRANITE Granite is a common material used for countertops. Think twice before specifying that bright blue top. It ⦠Ongoing maintenance; Sealant shows etch marks/scratches; Hairline cracks (rare) Any product on the market has pros and cons. Country Living editors select each product featured. Pros and Cons of Concrete Countertops. Concrete does require annual resealing, at a minimum. If you are conditioned to think of concrete as a utilitarian building material used for slabs and foundations, you might imagine that concrete countertops are cheap and easy to install. Concrete Countertops Pros and Cons. That's because the porous substance can absorb liquids and even bacterial growth, which is why it's incredibly important to seal the surface upon installation. Concrete is a high-end material when used in kitchen countertops, and fabricating them requires the skill and experience of trained technicians. Plus: Learn how to clean a stainless steel sink. While some may be bothered by the imperfections, others love the rustic look and embrace the rich patina that develops over time. The fact remains that concrete is a durable countertop material that can be shaped into the exact dimensions of your kitchen space. However, there are variables in both prepackaged mixes and mixes made from scratch by pros. Or you can even design it in such a way that it matches with the rest of the interior of your house. The pros and cons of putting a concrete countertop in your NYC apartment Share: The cast-in-place concrete countertop and seamless 10-by-5-foot island with self-supporting overhang was fabricated by Oso Industries as part of a renovation by Matter Of ⦠Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, concrete countertops are sometimes formed. "To prevent stains, use cutting boards, and clean up messes quickly. The illusion that they are much thicker slabs is usually the result of a drop-front edging on the countertop. With other countertop materials, you are often limited to whatever colors and styles are available, but concrete offers you a wider range of options. 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