THE BENEFITS OF CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS

Concrete exudes a modern industrial aesthetic and therefore considered a good fit in contemporary kitchen designs as compare to engineered or natural stone.  Moreover adding to its values, concrete can be etched and acid-stained, stamped and sealed in order to create a countertop surface that is much better and durable than any other available material. Modern concrete kitchen countertops are more warm and presents more gleaming surface than the old traditional cold slabs of concrete used in past. These modern concrete countertops are more functional and gives your kitchen a touch of style and aesthetics. 

Why choose concrete countertops?

Concrete Offers Gorgeous Options for your kitchens and bathrooms. There is some misconception about the appearance, which needs to be addressed so that it’s clear for customers to make their righteous choice. Today concrete countertops are more stylish and gives more appealing look, more likely like any natural stone. The mottled look of granite or slate  is achieved through acid staining and one can get variety of colors from light to quite dark as per their choice. Beside the shades of color, concrete kitchen countertops can also be tinted as per the color of your décor or Kitchen requirement.  One can also get close match of kitchen cabinets and flooring.

Moreover with the advancement in technology, ceramic, stone tiles or glass can be embedded in the concrete that gives an attractive edge or border. Also the surface can be etched accordingly to give it a pattern and add design element. The possibilities are more than one can imagine, it’s just that you imagine and you create. This is how flexible its creation is as per your requirement.  So don’t limit your imagination nor underestimate the skill of the installer; as at Oplay we give the best.  We help clients to design and later guide all about concrete countertop installation  if required. You need a proper skilled and creative installer so as to achieve the best result.

Concrete countertops are more durable

Concrete is a solid hard material and resists chipping and scratching. Its cost effective and requires minimum amount of maintenance. You can keep using it for life time and would only likely be changing when actually ready to re-design your kitchen or bathroom and want to give a new look. So install it once and use it for decades.  

Heat resistant quality

If you really spend much time in your kitchen and love to cook, then concrete kitchen countertops are meant for your kitchen as they prove to be an asset in the long run. They resist all sort of temperature and stand up to the heat of hot pots and pans. Similarly, Concrete bathroom countertops  doesn’t get any harm or damage by hot hair tools like a straightener or styling iron  etc.

Concrete counters are easily maintained

Countertops require re sealing every few years and that’s the only maintenance that is needed.  It’s really quick and easy job when properly done. These countertops won’t harbor bacteria or leave stains. Very easy to clean with mild soap and warm water.

Gives an upgraded look to your home 

The word concrete seems like something ordinary but when you will really see these modern concrete counters your image of concrete would change all the way. If you need more information and want to see more countertops designs contact Opaly Quartz for complete guide on countertops and you will be in a better position to decide what’s best for your kitchen and bathroom.

Pros & Cons of Concrete Countertops

Pros

Natural stones and other countertops are often limited to the availability of colors and style. However Concrete countertops  offers a wide range of colors and patterns and many styles can be created as per choice. Though ceramic tile is another option with many range of choices, However nothing can be better than Concrete counters as they have many benefits and virtues, especially its ability to be formed and to be shaped as per your need and can be exactly something that can match your kitchen dimensions and finished close to your liking. 

Concrete counters can be customized by the addition of small elements like, stones, shells, glass fragments etc. that can be easily embedded to the surface.

 Cons

They are durable and easy to maintain, yet they are expensive to install. Concrete is a high-end material and when its installation is needed in kitchen or bathrooms, it’s fabricating process requires good skills and experience of trained technicians and therefore its installation charges are much more than other common material.

It does require re sealing as part of maintenance and therefore many people don’t prefer it. However, it remains the best choice for kitchen and bathrooms.

Beside its installation is also costly as concrete is very heavy and the technician has to be careful with cabinets and often floorings that needs to be strengthened before its installation so as to bear the increased weight.

Installation of Concrete Countertops

Concrete countertops are heavy and massive slabs an d require proper installation and fabrication process. Usually these slabs are only 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick, but yet very heavy. Installers have to be very careful with the cabinets and floorings in order to bear the substantial weight. Mostly technicians fabricate concrete countertops on-site, however they can also be fabricated in shops after a technician has discussed all finish options with you, thereby has taken precise measurements of your kitchen space.

During fabrication process, the countertop slabs are usually reinforced with metal mesh or fiber or some type of additional material to make it more rigid and strengthen the counters.

After fabrication, the surface may be polished and grounded to whatever finish the client needs. Next, often a very hard epoxy is applied as sealer. Once curing is done and finished the counters are ready for installation process and ready to be delivered.

Maintenance

It requires very low maintenance as its can be re-sealed yearly using a good quality sealer. A good water-based wax sealer every 9 to 12 months works quite well. Annual sealing ensures that the surface can easily resist staining and also lessens the chances of the concrete countertop cracking with the passage of time.

Conclusion:

Concrete countertops gives better finish and appeal as compare to quartz or natural stone and is considered as a premium material on demand. It offers you a chance to design a unique surface for your kitchen counters and even bathrooms. It can be made as per custom sized and shaped as per need. Its difficult to scratch concrete and its impervious to heat. Many small elements can be embedded for its beautification and style. Its durable and long lasting with low maintenance as compare to the other materials and gives a premium value to the surface.

In stainless steel and aluminum, glass granules are a reusable blasting medium that is iron-free and angular.