Are you thinking about renovating your kitchen? Doing research on countertop materials? If so, then our Countertop Spotlight series will help you. Today we look at the pros and cons of concrete countertops:
Material: Concrete
Overview: Concrete countertops are made from a general-purpose mortar mix: one part cement to three parts sand. To avoid the appearance of a sidewalk, concrete countertops can have any color added to them, and must be sealed to make them non-porous and heat- and- stain- resistant. The end result is an industrial looking surface.
Environmental Impact: Cement production and transportation are very energy-intensive, but the impact can be reduced if the aggregate pieces are recycled or locally sourced.
Pros: Heat-resistant; very durable if sealed; shapes, edge details, and texture can be fully customized (i.e. you can add recycled glass or stone pieces into the mixture); can be made to look seamless with a filler.
Cons: MUST be sealed to protect it from stains, water and heat damage, and bacterial growth, but even with sealing moisture or oil can make the countertop look "wet" and sloppy; can be expensive depending on the level of customization required.
Installation: Installation and grinding concrete can generate large quantities of dust, so be sure to take proper health precautions in your home.
Price range: $65 - $135 per square foot, depending on the amount of custom work required.
Kitchn Reader Reviews:
I have them in my rental which leads me to think that I don't have the best ones out there. However, I do kind of hate them. They're sealed but they still stain really easily. I'm always rushing to wipe up any colored spills. I scrub them but they take forever to dry. And leaving a printed food package on a damp spot will leave a very accurate imprint of that package on my counter that will take 20 minutes to scrub off. The worst is oil. It discolors it in a way that I have not been able to remove. - Bklynchic
We have concrete countertops and yes, they were sealed by the manufacturer. Within a month, stains from drops of oil and vinegar from general cooking stained the countertops severely. Every drop is small, so we considered them a patina and sign of our frequent and joyful cooking. However, there are many other stains, many which have an unknown origin. There is a banana outline on the counter, ring marks from various containers, and where the water from the sink drips, a crackled patina. Every where there is a new stain or drop of something, the surface of the concrete changes, where something acidic has spattered, it's very rough to the touch. Ee have tried buffing, sanding, resealing, talking to the concrete manufacturer (now out of business) and nothing has worked. We have had these for less than a year now and have vowed to never get concrete countertops again. They are extremely heavy and were custom built, so replacing them is going to be an expensive and time-consuming upheaval. - Pedalpowered
I'm an avid baker and cook and when my husband and I remodeled our kitchen this year we poured our own concrete countertops. We borrowed the Cheng book from the library and bought some of his products to mix in with our bagged concrete. Although making them was challenging, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love the look and find that they are not hard to care for. Most of the problems that people mention can be avoided if you use a good wax and also a good sealer. We used Cheng for both and had good results. Concrete can stain, especially if the seal is wearing thin, but we have not had a problem with it even with heavy use. - Gilliang
I've lived with my DIY'd concrete countertops for four years. It is NOT the material for people that want a pristine, perfect looking surface 100% of the time. My taste leans toward character, patina and things that look like they are used and functional, so I love mine. They are what I think of as a living surface. They are not maintenance free. Even if well sealed, citrus juice or other acid will etch them, but this is easily polished away with a 600 or 800 grit diamond hand pad. Oil can and will soak into them. The effect of this probably depends on the color and finish of the tops to begin with. It doesn't bother me (mine are plain, uncolored concrete), and eventually it evens out. I roll out pastry and work with very wet doughs on mine at least once a week. I think it's a fabulous surface for that, comparable to marble. They do require re-sealing and waxing a couple of times a year, but the frequency of this totally depends on the sealer you choose and your tolerance for shiny vs. dull. Mine have NO cracks after 4 years. Cracks are a fabrication issue that CAN be prevented in almost every case... I would do it again in a heartbeat, both the decision to use them and the DIY. - Splatgirl
Readers, do you experience with concrete countertops? Tell us below!
Related Kitchn and Apartment Therapy Posts:
• Can You Give Me an Honest Opinion on Concrete Countertops?
• Our Visit to the Concrete Countertop Workshop
• How To Make DIY Concrete Countertops
Other 'Countertop Spotlight' Posts
• All About: Stainless Steel Countertops
• All About: Butcher Block Countertops
• All About: Quartz Countertops
• All About: Granite Countertops
• All About: Synthetic Solid Surface Countertops
• All About: Lava Stone Countertops
• All About: Paper Composite Countertops
(Images: 1. Monika Gromek; 2. Jill Slater; 3. Leela Cyd Ross; 4. Jill Slater; 5. Apartment Therapy)
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In the next 5 years we are planning a kitchen reno and my top choices for countertops are concrete and quartz. I did not realize that the concrete could stain so easily, so definitely sticking that detail in the back of my mind.
Hmph. Never thought about concrete countertops... don't think I would want them in my kitchen, but in the garage/ garden potting area, I think it sounds wonderful..
I had concrete counters installed in my kitchen two years ago. I agree that if you are looking for a pristine surface then you are better off looking at other materials. If you want character and patina and natural beauty, concrete can't be beat.
I have had concrete countertops in my kitchen for 12 years and LOVE them. Mine were poured off site and brought in. They are Black and have no stains. I love them!
Stains!!! We have unfinished (i think) concrete counters in our rental kitchen and pretty much anything stains them. Lemons leave the worst ones I have encountered, so annoying to try and keep pristine for the next tenant. Hopefully the landlord understands the pros and cons of concrete and we don't get charged-probably not though.
We were thinking concrete counters tops too for our remodel, but now reconsidering. Hmmm.
I'm glad AT mentions the environmental impact of concrete. Cement (concrete is cement and sand) uses limestone quarried in open-pit mines. The stone is cooked in kilns that often use highly polluting materials for fuel (slag from steel production, tires, coal). It is never a green choice. Even recycled concrete must be mixed with new cement.
That said, I has seen commercial installations (restaurants and stores) of colored and sealed concrete counters that seem to have worn well over several years. The thing that bothers me about concrete -- visually -- is the inevitable small cracks and crazing. I couldn't live with that on a counter.
When I was remodeling my kitchen I obtained samples of maybe a dozen counter materials. I hit them with knives, put oil, vinegar, catsup on them. I exposed them to heat and dragged things across them. The only one that held up without issue was (unstylish, ecologically incorrect I am, I know) granite. There are more options out there now...even some that look like concrete without the hassles.
I never thought of them as being so high maintenance! I don't think I would mind the staining and stuff though. It might be nice character. We have old weird red patterned laminate in our rental and the counters are very small. I was fantasizing doing it(since they are small)with the landlady's permission but from the sound of it I don't think she would like it once we move.
whats the point of concrete? there is no movement, no interest...i dont want my kitchen counters to look like my driveway.
"Cement production and transportation are very energy-intensive."
Please elaborate.
1. What's involved in production?
2. What's involved in transportation?
3. How does this compare with other countertop materials (e.g., I imagine all natural stone is also mined and transported)?
A friend cast his own and ran into problems with the cabinet frames. He had to bulk them up to support the weight of the concrete. Then, his dishwasher didn't fit under the counter anymore. Argh.
I love the look of concrete, and hope to remodel my kitchen this year. But probably I will go with soapstone or slate instead of concrete, for all the issues mentioned above. I don't care for shiny countertops, and there do not seem to be many matte options.
We researched the heck out of DIY concrete countertops last year. Making them was our summer project and we could not be more pleased with our countertops. Everyone who sees them is astonished that we made them ourselves.
When you DIY concrete countertops, the price per square foot obviously goes way down. They are quite a bit of work to make and we had to get help lifting them onto the cabinets, but in the end, we are so happy to have them. We sealed them well and have no stains. If I were paying the price per square foot quoted above, I may not choose concrete, but as a DIY option, they are definitely worth the work and expense.
@Kirkat, I have to argue that there is MUCH interest in concrete counter tops.. they are each unique and have variation & movement in color & character.
Concrete counter tops do not look anything like a driveway. That's just silly.
We have a combination of concrete & butcher block in our kitchen.
We, too, researched them at great length ahead of time. I love them & do not regret them at all. We have 5 kids, so our kitchen really gets used & sees drips & spills.
It was very easy to seal the counter tops, and we've had no problems at all with stains.
I would like to note that I find the leading overview sentence, "Concrete countertops are made from a general-purpose mortar mix..." is not all that accurate. They should be made of specially formulated countertop mix, not just any concrete mix. The countertop mix is a higher strength, very dry mixture - for less shrinkage & cracking.
It costs considerably more, but is worth it for a good turnout to your project.
We made ours, but I should also note (as mentioned by others above by @YONELLA )
it is a project that has to be well thought out & precise. My husband is a fine craftsman. Building forms & pouring custom countertops throughout a kitchen is not the same as a DIYer pouring a table top.
They are not to be tackled lightly.
Anyway, again - I love them. Love the smooth, yet industrial look, the character, etc.
I have never liked granite, and wanted a solid surface. Could not be happier. (and it was very resourceful price-wise in our kitchen remodel.)
@toothlesspoodle - visitors are astonished at ours, as well! They usually don't know what they are.
As someone who used to work in the concrete industry, I definitely know the pros and cons of concrete.
In regards to the staining issue, many people want to use a 'food grade' sealer such as beeswax. That's great and all, but you have to re-apply the beeswax every few months depending on wear and tear. And honestly, I don't know of many people who are willing to do that type of up keep. But in reality, most people will NOT have food in direct contact with their countertops. Usually there's some sort of cutting board or whatever involved. In that case, you don't have to bother with food grade sealers that don't protect as much. And you can use a more industrial sealer, that will prevent stains.
But one of the advantages of concrete, is that they can easily be customized to fit your kitchen - color, size, shapes, etc.