“I’m sorry, did you say I could make my own concrete countertop??” Yes I did! In gathering our ideas for the new studio space, we realized that we would finally have a chance to try our own concrete countertop DIY. We loved reading about this DIY countertop last year and were so impressed that we wanted to try it ourselves. Here’s what we did:
Supplies:
Ardex Feather Finish (we used two bags)
fine/medium/coarse sandpaper
hand orbit sander (optional but really helpful)
several sizes and widths of putty knives and drywall knives
disposable containers to mix concrete
concrete sealer
painter’s tape
paint roller and brush
NOTE: We shopped locally for our sealer and were told that there weren’t any food-safe concrete sealers available. We chose to go ahead with the sealer they recommended, knowing we’d always use cutting boards to protect food from the counter surface. However, upon further research we have found a few sealers that say they are food safe (like this one).
First I sanded the surface of the existing formica countertop with a coarse sandpaper (the cement will hold better to a rough surface). Next, I wiped the countertop clean with a damp rag and let dry. I found it really helpful to use painter’s tape a little above where the top of the backsplash meets the wall tile. This helped save the tile and the grout from the sanding and the color of the concrete. We also took out the sink so I could get under the lip of where the sink sits on the counter. Use a small disposable container and a paint stirrer to mix your cement. I was able to find paper containers the size of move theater popcorn buckets at our local Ace hardware store, and I probably went through about 4-5 of those by the time I was done.
The back of the Feather Finish said to use a 1 part water to 2 parts dry cement ratio when mixing smaller amounts, and I used a disposable plastic cup to mix this ratio in my paper bucket. I suggest only doing 1 cup water and 2 cups of dry cement per batch so that you can spread it all before it dries (any more and it tends to harden before you can use it). I used a small and a wide putty knife as well as a large drywall trowel. It was nice to have a mixture of tools to work with since particular ones came in handy at different points in the job. Use the tools to spread a thin layer of concrete over the top of your countertop. It does kind of feel like you are icing a cake, but it also reminded me of using spackle to patch a hole in a wall-you use the same type of motion. Don’t worry about getting the whole surface covered on your first go, if you have a few areas that look thin, you’ll cover them with the second coat.
When you come to a right angle (like where the backsplash meets the counter) it helps to use a wide putty knife and pull the wet cement up from the countertop on the backsplash part and towards yourself away from the wall on the countertop. Pulling the cement in the opposite directions helps give the corner a cleaner look.
The hardest part of this whole job was the rounded angle on the top of the backsplash. I had to use the small putty knife to put small amounts of wet concrete on the rounded edge, smooth it out the best I could, but honestly, I shaped most of that area during sanding. If you’re ever in doubt, put too much concrete on-you can always sand off excess later, but you can’t add more without mixing another batch.
I let the first coat completely air dry for 24 hours and then sanded that coat down with a medium sandpaper before adding another coat. You don’t need to get the surface very smooth at this point, you just want to sand down anything that’s sticking up a lot higher than anything else. Use a shop vacuum to clean up the extra dust and mix your concrete to add another layer. I ended up doing three layers of concrete leaving at least 24 hours of dry time between each layer.
After the final layer I spent several hours (yes, several hours) sanding the surface as smooth as possible. I used a coarse sandpaper first and then repeated the process with a much finer grade. I would suggest using thin gloves for this much hand sanding. I didn’t use any and my fingertips were not happy about for a few days! I was able to use a hand sander for some of the initial sanding, but I had to be careful with it since it sometimes it seemed too strong and would create divots instead of smoothing them out. I also removed the painter’s tape at this point. Even though I did have to use the putty knife in a few spots to scrape where a bit of concrete covered the tape, it seems to have protected the wall pretty successfully. Once the surface is smooth and your tape is removed, use the shop vacuum to remove the excess dust and you’re ready to seal your countertop!
I used three coats of a water-based satin finish sealer. This sealer package recommended applying the sealer with a short nap roller and a brush for tighter areas, and that seemed to work really well. The sealer was the consistency of thinned skim milk, so you have to be careful not to splash it everywhere as you roll it on. Once the sealer was dry, we re-installed the sink and we were done!
You can see that the sealer darkened the countertop a bit, but I really like the dark contrast with the white tile and yellow cabinets (white kitchen accessories like these really look pretty against the grey). So far it seems to be holding up and appears totally waterproof as well (although if water sits on the surface for a while the area turns dark and lightens back up when it dries). I have to say that this was a rather physically demanding project (I can’t even tell you how sore my arms were after the final round of sanding), but it was totally worth it. Even the contractors working in the house were impressed that I was able to do it myself and how nice it turned out! Not a bad countertop makeover for under $100, right? Think you’ll be trying it in your home anytime soon? xo. Laura
Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman, Photography: Laura Gummerman and Elsie Larson.
199 Comments
Oh my goodness these are gorgeous! I am trying to convince my boyfriend to do concrete… or wood. They both look fantastic but I love these!
Leah Faye
a clover and a bee
Super COOL. love that it kinda has an industrial feel.
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
WOW! Looks great!
One tip that we used when we did our countertops was to use plastic wrap to smooth it out. You hold it in both hands and let it smooth over the edges that are rounded.
I’m excited to see that someone else has tried this technique! I’ve been wanting to pour my own concrete counters using wood molds, but I was worried about the weight of the concrete and it just seemed so excessive! I’ve been contemplating this technique, but I’ve been skeptical about how they’d hold up over time. I’d be really interested to see how these counters hold up (if there is any cracking or chipping). A follow up post in a few months or so would be great!
I am wondering if you ever did the concrete countertops you were thinking about? Did it work out? What if we wanted to use some color in the concrete I wonder how we would do that. Let me know if you did it and how it turned out. Thank you.
To my knowledge you can’t change or add color to the concrete during installation but you can get concrete stain for use after the concrete is dry. There are many different concrete stains to choose from, just do alittle research.
You can buy concrete dye at most hardware or building stores. We redone our front porch in and had the color changed to black.
There are powdered concrete colorants available. I used to lay brick and often times we used colored mortar. It was just a bag of colored powder added during the mixing of the mortar. I assume this would work in this situation also. Just be sure to measure to get the same color in every batch.
I too am interested in how these held up. If you drop something heavy on them do the crack?
ML
They have helped up really well! They are sealed, so they haven’t cracked.
Have they required any maintenance? I am trying to find a counter top solution for my mother in law, and this looks like an amazing option!
After a couple years, how are the counters holding up? Have they stained? Cracked? Do you recommend doing concrete?
Will the cement crack if something is dropped on it?
Looks great! I agree, the contrast looks amazing. It’s so easy and cheap, I’m thinking about trying it, when I makeover my kitchen.
Great job! The counters look fantastic!
Amazing! I love it! So bright and cheery!
This is amazing! Do you know how well it would hold up with dings, scratches, etc?? I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to repair too.
Oh my goodness this turned out wonderful! I like how the color offsets the yellow cabinets as well as the white background and all of your accessories! I didn’t realize it was so easy to do this. That’s what I love about your blog you break hard DIY’s down to doable steps!
It’s really gorgeous and a fabulous idea! The only thing is that if this is non food safe, i could get a little tricky maybe…but it looks fabulous anyway! 😉
xoxo
Melodie
http://sevenlivesandmore.blogspot.fr/
I used 3 coats of acrylaq after the impregnator to make my counters food safe! Love how they turned out!
Once the countertops completely cure, the surface will be food safe. The FDA can’t say that though.
So great !
Those counters look amazing! I have the same kind of rounded-edge counters that, up until this post, I thought I had to chuck and make concrete counters from scratch. But this looks totally doable and yields equally as beautiful results! Great job, chicas!
Love! We did concrete countertops too, except we cast ours in molds we made and put them on the cabinet base. We’ve had them for about a year and a half now. Still love them but they do take a good amount of upkeep. We have to re-seal them every 6 months otherwise water stains and stuff start happening. Still totally gorgeous and worth it!
Well done with the remodel! It’s looking awesome!
http://nikitaandvesper.com/blogs/baby-blog
I have been wanting to learn more about DIY concrete counters so I was so excited to see this project! My brain is buzzing with ideas for my house– Thanks for sharing as always–
I have concrete counters, too. They are very porous and easily damaged. Before anyone decides to go with concrete decide if you are willing to always use a cutting board and never let any drips of acidic or oily substances touch your counters. I love mine, but they are very high maintenance. .
Absolutely incredible. You guys continue to raise the bar!
Please keep us updated with how it holds up. My only concern would be that it may eventually crack. It looks beautiful and if its as durable as concrete would suggest, this seems like a great alternative to many of the more expensive materials used for counter tops.
This is super awesome! I never knew you could cover up counters like this. Definitely a pretty finish and upgrade!
Carlee
http://littlesloth.etsy.com
Wow ! That’s really beautiful ! I always thought yellow, gray and white was the perfect combination for a kitchen 🙂 Good job !
These look beautiful! I can’t wait to own a home instead of renting so I can do something awesome like this! Although, my friend and I already have plans to do this to her countertops now!
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
it looks SO awesome!
you ladies amaze me, so creative.
Molly {Dreams in HD}
http://www.dreamsinhd.blogspot.com
Oh, Wow! That’s brillant!
I have been considering doing the same to my very 70’s counter tops. Since a full on renovation isn’t in the budget yet I feel it would be a great little upgrade from what they currently are.
Love this! Thanks for sharing.
i put in butcherblock a few months ago and I TOTALLY REGRET IT! I love the way butcherblock looks at it was pretty cheap, but it is not wearing well. I’m so sad I didn’t give this a shot.
I wish that you’d linked to the original DIY by Kara Paslay, especially since I feel like her site may get less traffic than the Little Green Notebook. LGN linked to it (kinda).
I have always wanted to try this but been too chicken. I really need a new counter tho so I may just do it. Love love love!!
Your hard work really paid off! This looks so unique and amazing, I love the contrast of the colours too 🙂
Wow, I admire you so much for taking on such a hard task like this! It turned out great! 🙂
http://liivingingrace.blogspot.ca/
Very Cool! I was actually looking to do this a few months back, but was cautioned against it. Also everything I read said it would chip off and crack with being just a coating rather than making a mold and doing the whole countertop as a cement slab. Instead I did the rulstoleum countertop paint thing in a dark grey. It looks pretty good, but I’d rather have this. It looks fabulous!
My father works for Ardex here in Houston. They sell sealer from their own company. I’ll have to check with him to see if they sell food safe sealers, I know he does residential and commercial concrete sales, and I know they’ve been installing alot of concrete countertops in Houston lately.
Also, Ardex sells self leveling concrete, just to make life a little bit more easy 😉
Melinda
Looks great! My husband and I did the same to our countertops in December. I really like the look but I am not happy with the sealer we used. What was the brand name of yours?
Looks amazing!!!!! Just awesome. The fact that you guys did it yourself is even cooler! 🙂
This is awesome, and it transforms your whole kitchen (nice contrast)! I totally want to to do the same now…
You did a great job and your countertop looks beautiful! I have had concrete countertops in my kitchen and bathroom for a few years and although I love them and am proud of the fact we made them, they are very prone to staining. We have tried several different sealers and I think the bottom line is that they require upkeep, as much as sealing once per month or at least every few months. Watch out for red wine, olive oil, berry juice (I’ve had some major stains occur when juice leaked from bags of frozen berries while making smoothies!), and anything acidic. To my eye, some stains makes for a nice, natural, “well-lived” patina, but other stains aren’t very attractive. I’m sure you researched concrete countertops so you know about staining, but I thought it may not hurt to encourage you to seal them often. Beautiful work (as usual!)
I’ve seen the DIY concrete counter tops where you literally frame out your counter and pour concrete, but I’ve never heard of “painting” concrete on top of your existing counters. SUCH a good idea! Way less of a hassle and easy enough that someone who doesn’t know much about concrete-laying (*ahem* me) can do it! Great tutorial guys!
xo Denise
lovelybohemian.blogspot.com
Looks great and an easy way to add character! We did concrete counters at our old house but did them as solid poured concrete. My husband made forms and coloring for a unique look. They were the main selling point of our house.
you girls are fu.king amazing… ! so impressed every time by your projects !
You don’t know how happy I am that you did this DIY tutorial! I’ve been putting off new countertops for years because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I have also looked into getting concrete ones made. Now I can just follow your instructions and save a lot of money.
Thank you so much, Laura! It looks great!
http://www.jenndubs.etsy.com
Such a nice kitchen!!
Love, Tatjana
http://missfuckingfashion.blogspot.de/
The countertop looks phenomenal! So creative and inexpensive, I love the way it adds contrast to the white and yellow.
-Kim
http://www.prettyslickchick.com
This turned out super lovely! You guys did such a great job. what a cool Idea.
rae at lovefromberlin
Oh my! What a great DIY!
What a wonderful idea!
Yes! I’ve had Little Green Notebook’s countertops pinned for awhile just waiting for countertops of my own. 🙂 They look amazing!
Wow, this really looks great!!
Hi Gretchen!
There’s a link to the sealer in the supply list at the top 🙂
Laura
I can’t even begin to tell you how inspiring this was.
Definitely going to take on this project!
Thanks, ABM team
As always, so great xx
Wow! You did a great job. I am going to favorite this blog so I can show my husband, I would love for him (notice I said him….LOL) to try this for our countertops. I would be honored if you and any of your viewers would check out my new beauty blog at http://www.bethandbeauty.com. Thanks in advance!
This looks like not an easy project, kudos, it looks glamorous.
I’m so impressed. We have polished concrete floors and we love them. A blade and a chemical is used that seals up the concrete-very dusty but worth it1
Wow, that turned out so great! I didn’t know that concrete could look so beautiful!
Wow, that looks amazing.
http://michelleolthuis.blogspot.com
Your talented. That looks so good.
I agree, I love the contrast of the light, dark concrete, and the yellow.
xx, Jodi
http://highheelsandtutus.com
So lovely.
You are my absolute new hero. Love this.
Looks fantastic! but personally I feel like I would forget it’s not food safe and put food on it…and then eat it…The Artistically Challenged: Beauty, Fashion, Music, Lifestyle Blog
I love the look of the white, concrete & yellow together.
Erin, beingerin.com
I might try it on my bathroom counter.
This post is right on time! I was just telling my boyfriend that I want concrete countertops and he was going to look into cheaper options than ripping up our current countertop…Thanks for the post!
http://adiasinead.blogspot.com
Wow! I love it and I am completely impressed. It could be mistaken by a full concrete block countertop! We’re looking at moving in a new apartement and I almost wish the kitchen will be competely ugly so I can try this technique. Congratulations!
its amazing click here for matrimonial
My dad and I actually created an island in the middle of our kitchen and made the counter top out of solid concrete. He sealed it with bees wax and its held up really well for the last 14 years. 🙂 Looks lovely and much easier that what we did. 🙂
I love this countertop but never i have never thougth about a diy!!!!
Thanks for sharing, i think i will try in my kitchen!
We love painting everywhere, nice idea! We have already the countertop in grey 😉
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es/
This is amazing! You are incredible! I wonder when are you going to build your own house from scratch! I’m sure you could do it!
xx,
E.
http://www.theslowpace.com
beautiful!
Oh I love this look. We are going to be redoing our kitchen soon. Our counter tops are rotten underneath so an option like this isn’t possible but I want a similar look. Glad it turned out so great for you.
Maybe you could utilize wood for the surface and this technique for the finish. 25+ years ago I had rental property with counter tops destroyed by tenants. I removed the old countertops, replaced them with wood. 1x4s for the back area, 1x2s to cover the front edge. All bathroom and kitchen countertops matched. I did not know about feather weight concrete, it may not have existed. I created a ‘concrete’ countertop that impressed the next tenants enough they asked to purchase the property.
I’ve used Cheng to reseal my concrete countertop and it works ok. It nicks and peels off after 6 months or so. Acrisoy is a product that green and chemically sensitive people use. It is non-toxic, so it is safe for food prep. More information at the link.
http://www.amicusgreen.com/browse.cfm/acrisoy-sealer-satin-gallon/4,315.html
I love the look. I would like an update in a few months of use as to durability…
I love it! It looks fantastic with the yellow cabinets, which I also love.
Wow! I wish I had a pinch of your creativity, everything you do is just absolutely beautiful. xx
The sanding must have been so exhausting. But the final result is just really amazing!
Breathe Me
http://www.breatheme101.blogspot.com
Can you please advise on whether or not you can paint/stain the concrete prior to sealing? We have a coffee theme in our kitchen with dark walls, and I am wondering if we could paint the concrete with white or speckle it. Any suggestions?
So fun and creative! Love the shine that you added to the top! Such a perfect touch. And those flowers look gorgeous!
http://sometimesgracefully.com
This is so cool. I’ve seen other concrete counter top DIYs where they make the whole counter tops out of concrete and use molds, but I did not realize you could just kinda smear it on top of an existing counter top. Would love to try this in my own kitchen!
It looks SO amazing, what a great feeling to know you did this all yourself too 🙂
Saw this on pinterest this morning. Turned out SO cool!
Cool, just super cool.
http://thinkworkandgo.blogspot.com/
Thank you for the thorough tutorial. Very helpful!
wow! easy and inexpensive! absolutely love it!!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
LOVE ITT!!
-Daniella Vizquerra
http://fashiopalismo.blogspot.com
laura, you are amazing! i’ve been blow away by every one of your projects.
Can you use this over tile?
Oh, I love that! Industrial + bright yellow = awesome : ) NIce work!
I’M curious if it will crack. I like how diy friendly it is, but our counters flex gtoo much being in a older home.
I never thought of covering existing counter tops with concrete. Brilliant. I wonder how often you’ll have to reseal it do to its porous nature?
Wow! Looks great!
Eeee! I literally squealed when I read this post! It looks so splendid1
Holy cow ladies this is SO AWESOME! Totally saving this for one of my first house ideas.
Trish
This looks like a really good option for our kitchen. I had been considering the different countertop paints that are available now. Hmmmm! Decisions! Decisions!
This looks much more chic than I had expected a cement counter to look. I’ve been debating whether to do a butcher block counter in our kitchen… but this tutorial has given me a little more to think about. I like the slight industrial feel!
Allison
http://www.alliray.com
Love, love, love, LOVE! Yellow and dark grey is my favorite color combo, so I especially like the contrast of those colors together. I’d be so happy in this kitchen!
o my! i love this!! i want to do this now, but we’re getting ready to list our house. this was a very brave move you took & it paid off beautifully!!
Beautiful! Love the idea 🙂
I’m loving the grey vibe!
http://www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
x
I’ve been intrigued by concrete counters for a while now. My current counter tops are an awful flat white and I desperately want to change them. Please update us on how it holds up! I’m also concerned with cracking and stains.
I love it!!! Such a great idea. The kitchen looks great with the change.
thanks for the great idea! This is great!!!
Wow, that looks really cool! I wish I could come up with such great ideas.
promisesofcoffee.com
I’ve been looking for this diy for so long! Thank you so much! I love how thorough your directions are. My bathrooms are about to get a modern makeover. 🙂
OMG! what a cool idea.
That is just AWESOME! 😀 I would love a food-safe sealer so I can knead though on the countertop. Guess the boyfriend has a new DIY on his list now 😉
This look totally awesome!
Oh my, that is so beautiful!! I HAVE to try this!
Simply wonderful!
Do you think my flatmate will realize what happened in the kitchen, when she comes home tomorrow evening? 😉
It turned out beautiful! It never would’ve occurred to me to go over the existing countertop! Genius!
Amazing job! I really do love the color contrast. It looks like a very happy space and the open shelving is quickly becoming one of my favorite things in your kitchen.
xoxo
http://www.fashionreadyblog.com
Thanks so much for sharing this how-to! My husband and I have been dying to try a concrete counter top but were a little nervous. But this looks totally doable! Thanks!
Incredible! I love concrete floors as well and brick walls so this is right up my alley.
PLEASANT FOLK/bigcartel
This looks amazing – lots of hard work but amazing.
Final result is amazing. The idea is so creative! You impressed me one more time!
so now you have a countertop on you kitchen that is not safe to put food on? this is insanity!
We have poured concrete countertops, and were told the same thing about the sealer. And upon investigation found out that what makes it “food safe” is the beeswax finish. We use this product – and it’s amazing. We would probably never cut on any kind of counter without a board, but this product is definitely food safe and it makes the finish so great!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110450397/claphams-beeswax-salad-bowl-finish-50?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted&utm_campaign=supplies_low&gclid=CNzzsOWzsLwCFZPm7AodSUAAuw
Wow! When I saw this pop up I thought it was going to be so tricky but it looks so do-able and the finished product is amazing! Definitely one to remember for the future! xx
What an amazing idea! That kitchen is adorable, and thats such a great way to freshen it up with a new look. Love it!
What a great idea!
I was just about to get quoted on relaminating! I’ll be doing this instead, just need to convince the husband haha
Hi Monica!
We liked the grey color, so I didn’t look into the stain option but I believe it is possible! I would search online and see what you can find 🙂
Laura
I’m not sure if I would use this on a surface you walk on, but you research it a bit more and find out!
Laura
Great tutorial. How have these held up over the last 3 years?! Trying to weigh pros and cons between this option and the full concrete slabs TIA
Mandy
This is Amazing!! I never would have thought to do this!
This kitchen turned out so beautiful! My countertops are just the worst; I wish I wasn’t a renter so I could try this out myself!!
This is insanely magnificent!!!!
I’ve never seen anything like this! This is awesome.
Love it! It’s rustic, it’s cheerful, it’s fabulous! You guys done a great job like always! So inspiring! Can you guys tell me how does it deals with heath? Like if i let a hot pan settles over it? Tks so much! Kisses! Mari
This looks so much less scary than I thought it would be. This is awesome!
This is beautiful! At first I thought it was metal!
Wow that looks amazing! nice job 🙂
Oh yes yes!! If you wouldn’t mind sharing how they seem to hold up over time, that would be FAAAANTASTIC! I want to do this this coming spring and want to make sure no chipping happens 🙂
love it.
I hope it’s ok that I share and link.
Best wishes,
Open^house, Norway
I would be SO scared to try this but it looks awesome! Fits really well against the sunny yellow 🙂
Lulu xx
https://www.luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
This is such a cool idea! I am wondering if it can be used on a cement block basement shower wall? Anyone attempted this type of setting? Keep up the great projects, love it!
Excellent job! Congrats for the result!
That is great! It gives the kitchen a whole new feel and looks amazing.
You ladies are so talented and I really enjoy your blog… Thanks for all the inspiration!
You guys are brilliant! Seriously such a smart idea. I will likely be doing this in the future 🙂
// Regina
gardeniasandmint.wordpress.com
How is this holding up for you? I have read a few horror stories about staining over time. Thinking about trying this out in my kitchen this weekend.
Really interesting idea for the kitchen!
This looks amazing!! Well impressed!
Nicky
zeeblikesit.blogspot.com
xx
I am very excited to have found your post on this product. Concern: How well do you think the edges will stand up to chipping? Are there suggestions for repairs should such a thing occur?
Weird question, but when you put the sink back in do you glue it in or anything? My boyfriend and I are re-doing our kitchen DIY style and these countertops would be PERFECT! Thanks so much for the inspiration. I can’t wait to start.
when we did this in our kitchen almost a year ago, we used a palm sander on the final two coats. we were able to get the concrete so smooth it was already glossy before adding the sealant. And it make putting the final coat – which we did as a skim coat – a total breeze.
Oh – one final thing we have learned: it is incredibly water resistant so far. But it is not super resistant to oils. We could let a few drops of water sit and dry on their own (without wiping up) and that would be fine. But any sort of oil tends to seep into the concrete a bit. It doesn’t cause any actual problems (I’ve heard of concrete bubbling up on some people who have tried this), but it will leave permanent discoloration.
I’m dying to cover our old laminate counters with Ardex, but I’m hesitant about the sink. Maybe this is a stupid question, but how difficult is it to take the whole sink out? I just tried replacing our sprayer and embarrassingly couldn’t do it myself. Would it be weird to do this without taking the sink out or did you find that part necessary and/or easy?
Thank you!!
Looks amazing! Would love to try this out sometime
I love this! Excellent idea!
This is so awesome! Omg!!! I can’t wait to own my own home.
Oh, this is so cool!
Can you do these on countertops that have a wood edge? Or any type of countertops?
They look amazing! I’m thinking about doing mine but I would like to know how they are holding up- any chips or stains?
Beautiful. Where did you find those flour jars?
Wow, those look fabulous. And I too have yellow kitchen cabinets with a hideous grey counter top. May consider doing this myself, as concrete would look so much better than what I currently have. Well done. And lovely photos too!
Can you add a color to the concrete like brown? I love the idea
Hi, it’s been several years since your post, so I’m curious about how these have worn and if you would still recommend?
We did this to our kitchen countertops (which were laminate) almost 3 years ago and honestly they have held up great! After enough cooking we did find oil is the only main issue that causes discoloration. I had read on some other blogs that putting a cutting board next to “high use” areas would cut down on any issues which is exactly what we did next to our sink for hand washing dishes and cutting food…I am in the process of touching up oil areas with a light coat of Ardex and then resealing so if that’s all the maintenance required for this length of time I’d say thats pretty awesome. We found a food grade sealer back when we first did ours.
How are they doing now a couple years later? I’m thinking of doing this in my house!!
I’d love to know this as well. This looks like the perfect solution to my kitchen counter top.
How is this holding up over time, please?
Also, have you tried this with colored concrete?
Thanks
I am curious about using a color stain on this?? Would you use the same as a concrete floor?? I found another website just like what yours did, but yours if MUCH more helpful. Can’t wait to start this!
So the initial question is coloring the concrete after your last sanding?? Thank you ..
Hello. I love ur tutorial. I am wanting to do this to my countertops, and have researched many tutorials on how to do it. I have some concerns with the sealer thou. See that’s the one thing that has been inconsistent throughout all tutorials. . Please give an update on how ur countertops have held up and if u had to do it all over again what would u do differently.
We did the same concrete counter tops in our kitchen in January 2017. We have a MASSIVE kitchen and tons of counter so doing anything else was out of the budget.
We are thrilled with how they turned out….and they are holding up very good. The imperfections and color variances are great. My back splash is white shiplap and my island is butcher block. These all work really well together.
Are you still pleased with your counters?
I just applied “Contact Paper for Countertops” and NOW I see this!!! I am going to try it on my half bath countertop. LOVE IT!!!
how did you handle the rounded edges? did you have any issues reinstalling the sink?
Can you cover granite counter tops with cement ?
It’s best to have some texture to the counter top you plan to cover. We’ve never tried to cement over granite so I am unsure how well it may work. I would recommend getting a sample piece of granite (you can usually buy a small square at stores that sell counter tops) and trying it out on that before attempting it on your actual counters. Good luck!
We are looking for a cost effective update for our laminate counters. I was wondering how well these have held up for you since you did them. Thanks!
They held up AMAZING, especially for the price.
You did this in 2014, it’s 2018 now. Do you still have these counter tops? Can you post pictures?
Yes- Our friend is renting this house now. I will ask her to get photos for us and we can share a recap. It’s seriously amazing how well they held up (especially considering the price).
I love the look of the counter top. I have been wanting to do my counter top since we moved in 15 years ago. The counter top is 4×4 tile with grout. I also have 12×12 floor tile with grout in the entry, 1/2 bath, kitchen, upstairs bathroom, and the master bathroom. It is so hard to keep clean on a regular basis. I HATE grout…seriously. I have done some research but not sure what I have found would work on tile because of the grout line indentation. Rustoleum has a counter top makeover kit for laminate that will transform the counter to look like granite. I’m not sure if this would work on my type of counter top. I don’t know what to use to make the grout line disappear to make it a smooth surface. I can’t afford to replace it with what I really want so if I can do a DIY project for minimal cost that would be great. Do you have any suggestions? I would appreciate any help. Thanks!
Wow! That was such an awesome transformation! Great job!
Hi, thanks for sharing this! Formica ountertops are so out of date! It says you did this in 2014, and i’m curious as to how it’s holding up? If you have chipped it, was it easy to repair? And have you done any more projects like this? I’m wondering if it is possible to dye concrete, or lay leaves in it to create pattern, and if it is super important that the surface be smooth and flat, or it there are times it might look great with some deliberate texture variation… oh the possibilities!
I look forward to hearing from you!
Cheers, Lisa
Hi Lisa! The countertop is still in amazing condition! We have another tutorial here: http://abeautifulmess.com/2015/04/concrete-feather-finish-countertops.html
I have also used this technique in bathroom countertops, shelves & breakfast bar..never any issues! Love the look & the price!! Just 1 note to add: make sure you use HOT water to mix so it turns out smooth rather than clumpy-learned this the hard way!
I realize I’m a little late to the show here, how long did they last?
They are still going strong! 🙂
Beautiful! I’m in the process of convincing my husband to do concrete counter tops! Do you think this will be possible covering tiles??
I would like to know how well this countertop has held up over the years
Hi Tera! It is still in awesome condition. Our friend Katie owns the house now, so I’ve seen it recently. Definitely recommend this project!
I’ve been considering adding this as something my company offers but didn’t have the knowledge of its longevity and practicality to relay to my customers until now! Thank you, I think this is something I’m going to try!
When you reseal do you have a procedure? Special cleanser first, sand (?), or do you simply reapply the sealer? I’d like to keep the small marks we have gained over the years, so I dont really want to sand over them!
Use clear Epoxy (bartop coating) its self leveling and completely seals the entire countertop. It is a wet look so it will darken the concrete BUT with 5 boys under 14 and a busy house we have NO stains after 4 years. Koolaid, ink, wine, everything comes up!
I love these countertops! Is this process do-able over corianders as well?
I don’t know. I think the yellow cupboards is throwing it off. I’d paint them white or something.
Hi! I just tried my hand at feather finish countertops. I used Henry instead of Ardex and I’m experiencing hairline cracks during the drying process between coats of cement. What can I do to avoid the cracks??? Thanks so much!
How frequently have you had to re-seal these? I really want them, but if I’m being honest with myself, I know there’s no way I’ll be willing to re-seal every couple months.
It will depend on the type of sealer you use, always check out the manufacturer’s instructions. But we didn’t have to reseal for a few years.