Concrete Countertops: The Design and Construction Process

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Since they first appeared in homes in the 1970s, concrete countertops have continued to add value and sophistication to rooms with their affordability and natural composition. According to Concrete Network, a resource for Inlays add a personal touch and make concrete countertops unique to the owner. Photo by Matthew Millman, courtesy of Taunton Press. homeowners and DIY-ers interested in concrete construction, a standard 1.5-inch-thick countertop costs from $65 to $135 per square foot compared to granite and engineered quarts countertops that range from $100 to $200 to buy and install. Made of materials like cement, crushed stone and gravel compiled from local sources, concrete countertops are free of chemicals and other hazardous matter, which ensures a safe and environmentally savvy design. They’re also an environmentally conscious purchase because most packages of concrete are bagged locally, which means that the retailer can cut transportation costs and the product’s carbon footprint. Why Concrete? Concrete countertops possess other qualities that make them an ideal installation in kitchens and bathrooms. Unlike granite countertops that are susceptible to stains, concrete is stain-resistant after it has been sealed with a sealer, which closes off pores in the surface after the concrete has cured, or hardened. Concrete countertops that haven’t been sealed or waxed are resistant to heat, unlike their synthetic solid or laminate counterparts, which make them an ideal addition to the kitchen. Concrete countertops come in a variety of earthy tones from amethyst to jade. Photo by Matthew Millman, courtesy of Taunton Press. Concrete countertops also allow for creativity. Because concrete can be molded freely, everything from the shape to the edges of the countertop can be customized according to the purchaser’s artistic vision. Pourfolio Custom Concrete, a concrete design company in San Diego, Calif., creates countertops with octagonal edges and accented indents and crevices where a soap dish can sit. Two Stones Design, a concrete countertop manufacturer that serves the Chicago area, has embedded cutting board molds and other inlets into one of their countertop designs. “There’s a little art to it,” says Fu-Tung Cheng, award-winning designer, creator of Cheng Design and author of Concrete Countertops Made Simple. As a struggling artist in 1985, Cheng experimented with concrete countertops to “create something special and save money.” Since then, Cheng has refined his craft by incorporating nature’s design and the principle of acting locally into his work. His countertops emulate the contours of the California coast or the aesthetics of a Japanese rock garden and come in a variety of earthy colors from amber to indigo. Cheng also introduces techniques of inlaying memorabilia such as seashells, tiles and even machine parts on to the countertop’s surface to create a countertop that is unique to the owner. “You are doing yourself and the Earth a small favor,” says Cheng, referencing the way concrete countertops are bought and made. Every order his business receives elicits an email from them to the concrete mix distributor closest to  the customer, which cuts carbon footprints and transportation costs.“It’s greener, more affordable, potentially healthier and a lot more fun than buying monotonous granite countertops that are mined, fabricated and shipped by boat from faraway countries,” he says.

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