Concrete benchtops

[Sir Stinkalot]

I think given the right context it can look great .... however I am into that industrial look myself.

The image with the country style kitchen with the concrete top looked out of place and didn't suit at all.

The floors look great as well.

[markharrison]

I guess it looks like terrazzo, which is more 1950's then 1970's and not due for a revival any time soon.

Actually Terrazo has already made comeback. I have seen it used in some very expensive domestic and office kitchens in the past couple of years. They don't use ordinary gray cement. I don't know for sure but I imagine that they are using pure white portland cement.

[scooter]

I can see the new thread already...

"How do I cut dog holes in my new concrete benchtop"..

Put rio in so it holds up to a decent fumping.


Cheers..............Sean

[jimc]

I have that book and it looks fantastic. My wife has already ordered a benchtop for the new laundry and if that works....the kitchen.

The book did say that the problems were in making the mold and then moving the cast piece(s) to the cabinetry.

Certainly worth a look. Check out the authors website for ideas!
http://www.concreteexchange.com/

[sinjin1111]

I have the Taunton book and its great. The pics shown at the start of this thread don't really show what can be done. For me the appealing idea is that the bench doesn't have to be flat at all. But you can cast wash area so the water drains into thr sink. Basically if you can think outside of the square you can come up with whatever you like. The book explains how to make simple cheap molds and all the tools you would need. In the book it also shows items cast into the surface. The author doesn't claim concrete to be the answer for all. He just explains how it can be used differently compared to flat surface types such as granite or whatever and also tells how it has a few pitfalls including maintenace.
Sinjin

[arms]

i had to do several concrete tops for kitchen but unfortunatley they were on an island off of australia and i had to form the boxing and then after the concrete had cured go back and then fix ac sheeting to the concrete then laminate over the ac sheeting with a laminate to make it look like a normal kitchen,isnt it sad that still has to happen in this day and age

[Lignum]

Sounds like some nice concrete raised panells for my next buffet will be just the thing

[journeyman Mick]

i had to do several concrete tops for kitchen but unfortunatley they were on an island off of australia and i had to form the boxing and then after the concrete had cured go back and then fix ac sheeting to the concrete then laminate over the ac sheeting with a laminate to make it look like a normal kitchen,isnt it sad that still has to happen in this day and age

Tom,
why did they want a concrete top with laminate on it?:confused:

Mick

[barnsey]

I can't believe I started reading this thread much less commenting.:confused:

If you can mould concrete into a form that is aesthetically pleasing to you or will impress some arty farty individual then you could do it in timber. At least timber is a far more forgiving substance than concrete.

Stone based bench tops are good for those that are pastry buffs but otherwise as practical as thingo's on a bull IMHO. That's why we put a marble inlay in a timber kitchen bench.

Then we get to the hygenic properties and I'm not sure that I want my chicken prepared on a surface that others generally walk on but there's an arguement there that I'm not prepared to pursue here. Porosity and natural materials is a subject that is oft debated.

To top if all off I use a wooden board to do all my food preparation on so that my Lansky honed kitchen knives don't have hard objects under them when I'm cutting.

OK I'm off the soapbox now but cement bench tops - could only be for belting your head against for ever using them in the first place:confused:

[arms]

Tom,
why did they want a concrete top with laminate on it?:confused:

Mick

the reason was that the islanders would burn everything not tied down to feed their fire (usually in the loungroom on the floor) and they couldnt burn concrete so it had a better chance of surviving the tenency period than any other material ,all it needed was a new covering of laminate
thanks for asking mick

[BrisBen]

Maybe instead of using formed concrete you could look at using compressed firbro cement - 18mm thick as a benchtop - it comes in a 3000mm x 1200mm sheet so your could cut a corner section without a join and I have seen it sealed and used for outdoor cafe tables and seems to stand up to the weather.

Looks a bit like concrete too - just smoother

You could possibly pencil round the edge with a router if you didn't mind wrecking a few bits

like anything - use dust extraction

my two bobs worth anyway

[Pulpo]

No I have not tried making a concrete counter top yet.

But hopefully within the next 4 weeks I will start building the moulds.

It will be for a basin top in the bathroom and a laundry bench top as well.

Yes I have the book by Cheng.

The colour will be the key.

Not sure how to get the fibres in a small quantity.

To polish the concrete I will use a GMC polisher with diamond pads from Hoskins.

As for getting someone to do it, good luck.

Good luck.

Pulpo

[MrFixIt]

why would anyone do that????
:confused:

Because the nett result can be fantastic. This is NOT just rough "floor" type finish, but a BEAUTIFUL polished and sparkling finish. Can be in many colours depending on your choice of materials and is COMPLETELY free form, can be (and usually is) cast in situ.

They can be DIY, but I think the polishing should be left to an expert. There is at least one book on this subject as I have had it on loan from the local library to check out what can be done and the sample results.

[rod1949]

I know its not a bench top, but the bloke who built our house some 40 years ago now, in the bathroom did a terrazzo floor with coping all round. We have owned the house for 17 years now, apart from a bit of an exposed aggregate effect on the floor of the shower it has worn extremely well with basically no maintenance and absolutely no mould/mildew ever.

[arms]

as a side comment ,in india to this day they cast all their tops in concrete,even the shelves are made into the wall of the building and then cast in concrete,the finish is steel trowelled and i am told by one of my customers that has just spent 5 years over there that it is the most durable surface he has ever used, so much so that he knows that i am a patternmaker by trade and he is thinking about paying me to make him a mould for a project he is thinking about in his shed.