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Cast Concrete Counter Tops

Many homeowners are taking advantage of concrete's flexibility and its ability to incorporate other functional features such as integral sinks, draining boards and butcher blocks. Countertops are made of cement, lightweight aggregates, special reinforcement and a combination of additives. As they are a custom crafted product for high end use, they are often specified by designers or architects when drawing up house plans.

Concrete countertops are handcrafted and are typically priced at a premium to granite, marble and other natural stones. The true cost of the countertop is not in the concrete itself, but rather in the artisan's creativity and time for creating special details, unique designs, transportation, and installation.

Countertops can be pre-cast in a workshop where conditions are controlled by using special casting tables then allowed to cure until they can be adequately sealed. Alternatively countertops can be cast on site, where a form is built according to the client’s particular needs and may incorporate radius edges, curved corners, etc. A third option exists whereby the complete structure is built from scratch with bricks and mortar and “plastered” with a specialist “Countertop Concrete Mixture” available from Afristone Decorative Concrete. The countertops are then left to cure and once this has been reached the countertops have to be ground to remove the surface "skin" with progressively finer diamond polishing stones. This achieves three important objectives; - a smooth glass-like finish, durability and exposing the aggregate which truly reflects its beauty.

Countertops are always sealed although the type of sealer, method and number of coats of sealer is unique to each installation. Industrial epoxy sealers are relatively expensive and it may require two coats. While this adds to the cost, the quality is superior and the only maintenance that will be required is to apply a good water-based liquid wax every six months to a year.