How to Enhance Your Kitchen’s Appearance with Concrete Table Tops
If you recently browsed a home improvement magazine or website, you will notice there is an increase in the number of homes picking concrete as their building material. Whether it be for their walls, floors, pool decks, or even their tabletops.
It is not something new though. Concrete has been the material of choice in many homes and commercial properties for a few good years now. It is easy to see why. Durability may be one of the top reasons, but concrete is undeniably pleasing to the eyes. Suddenly, even grey coloured concrete goes well with a vibrant home.
The exquisite beauty of concrete is versatile and can fit in any part of the house, including the kitchen. If you are thinking about remodelling, adding concrete tabletops or countertops can indeed create a more attractive space.
The Aesthetic Appeal of Concrete Table Tops
Many fans of other materials agree that concrete is striking. The fine-looking table tops can easily match and even outdo gunite, tiles, quartz, and laminate.
If you are new to concrete, you may be overwhelmed with the tremendous amount of design options for this material. And in the world of home improvement, it certainly is not a bad thing. You can even personalise your tabletops to fit your preference. Gloomy colours are not the only style you can go for. There are unlimited colours, shapes, and sizes, so concrete counters are definitely about you and your taste.
Here are even more reasons why these table tops are the talk of the town right now:
- Enhanced Personalisation – Decorative concrete is in these days. You can choose to add other materials embedded during the mixing process. Some options include ceramic and glass. Such an addition further increases the customisation level of the concrete.
- Style Abundance – You can also choose the type of coating to apply on the tabletops, which bumps up their final look. You can have rustic, industrial, and other styles that will fit your existing kitchen décor. Or, you can have something completely different –it is all up to you.
- Damage Resistant – Kitchen table tops are prone to scratches and chipping. You place different items on the surface, and some can scrape the counters, damaging them forever. You can have them fixed, but it means additional expenses on your part. Why not just pick a material that is hard and durable enough to resist scratches? Add a protective coating, and the overall strength of concrete is doubled.
- Long-Lasting – As mentioned, concrete is durable. Therefore, it can last for a long time. A sealer may be required periodically, but you never have to worry about replacing or even rejuvenating the product. The tabletops remain even as you remodel other parts of your kitchen.
- Heat and Stain Resistant – Another reason why concrete is perfect for kitchens is that heat cannot damage the material. You can place a hot bowl of soup, warm pots, or anything on it, but it will stay unperturbed. It also does not get stained easily. If some blemishes stick, fear not – you can simply wipe them with plain soap and water. Cleaning and maintenance are both easy with concrete tabletops, which is yet another benefit.
- Seamless – Compared to other materials, especially tiles, you do not see grout lines and seams on your tabletop. It depends on the style and how the counters are made, but the seams are typically invisible or even non-existent with concrete.
- Graceful Ageing – One more thing that makes concrete incredibly unique is that it is not static. It has the ability to evolve, allowing itself to take on a different character as time passes. This trait gives concrete the benefit of improving as it ages.
With concrete tabletops, you do not get cookie-cutter counters like your neighbours. You can be sure yours will be a true one-of-a-masterpiece.
Other Things to Know about Concrete
Concrete has been around for more than 250 years. The material is a mainstay in different homes and even commercial establishments. It is versatile and can have your desired angle, texture, curve, and colours.
Unlike concrete of the past, the new counters are much lighter. They also come with some polymers into the mixture, increasing the durability of the material. This way, concrete tabletops will not stain, crack, or have any other damages.
Concreting can either be precast, which means the material is formed in another facility or cast in place. If it is the latter, the contractor will have the concrete tabletop mixed and designed in your location.
The majority of concrete products, however, are precast. They are made to order, which allows for quick installation. The tabletops are already available in the size you want. Before they get to your home or office, they are poured in a different location, such as a controlled environment. The facility has modern reinforcement technology, which increases the strength and durability of concrete.
At the facility, the material is developed into a different colour and texture. The tabletops are handmade, which is why it can take on different shapes and thickness. It can fit any part of the kitchen and handle many appliances because of the variety of cut-outs.
With precast concrete, there are more edge options than those that are created onsite. Most precast concrete table tops have visible seams though. You may not like it, but it does come with a few benefits. One is that these seams allow the counters to move and flex more as concrete ages. This quality reduces the likelihood of cracks since concrete can naturally shrink over time.
As for cast-in-place concrete tabletops, this method of installation is excellent for those who want to manage the entire procedure for themselves. If you wish to oversee or just witness what goes on during the creation of the countertops, you may request for them to be installed onsite.
If the setup of your kitchen has an irregular shape, cast-in-place counters may be a better choice for you. When poured onsite, your tabletops will not have seams, which may be what you want to achieve.
Concrete table tops, whether cast-in-place or precast, are done by hand. Both processes are meticulous and precise to help avoid imperfections and defects. When used for kitchen table tops, concrete is a material that exudes sophistication. It attains that specific modern aesthetic that also appears timeless – a difficult feat for other elements.
At the same time, it is versatile since it can fit any kitchen, whether it is small or big. The numerous options in designs and layouts make concrete an unmatched element for tabletops. It is also clean because it is easily maintained. The material is eco-friendly as well.
Top Concrete Tabletop Trends This 2020
Concrete countertops can take on any looks, from contemporary to traditional to formal to informal, among many others. Whether you are budget-minded, love to do DIY projects, or a busy company owner, you can incorporate concrete tabletops in your kitchen or even workspaces.
Here are the top trends that are surfacing recently for this kitchen accessory:
- Toning Down a Colourful Kitchen with Neutral Coloured CountersA vibrant kitchen is in style these days. It involves brightly coloured cabinetry, from blues to yellows to greens. The hue will certainly be based on the homeowner’s preferences. They are then complemented by rubber flooring and the counters themselves.Concrete tabletops go well with the kitchen surroundings. The entire room can contain attention-grabbing furniture and other items, but the countertops can still take centre stage.
- Contrasting TexturesWhether you have bright or neutral cabinets, you can pair them with concrete counters, including white or grey ones. You can alter the finish of the tabletops. If you have smooth cabinetry, you can choose a hand-troweled finish for the counters, which give them a rough appearance and feel. This contrast can easily make your kitchen stand out from the crowd.
- The Grey KitchenMany years ago, having a grey backdrop in your house or office would give it a dull or gloomy look. Today, this colour is taking the design world by storm. It makes the space appear classier and flexible. You can have a grey or neutral-coloured kitchen, which includes the flooring, seats, and even the cabinetry. To make your counters shine, you can alter their hue a little bit. Instead of the same shade as the others in your kitchen, you can have them in dark grey.
- The Industrial KitchenConcrete tabletops can certainly complement an industrial kitchen design. With the growth in popularity of this style, homeowners can have this look even if they do not have an industrial kitchen per se.This trend involves open space and high ceilings, which are among the most apparent traits of an industrial place. The airy nature comes with a rough look, along with brick walls, exposed pipes and beams, rustic furniture, and of course, concrete counters.
This design also includes a good combination of materials and a suitable colour palette. For instance, merging leather furniture with steel for bar stools and appliances will create a wonderful industrial look. At the same time, a toned-down group of colours and lighting will complete the whole style. Choose from black, brass, and copper.
To finish it off, add concrete table tops for sleek sophistication and functionality. All in all, you will get interiors that genuinely embody the industrial design.
- From Laminate to ConcreteHomeowners who were once so fascinated with laminated tabletops are now switching to concrete. If you are among them, you will be glad to know that the transformation is not as costly as you may think. Instead of sticking to your old laminate counters, you can have better and more beautiful concrete tabletops.The method can vary, but it is not as complicated as other home improvement projects. Some tutorials exist online to help out those who like to DIY. Basically, the process involves the application of a concrete product, which is made to repair ridges and gouges. It is typically used in concrete subfloors. Before application, however, the laminate surface should be roughened up first. It can be done using a box cutter.
Next is to thoroughly clean the surface to ensure the mixture for concrete will stick. Wait for the concrete to dry and set. The hard work is finished when you spend about seven hours sanding the new tabletop. All this effort is worth it when you see how attractive the surface has become. A huge bonus is that it can last for several years.
- An Eco-Friendly Kitchen SpaceEven in its raw condition, concrete is a naturally eco-friendly material. Pros describe it as a green material since it is hewn from the earth. The natural state of concrete is then ground into tiny pieces until it turns into a fine powder. It will then be mixed with other raw components, including water.Many homes today aspire to be environmentally-friendly. From cooking appliances to lighting, it is possible to create this type of kitchen. Add stylish concrete tabletops, which can have recycled aggregates, such as rocks and glass, among others.
- Tiny Kitchens with Small Concrete CountersYou do not have to live in a tiny house to incorporate this style to your kitchen. Some homes do not have enough room, mainly because kitchens can have many large appliances installed. You do not have to eliminate your tabletops even if you are out of space. Use tiny concrete counters, which are designed to go well, even in small spaces.A tiny kitchen can become even more functional with these tabletops. You may have precast counters, which will be poured and set in moulds before they are installed in your home.
If you are looking to tap into this ongoing concrete tabletop trend, contact CoastCrete today. We will help make your kitchen dreams come true.
