Concrete countertops are done...
08-06-2006, 09:23 PM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Concrete countertops are done...
Finally installed them today. Wow what a long journey this was. Everyone, my friends and family, thought I was NUTS for even attempting this. I just said F*ck-it and just did it. Learned a lot along the way. Even with all the blood, sweat, and debauchery, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
This is how they looked just after pouring the concrete into the forms. The one on the right is for the island/cooktop side. It's about 8 feet long. The one on the left is the sink side. It's approx 12 feet long. Sorry, no watch for scale.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00238.jpg">
Today was my wife's birthday, so we had the whole family over for a party. I fed them, gave them beer and cake, then put them to work! I had an army of helpers to carry these beasts into teh house. It took six of us to carry the largest section. That piece alone probably weighed between 300 and 400 pounds. And STOP CHECKING OUT MY ***!!!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00303.jpg">
Setting them in place...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00334.jpg">
Everything put back together...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00365.jpg">
There are two counters, each divided into two sections. I used aluminum bar stock to highlight the seams. This one is the cooktop side...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00368.jpg">
Same type of seam on the sink...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00384.jpg">
A closeup shot of the aluminum transition pieces. It's just 2"x 1/8" bar stock purchased from Home Depot. It was easy to cut with a jig saw and metal cutting blade... glued in place with clear silicone...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00395.jpg">
The angle of the seams on both countertops matches the angle of the floor transition from wood to tile...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00387.jpg">
Those blue specs are broken pieces of cobalt blue stained glass. You'll also notice I left the edges rough looking and didn't bother filling the air pockets. That was sort of a mistake because I didn't vibrate the concrete enough when it was first poured, so it left a lot of air voids. I decided rather than fill them in, I left them in place for a more industrial look. I figured, why fight it... just embrace the flaw as if I meant to do that. LOL....
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00389.jpg">
Being the Disney geeks that my wife and I are, I took some copper water supply pipe in different diameters and imbedded it into the mold to mimic the silhouette of Mickey Mouse. The cool thing is when you run your fingers over these inlays, including the stained glass pieces, you can't feel them. Everything was wet-grinded and polished, the sealed with wax, for a glass-smooth finish. There are two Micky Mouses, one at the corner where the microwave is, and one at teh far opposite corner near the fridge. They are subtle enough to be noticed, but not too tacky or stand out too much.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00391.jpg">
Another pic of teh Mickey Mouse. Here you can see how it is flush with teh surface...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00396.jpg">
And finally, a shot of the whole kitchen...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00392.jpg">
I gotta admit this job has been a challenge. I've attempted a lot of things but this one has to be the craziest. Everyone thought I was out of my mind when I told them I was making concrete countertops. They were all like "dude, just get granite". Uh uh. Everone has granite. I wanted something different. Besides, I now have a "wow" factor in my kitchen that granite could never even HOPE to approach on it's best day. And the best part was all the compliments and "ooh's and ah's" I got after everyone finally saw them in place. I tried to convince them all that they would be cool, but they didn't believe me. NOW they GET IT after seeing the final product. I felt so vindicated after getting them in and standing back to look at the finished product and hear everyone say "Wow dude...Now THAT'S f*ckin' COOL!"
We still have a lot of work to do on this kitchen... but slowly it's coming together. This is what the kitchen looked like when we first started the job. This is the same view as the picture just above. We ended up knocking out that wall and combining it with the bedroom next to it to make one huge kitchen. My wife couldn't wait to take a sledge hammer to that wall. She's a badass with that thing.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/kitchen_before.jpg">
Same view again, but with the wall knocked out and the room gutted. That opening in teh far right corner used to be a closet when it was a bedroom. I converted it into a custom fridge closet to mimic a built-in looking fridge, as you see in previous pictures.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/kitchen_gutted.jpg">
To finish the look, we plan to tile the backsplashes with slate tiles that have copper and metallic hues to them.
This is how they looked just after pouring the concrete into the forms. The one on the right is for the island/cooktop side. It's about 8 feet long. The one on the left is the sink side. It's approx 12 feet long. Sorry, no watch for scale.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00238.jpg">
Today was my wife's birthday, so we had the whole family over for a party. I fed them, gave them beer and cake, then put them to work! I had an army of helpers to carry these beasts into teh house. It took six of us to carry the largest section. That piece alone probably weighed between 300 and 400 pounds. And STOP CHECKING OUT MY ***!!!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00303.jpg">
Setting them in place...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00334.jpg">
Everything put back together...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00365.jpg">
There are two counters, each divided into two sections. I used aluminum bar stock to highlight the seams. This one is the cooktop side...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00368.jpg">
Same type of seam on the sink...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00384.jpg">
A closeup shot of the aluminum transition pieces. It's just 2"x 1/8" bar stock purchased from Home Depot. It was easy to cut with a jig saw and metal cutting blade... glued in place with clear silicone...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00395.jpg">
The angle of the seams on both countertops matches the angle of the floor transition from wood to tile...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00387.jpg">
Those blue specs are broken pieces of cobalt blue stained glass. You'll also notice I left the edges rough looking and didn't bother filling the air pockets. That was sort of a mistake because I didn't vibrate the concrete enough when it was first poured, so it left a lot of air voids. I decided rather than fill them in, I left them in place for a more industrial look. I figured, why fight it... just embrace the flaw as if I meant to do that. LOL....
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00389.jpg">
Being the Disney geeks that my wife and I are, I took some copper water supply pipe in different diameters and imbedded it into the mold to mimic the silhouette of Mickey Mouse. The cool thing is when you run your fingers over these inlays, including the stained glass pieces, you can't feel them. Everything was wet-grinded and polished, the sealed with wax, for a glass-smooth finish. There are two Micky Mouses, one at the corner where the microwave is, and one at teh far opposite corner near the fridge. They are subtle enough to be noticed, but not too tacky or stand out too much.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00391.jpg">
Another pic of teh Mickey Mouse. Here you can see how it is flush with teh surface...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00396.jpg">
And finally, a shot of the whole kitchen...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/dsc00392.jpg">
I gotta admit this job has been a challenge. I've attempted a lot of things but this one has to be the craziest. Everyone thought I was out of my mind when I told them I was making concrete countertops. They were all like "dude, just get granite". Uh uh. Everone has granite. I wanted something different. Besides, I now have a "wow" factor in my kitchen that granite could never even HOPE to approach on it's best day. And the best part was all the compliments and "ooh's and ah's" I got after everyone finally saw them in place. I tried to convince them all that they would be cool, but they didn't believe me. NOW they GET IT after seeing the final product. I felt so vindicated after getting them in and standing back to look at the finished product and hear everyone say "Wow dude...Now THAT'S f*ckin' COOL!"
We still have a lot of work to do on this kitchen... but slowly it's coming together. This is what the kitchen looked like when we first started the job. This is the same view as the picture just above. We ended up knocking out that wall and combining it with the bedroom next to it to make one huge kitchen. My wife couldn't wait to take a sledge hammer to that wall. She's a badass with that thing.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/kitchen_before.jpg">
Same view again, but with the wall knocked out and the room gutted. That opening in teh far right corner used to be a closet when it was a bedroom. I converted it into a custom fridge closet to mimic a built-in looking fridge, as you see in previous pictures.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1406/kitchen_gutted.jpg">
To finish the look, we plan to tile the backsplashes with slate tiles that have copper and metallic hues to them.
08-06-2006, 09:56 PM
#7
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massive props to you on that job, it looks beautiful! just goes to show what an intelligent person
with a little ambition and the internet can accomplish. I have learned everything I know about automotive and construction by reading, paying attention and a little trial and error. I always feel especially good when I finish a job like that and it turns out great.
