The idea of getting a concrete countertop has been catching on as a trend. Many homeowners believe that concrete is a cheaper, easy to customize material and they are right. Well, in case you are about to use concrete for your countertop, there are a few things you should know.
From how much it costs, the time it will take to get the project done, and of course the pros and cons, all these things are extremely important to know before you make a decision.
Pros
One thing you get with concrete is strength and durability. There’s literally no material out there that’s nearly as strong as concrete. If you have a commercial kitchen or perhaps you want a countertop that will last you for years, then you have to choose concrete above anything else.
Concrete is also versatile when it comes to design. You can literally use it to create whatever countertop you want. Whether it’s something you saw in a magazine or an idea that you’ve been hoping to try, you will have a better chance of making it a reality with concrete.
In addition to this, concrete doesn’t need a lot of skills or specialized tools to install, so the installation costs could be cheaper compared to other options in the market. This may end up saving you a lot of money in installation cost.
Concrete is also very easy to clean. You can just scrub it off and remove all the stains without any risk of damage. Don’t use abrasive cleaners though. They will have a negative effect on the sealers.
Cons
Even with its pros, concrete still has a few issues. First, it’s susceptible to cracks. Over time you will start to notice that your countertop is losing its splendor as cracks appear in some parts. This then becomes an eyesore if it’s not fixed as soon as possible. The great thing about cracks on concrete is the fact that they can be fixed really fast. Also, you won’t need to spend a lot of money on it.
Another challenge with concrete is the fact that it catches stains very easily. A wine spill or a drop of grease is going to stick very fast. However, if you can clean them right away, you won’t have a problem. The issue comes when you let the stains stay there for a long time.
How to Make the Most Out of Concrete
Even though concrete is durable, it still needs a level of maintenance to retain its beautiful look. First, seal it with a sealer. This will make sure that stains don’t stick even when they fall over it. It’s also a good idea to make sure you reseal every one to three years. Make sure you avoid abrasive cleaners, too. Abrasive cleaners will damage the sealer and this opens up the concrete to spills and stains in the kitchen.
Try to use cutting boards on the countertop just to be sure stains don’t form. If there’s a spill, clean it up quickly and make sure all of it is removed. Use a lot of water too. With proper care and maintenance, there’s no reason why concrete countertops won’t give you outstanding service for a very long time.
Easy to clean, but you need to be careful with stains
There are many different types of countertop materials these days. However, using concrete could be a great idea. It’s cheap, easily customizable, and highly durable. Despite this, the choice of countertop material should always come down to your budget and preference.
Want to have a beautiful concrete countertop installed in your kitchen? Request a free quote to see how much it costs!
