- Oct 3, 2007
- 1,539
So here's what it looks like just out of the mold:
Overall I'm happy, but were I to do it again there are a few things I'd pay more attention to. First and foremost is the mix, I was hurrying too much in the beginning and didn't realize that some of the concrete was not totally mixed-hence this spot here:
Next, I'd vibrate A LOT more as there were still a fair amount of voids and pinholes even though I vibrated with a sander and tapped with a hammer. A better flowing mix would probably help a lot with this too. The imperfections give it a little character, kind of like stone, IMHO, but for an actual kitchen countertop you would want as smooth a surface as possible of course. Here's what it looks like after sanding and sealing:
Now all that's left is lifting the beast into place!
![[Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to... [Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to...](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc68%2FBadfish740%2FIMG_2328_zpsc53dedc4.jpg&hash=ff7938774be519a7ebaec63d0e3d7407)
Overall I'm happy, but were I to do it again there are a few things I'd pay more attention to. First and foremost is the mix, I was hurrying too much in the beginning and didn't realize that some of the concrete was not totally mixed-hence this spot here:
![[Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to... [Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to...](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc68%2FBadfish740%2FIMG_2329_zpsda0dcb85.jpg&hash=48d239fa09091e07e5f6b17e33fdc40b)
Next, I'd vibrate A LOT more as there were still a fair amount of voids and pinholes even though I vibrated with a sander and tapped with a hammer. A better flowing mix would probably help a lot with this too. The imperfections give it a little character, kind of like stone, IMHO, but for an actual kitchen countertop you would want as smooth a surface as possible of course. Here's what it looks like after sanding and sealing:
![[Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to... [Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to...](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc68%2FBadfish740%2FIMG_2333_zps82a58687.jpg&hash=bacec4ecb451102aed39a54e99409f7e)
![[Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to... [Hearth.com] Anybody ever try concrete countertops? I'm about to...](/talk/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi25.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc68%2FBadfish740%2FIMG_2332_zpse69655c6.jpg&hash=04896b0bbca0d3a6ff94cdb6aabc3d8b)
Now all that's left is lifting the beast into place!