rajncajn Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 We had decided ourselves to go with granite a while back when our neighbor had his done after finding a discount place in Mobile that did it just as cheap as the laminate stuff at Lowe's. But recently Michelle found out that one of her coworker's husband does concrete countertops professionally. We haven't even priced either and I don't know if we would get a discount from the concrete guy, but before making any decisions I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with concrete countertops and how well they work vs the other surfaces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 We had decided ourselves to go with granite a while back when our neighbor had his done after finding a discount place in Mobile that did it just as cheap as the laminate stuff at Lowe's. But recently Michelle found out that one of her coworker's husband does concrete countertops professionally. We haven't even priced either and I don't know if we would get a discount from the concrete guy, but before making any decisions I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with concrete countertops and how well they work vs the other surfaces. ask perch or az they no everything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 We had decided ourselves to go with granite a while back when our neighbor had his done after finding a discount place in Mobile that did it just as cheap as the laminate stuff at Lowe's. But recently Michelle found out that one of her coworker's husband does concrete countertops professionally. We haven't even priced either and I don't know if we would get a discount from the concrete guy, but before making any decisions I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with concrete countertops and how well they work vs the other surfaces. I've never worked with it. I'd have to think it would be considerably cheaper, even with concrete prices as high as they are today. I would be very concerned with how porous concrete is, and how easily it stains. I'd also be concerened with cracking. I don't care what anyone says, concrete cracks, particularly if you have any inside corners. ask perch or az they no everything I don't know everything, but what I don't know Az does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 i guess i'll let perch take this one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted July 10, 2006 Author Share Posted July 10, 2006 I've never worked with it. I'd have to think it would be considerably cheaper, even with concrete prices as high as they are today. I would be very concerned with how porous concrete is, and how easily it stains. I'd also be concerened with cracking. I don't care what anyone says, concrete cracks, particularly if you have any inside corners. I do know there are materials you can mix in concrete (fiberglass for instance) that make it so it won't crack. It's not usually used for large jobs though due to the expense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My boss is a former custom concrete guy... He says stay away...chances are good the concrete guy you know sucks at it, he says most concrete guys do...also, Granite is harder and better.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I have not been able to find agood, reliable fabricator for concrete. The one's I have talked to seal it when it is finished. It has to be re-sealed about as often as granite does. The way they are built is on site with a form similar to foundations. The end product is not more than a 1/2" in thickness installed on plywood. They can crack, I'm sure. The one cool thing about the concrete is they do lots of custom colors, pretty much anything you want, as well as additives like gold fleck or mica which can give it a sparkle. I would say more current fad than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeye Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I don't anything about concrete countertops, but I have granite countertops and I would not have anything different. I have dropped about everything on them and they will withstand about anything. P.S. that was my wifes view and she would know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I do know there are materials you can mix in concrete (fiberglass for instance) that make it so it won't crack. It's not usually used for large jobs though due to the expense. Liar! All concrete will have small hairline cracks eventually, I don't care how much fiber mesh you put into it. Concrete cracks, that is the reason you control joint in all slabs, sidewalks, paving and most patios by reputable builders. The control joints stop the crack, but will not prevent the crack from starting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Liar! All concrete will have small hairline cracks eventually, I don't care how much fiber mesh you put into it. Concrete cracks, that is the reason you control joint in all slabs, sidewalks, paving and most patios by reputable builders. The control joints stop the crack, but will not prevent the crack from starting. Yes, they will crack. But a hairline crack in a counter top is not going to be a structural problem. It's like fissures in granite, part of the natural beauty. You may not like them, but some people might: http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/co...rtops_crack.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Yes, they will crack. But a hairline crack in a counter top is not going to be a structural problem. It's like fissures in granite, part of the natural beauty. You may not like them, but some people might: http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/co...rtops_crack.htm I agree that they would not or at least should not be structual in nature, but there are cracks none the less. I agree that food particles more than likely be large enough to where they would not get lodged into the cracks. That being said, I think those small cracks would breed bacteria. And while some may think that the cracks give it character, all I would see are cracks. Don't ge me wrong, I love concrete, I just wouldn't it on my counter tops. My house has a concrete foundation, concrete sidewalks, concrete patios, and a concrete drive way. Concrete is far and away superior to asphalt for drives, paving etc..., and with the price of oil so high, and the refineries using more of the dreggs for gas in lieu of asphalt, the price of asphalt is such that in smaller applications such as a small parking lot or drive it may actually be more expensive. Like I said, I love concrete, and wish that all paving on our jobs was concrete, but don't want it on my countertops anymore than I want asphalt on my counter tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I agree that they would not or at least should not be structual in nature, but there are cracks none the less. I agree that food particles more than likely be large enough to where they would not get lodged into the cracks. That being said, I think those small cracks would breed bacteria. And while some may think that the cracks give it character, all I would see are cracks. Don't ge me wrong, I love concrete, I just wouldn't it on my counter tops. My house has a concrete foundation, concrete sidewalks, concrete patios, and a concrete drive way. Concrete is far and away superior to asphalt for drives, paving etc..., and with the price of oil so high, and the refineries using more of the dreggs for gas in lieu of asphalt, the price of asphalt is such that in smaller applications such as a small parking lot or drive it may actually be more expensive. Like I said, I love concrete, and wish that all paving on our jobs was concrete, but don't want it on my countertops anymore than I want asphalt on my counter tops. Oh, trust me, I don't like it either. I wish I had a fabricator that could make it for me, because I could sell it to some people who just want the newest/latest/greatest thing on the market. But the cracks for me would be one thing to mention to a customer the same way I tell customers that all Corian scratches are white and that granite can stain, no matter what some people tell you. With that, some people would still buy the concrete, cracks and all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted July 10, 2006 Author Share Posted July 10, 2006 Liar! All concrete will have small hairline cracks eventually, I don't care how much fiber mesh you put into it. Concrete cracks, that is the reason you control joint in all slabs, sidewalks, paving and most patios by reputable builders. The control joints stop the crack, but will not prevent the crack from starting. You know what I meant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Oh, trust me, I don't like it either. I wish I had a fabricator that could make it for me, because I could sell it to some people who just want the newest/latest/greatest thing on the market. But the cracks for me would be one thing to mention to a customer the same way I tell customers that all Corian scratches are white and that granite can stain, no matter what some people tell you. With that, some people would still buy the concrete, cracks and all. Corian and other synthetic solid surface materials are nice. While they scratch, you can sand out the scratch with fine sand paper. The only problem with them is that you can burn them by sitting a hot pan on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted July 10, 2006 Author Share Posted July 10, 2006 I guess it can be said that all surfaces have their downside. It just depends on which one you think you could live with. To me it seems so far that when compared to the asthetic look of all the other surfaces, the possibility of granite staining is something I could live with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My neighbors got thier countertops half-price from a monument company who had excess marble from cutting tombstones...go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclones Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My neighbors got thier countertops half-price from a monument company who had excess marble from cutting tombstones...go figure. Not sure if it would jive with the rest of your kitchen, but we built a house 2 years ago and had stainless steel countertops installed. You can put hot pans on them, cut stuff on them, etc, and nothing happens. After a couple of months they get the aged look, but we have stainless steel appliances and our kitchen looks great. We get alot of compliments on it and it is very original, something to set the house apart from others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Corian and other synthetic solid surface materials are nice. While they scratch, you can sand out the scratch with fine sand paper. The only problem with them is that you can burn them by sitting a hot pan on them. I know, I sell them every day. I'm a kitchen and bath designer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Back Pat!!! Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 My neighbors got thier countertops half-price from a monument company who had excess marble from cutting tombstones...go figure. Most stone fabricators will not install marble for kitchen counters. Too porous and too soft, cracks very easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 Not sure if it would jive with the rest of your kitchen, but we built a house 2 years ago and had stainless steel countertops installed. You can put hot pans on them, cut stuff on them, etc, and nothing happens. After a couple of months they get the aged look, but we have stainless steel appliances and our kitchen looks great. We get alot of compliments on it and it is very original, something to set the house apart from others. I love the look and feel of stainless, but keeping it clean, particularly if you have small children with small handprints is a nightmare. In about 15 years, when me and the wife will be empty nesting it, I would love to have an all stainless kitchen, but for now, that would be way to much work for me in the wife to try to keep clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclones Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 I love the look and feel of stainless, but keeping it clean, particularly if you have small children with small handprints is a nightmare. In about 15 years, when me and the wife will be empty nesting it, I would love to have an all stainless kitchen, but for now, that would be way to much work for me in the wife to try to keep clean. We have a four year old and your point is well taken. While our appliances are handprint proof, out countertops are not. Luckily our boy cannot reach them yet, but once he gets a little older it will become troublesome. Right now we just wipe them down in the evenings and use stainless steel cleaner once a week, keeps them looking great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Corian and other synthetic solid surface materials are nice. While they scratch, you can sand out the scratch with fine sand paper. The only problem with them is that you can burn them by sitting a hot pan on them. You know what Perch....we did Corian in a house in the 80s when it was the latest, greatest thing. And I'd never do it again. You are RIGHT about burning. Corian doesn't take heat very well AT ALL. The configuration in this kitchen had the Corian backsplash around the cooktop on two sides and by the end of the first year.....the right piece of Corian was deformed and bubbling off the wall. Honest....I couldn't believe it myself. Corian in a bathroom? Great....just be careful with perfumes, nail polish remover, colored soaps, etc. Though.....the nicest thing about Corian is what Perch said.....you can sand/buff out stains. I don't think the new 'latest and greatest' thing in counters sounds too durable either. A resin impregnated, high pressure recycled cardboard product. Given these options...I'd stick with granite or a quartz composite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 Corian in a bathroom? Great....just be careful with perfumes, nail polish remover, colored soaps, etc. Though.....the nicest thing about Corian is what Perch said.....you can sand/buff out stains. I could see the wife's ole curling iron doing a number on that Corian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 I could see the wife's ole curling iron doing a number on that Corian. LOL....yeah....but you won't need to special order a vanity top. So no worries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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