I love my concrete counters 8 years after doing them myself using this same system. One pro tip - drape sheet plastic over the fronts of the counters before installing the Hardie Board - it cuts away easily after pouring and polishing, but makes cleanup MUCH faster.
MUY buena calidad, el texto imagenes. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO Un manuel muy completo y trabajado. Resulta muy práctico. Para principiantes y profesionales. Lo recomiendo
Ya know, most videos I've seen on the tube include a lot of finish sanding to smooth the concrete out, kudos to you showing that patience, and a light touch during smoothing leaves a smooth top.
I went 18" floor title for counter top. They look like Italian Marble.. Its a eye attraction. Every one loves it. I do myself > I made it all by my self! Only took a week in my spare time. Pulling the sink out, and update it! Took the most time
I did some custom cement counter tops over a decade ago from scratch - Here's another very cool tip!! Buy white cement, use white sand, buy yellow oxide powder and you can literally tint it to a light river sand color. Now - use a white powder cement waterproofer in the cement mix, this will give you a tuscan look with varying tints of the same color - plus it makes the sealer go alot further cos it wont soak in as much - Once you put on the epoxy resin (or whatever sealer) the colors will look amazing. . They bleed out and it really makes form some amazing results - Takes some experimenting but well worth looking into! One important note - for large counter tops that require multiple mixes - mix all the dry goods together first - that way you get a consistent look! This is my own self designed system - done a few jobs and always comes out awesome looking.
@@drewkaree i found a waterproofing powder as opposed to liquid ones.. it helped not soaking up so much of the clear coat (pollyurethane resin - smelly stuff but cure quick :) - but having recently been using epoxy resin the soaking up is not so much an issue. This was over seas but im sure lime powder would have the same effect- it basically gae a really beautiful tuscan/victorian look, like old Italian ceilings.
Sounds like an awesome idea but also like you would take a little bit of work to get all those ingredients cuz I doubt home Depot has yellow oxide tinting whatever. Cool idea though
This is by far the best tutorial I've seen for this method of countertops. You're a good communicator and teacher and you went over those very important details that a lot of people miss such as: DON'T USE A STEEL TROW BEFORE THE FLOAT, AND NOT TOO EARLY!. I screwed up an entire countertop that way.
My wife recently asked about concrete counters when we were discussing some renovations. I told her I could do it, after a little research. The last time I saw it done was over 30 years ago. Your video was refreshing to see there have been some innovations in the industry to make it a lot more user friendly. Thanks for the video.
After TH-cam kept recommending this video more than 8 times, I finally caved in and watched it. I felt dirty and cheap BUT I’m glad I did. I was not disappointed! Great tutorial!!
As a decorative mason i love this video never heard of the concrete solutions countertop forms, definately will use in the future. However a good tip for getting a nice "beveled" or "bullnose" edge without having to grind or router it is to use a bead of silicone caulk in every hard corner of your form and use a caulk tool or your finger to give it a nice rounded edge.saves time and money so you dont need to buy a router or expensive concrete beveling blade
2 years later, and this is still helping people. I am planning an outdoor kitchen with concrete counter tops. So I won't have so much of the 'mess' issues. Those forms seem like a perfect solution. I have seen other videos where you can use a sander to vibrate the form and underside of the counter to absolutely eliminate bubbles.
thanks to this video I now have significantly more countertop space and dope breakfast bar with coffee station. all made with z form countertop molds and using this video as instruction. thanks man.
The ones I put in my kitchen at my old house looked so nice. Made my edge forms out of this triangle strip of wood we used when we pored columns. It gave the edge a classic 45° angle then I polishes them to a glass finish we had sage color added to it and little lime stones instead of pea gravel. It looked great.
A few small tips that could come in handy- Cover hardy backer with plastic, will further dry time. Use a long level to check from as many angles as possible. There's a lot of trust in the cabinets 'levelness' in using the forms. Use a longer mag trowel in initial screed, long enough to touch front to back. Vibrate under countertop (palm sanders work well) to get best consistency. Use a pool trowel to further finish concrete* (tricky but rewarding) Sand countertops with fine grit before seal. Knock down sharp edges with sand paper or stone. Pretty good video overall, but could use a few pointers.
This technique works great for stepping stones, walls, bath tubs, showers, etc....adding pea gravel and other decorative aggregates are a neat touch for grinding/polishing later.
I've been considering concrete, but thought it would be a lot more work, and hadn't realised there were proper stuff to do it with. Really useful video thanks...
Thanks for such a detailed, comprehensive and entertaining tutorial. You truly took the mysticism out of doing your own concrete countertop. You're awesome!
Dude...one of the best instructional videos Ive watched....so clear, paced right so really easy to follow...Im planning to do an island and also need to drop a stove top appliance or a fitted sink into a single long run...will check out the coloring process too.. thanks
Used this awesome system about 7 years ago and it is very DYI friendly. The recommendations are spot on - wish I had been able to watch this video before we did it. Do add plastic everywhere: front of cabinets, floor and a few inches above the counter too as your tools will be running against the wall. However do not like the concrete sealer shown. We found after a year or so what started as tiny holes became larger and the moisture that seeps through will discolor the concrete. We probably had done something wrong, but you may too. We ended up removing it (very hard to do completely as it is basically an epoxy - lots of scraping and sanding) and used the Cheng sealer instead. This one is super simple to apply and if it wears, you simply apply some more. Wish we had used the Cheng product from the start.
Awesome video. Everything you did made perfect sense and you made everything so easy to replicate. This is the 1st no-nonsense concrete countertop educational video I’ve seen so far. Others just make it so difficult to make and time consuming. Thank you!
Any edging tool used same as doing a sidewalk or drive would work. From the very slight 1/4” edge right up to a bold 1” radius edge. I used to cut pvc pipe to create lower bullnose forms when doing house steps. Then used a matching (or reasonably close) edger to do the top edge. (But I’d have steeled to surface more than just the once? To give a harder polished surface.)
This video is how I found your channel Jason. My wife said a firm NO to concrete in our kitchen, but my outdoor kitchen will definitely utilize this method. Love everything that’s followed!
This isn't exactly a "wife approved" countertop. You have to really enjoy the look of concrete to put it in your home like that. The end product literally looks like a sidewalk. I'm curious, did you ever end up doing it to the outdoor kitchen?
Just wanted to say, I watched this video a few months ago & decided I'd have a go at upgrading my English Yorkshire farm house kitchen tops from the old horrible woodchip tops to concrete. But I went one step further & placed down copper pipes at an slope towards my sink as a trainer. All I had to do was carefully grind the ends of the drainage grooves so water does flow off into the sink. I couldn't find the sealer you used however, probably only available in the US, but after some advice, I went with food safe concrete oil specifically for water sealing concrete counter tops. So big thank you for the inspiration. What should have cost me £600-£700 for a wooden replacement, it only cost me £200.
Concept is ok. I’ve see them wear they use real concrete. They grind the tops (use a industrial vacuum cleaner) it brings out the colours in the stone. Really nice and colourful Cheers have a great day
Wow I love the progression on doing these counter tops. These forms...my god! I did my own CC tops 15 yrs ago and used Melamine forms and wire mesh-which I thought worked well too. PITA!! I used a mix called "Sakrete 5000". It had fiber mesh, mostly sand and Portland. No aggregate. I used 3 layers of colored acid stains to make a patina which looked sick. Could you have stained these counter tops before you sealed them? Nice work man.
I used the exact same product for my countertops and they also turned out amazing! I went with a charcoal tint and I also wet polished them with diamond pads. The wet polish looks amazing because it really shows off the beautiful aggregate in the concrete, but damn, was that a freaking mess. I had plastic sheeting covering the floor and from floor to ceiling, it seriously looked like a Dexter kill room in my kitchen. But even with all that protection the wet polisher shot slurry all over the place and there were waterfalls pouring over the countertops pooling onto the floor, my buddy was unable to keep up with the shop vac to keep the water under control. An absolute mess but they turned out gorgeous. Maybe you can do a video on how to do these with a wet polisher, you may come up with a better solution to the crazy mess I had to deal with.
hello, please tell me this countertops how resistant they are to absorption and staining when spilling liquids and how strong they are to scratches compared to granite. thank you
@@tefaniademadeiros7476 after you seal them they are very stain resistant. I sealed mine with bees wax and after a year I have no stains. As for strength, I am fat and I stand on my counters .
Thanks so much man. I just subscribed. Ever since my dad passed away few years ago I have been having to learn all this DIY stuff on my own. Many things have been challenging... so its all helpful to see how others are completing the job. I’m going to be removing a portion of a non load bearing wall in between our kitchen and adding a bar area w/ concrete counter. Wish me luck.
Your story is just like mine man. Adding a bar in my kitchen where a load bearing wall is and my dad passed on some years ago. Learning all this diy stuff is challenging. Sure wish my old man was here to teach me this stuff
Tile is so hard to get. Cause there either isn't enough to do a whole kitchen. So it took me 4 months to get enough title. AND THE TYPE OF TITLE I WANTED > To start the job... It was worth the wait. IT EASY TO CLEAN, AND VERY DURABLE > to cutting on it, banging on it. hot and cold skillets and things. Plus if you spill some thing on it. IT DON'T RUN ALL OVER THE TOP. It pretty much stays there > I like this title so much that i did all the window seal bottoms in it. A Deep freeze top for a butcher table, and a bar. Not counting all the Kitchen. It gave my log cabin new life. and made it look AWESOME 👍
Loved your video. Definitely going to do this. A good solution I learned is using an oscillating tool with a sanding pad as a vibrator to eliminate air bubbles. Hope this helps.
Excellent video as usual 👍. There is only one think different I would have done, only because I've watched a ton of videos on the subject, would be to trim the hardie board 1/4 to 1/2 inch in the stove opening on each side, to hide the hardie board and having it show only concrete. 👍
I’m a big fan of adding bonding liquid or key coat - just about half a cup. Makes any concrete mix a little more creamy/buttery and better to work with - and also adds some water proofing properties. I also like to throw extra concrete powder to the top and float that in - to increase surface hardness
Loved this. Great quality and care at installation. Research clear on products used which help with the finished quality. Really useful. Being a builder I would add some care should be taken handling concrete as the burns can be horrific! Gloves must be used,and ones that don’t suck up the water ie rubber gloves!
My husband was concrete contractor, you are so right about burns and nasty I fertions. Wear gloves his hands and fi get nail were smooth not dry and cracked. Miss him.
I actually offered my landlord a replacement of cheap, shitty solutions (which I'd simply consider as flaws if I were buying the property) for a few months off my rent. You can do this stuff even when you don't own a house!
When I worked as for 3M as a travling hard floor teck, I was able to make a concrete floor look li,e a sheet of glass with the diamond pads on a swing machine. Those diamond pads would fit to a disk sander and could be used on this before sealing it. Just an idea.
I pour concrete for a living for about 6 yrs so far in out town nobody doing concrete countertops! I’m about to advertise countertops lol, thanks for the video learned I’ll I needed about the forming! I have the mixing and finishing covered 😂 they call me slick Rick 😅
Happy New subscriber right here! Yep. Great fit for this chick. I’m doing my own, so this was by far the best channel out there with all kinds of “save your butt “ mistake saving tips.
On mine, I saved some money by first using fiberglas reinforced concrete mix and filling up the forms about halfway, making sure to also keep it out of the edge forms. Then, while that was still wet, I used the sand mix and boxes to fill the forms up the rest of the way, making sure that all visible surfaces were with the sand mix with the boxed additive. I am about to redo the epoxy coating because my first try was ugly, but of the five different countertop sections in my kitchen, I see no cracks. I also used the Z edge forms and I can't imagine an easier, better system.
love how you just leave the dishes in the cabinets below ... Im glad to see your using rigid tools I like my tool to be rigid aswell wife is a fan also
Coolest video I've watched in a while. Comments are positive and FULL of cool tips and tricks. You guys get me inspired for my home projects! Also know your married and such but love the beard and aesthetic - very handsome:) Thanks for sharing have a great day!!!!!!
Those came out awesome!! Ever considered using an epoxy over them similar to a flooring? With a white base then grey and swirl some more white in it to give it a nice color. Then use a sealer. That would be awesome 👏🏼 but still the look of these would be fine for me in my home. Just customers might want more options
@@elizabethpenton2306 idk...I seen some videos of people making colored concrete and pouring and lightly mixing into the wet concrete already poured for the countertops. They turned out looking really good. Pretty damn close to marble or granite in my opinion and at a fraction of the cost. I also like when the sinks are made from concrete instead of dropping in sinks.
2 options. You could add pigment to the mix, but like he was explaining about adding water, get your measurements figured out on the first pail. Otherwise you risk varying the color. Other option is to stain it after it’s cured before the sealer. (If you are going for a faux finish or mottled look, I’d recommend staining.)
@Elizabeth Penton imagine not just epoxying the wood veneer original countertops to look like concrete for like 180$ but instead going through all of this work, trouble and 1000s to end up with unfinished concrete countertops
One of the best DIY presentations I've seen - makes me feel like ripping out the granite tops, just so I can try it. I'm thinking that I might get the mesh right up into the overhang - maybe keep it back a heavy 1/2" - it just seems like it could use the extra support...?
I have always asked myself how Chip Gaines creates this perfect glass-like finish on his concrete countertops. I knew there had to be some kind of coating. Finally, I know the secret! :-) Thanks for sharing this information across the Atlantic ocean, where concrete normally is not used insider kitchens at all. ;-)
This was such a wonderful video I am very limited on my budget and I think that I can do this I've always wanted concrete countertops anyway and now with that chips you showed it looks amazing thank you for posting this I can't wait to do my own
Awesome work boys! Just wondering if people add colours or effects to the finished product and is it a difficult process to do? Thanks for the tutorial. Learnt alot. The only thing that worries me is getting products that you've used cos I'm in Australia lol! I'm sure that we have similar products here but different brands and names. We call hardie boards cement sheeting down here.
Excellent, detailed instructions !!! Can't wait to do this too. Question, can you add a colorant to get different colors? Thanks for sharing this video!
1. Your tools DO NOT NEED TO BE WET!2.Its better to do it with a fiber float than finish off with the trial 3.Its better to not angle your trial as much because it can leave something know as concrete cellulitis and it looks a bit odd, instead barely angle your trial and pass over it fast to reduce tiny air bubbles. Everything else was good. Great job
Add dye to mix . I did a charcoal and got my tops to darken very well. I did mine in melamine forms. Then flipped and attached to bases. ( i was intimidated by methods i saw to do a direct pour) Turned out great . But i think on my next set i will do this method. Thanks for the video .
Love the idea but there's a couple minor issues, the main one being the sharp outside corners, they're likely to chip in no time and God help your kid when they eventually crack their head on it. If there was a way to round the edge it would make an awesome bench top. I also have some reservations about the fiberglass mat, unless those clips and add tension they're likely to just get pushed against the hardie board.
I promise I'm not being a smartass but if your kid cracks there head off a wooden worktop it's a trip to A&E either way. As for corners grind then sand.
No it won't be a trip to a&e, it'll be a few tears because wood is far softer and has much more rounded edges.. you're the second person to comment about grinding edges yet I can almost guarantee neither of you work with concrete if that's the best solution that you can come up with. You'd never get the edges looking right and just fill the house with silica dust it's a bad idea around....
@@VeritasSimRacing hmmm have you heard of this thing called concussion... Oak, walnut, cherry, maple none of them are soft against your head lol.... And if your scared of dust don't make a concrete worktop. Simple Also I never put my resume up so don't assume anything.
@@markdove5906 scared of a little dust? Never heard of silicosis obviously... The intelligent thing to do would be to make a form that's already rounded... Makes for a far cleaner finish.
@@VeritasSimRacing use your common sense and wear a mask!!! I don't think they've outlawed work on concrete! If you can mitigate the risks not a problem.
Nicely done sir. I'm sure if I scrolled through the questions somebody might have asked it and you may have already answered it so forgive me if you've already answered. I'm building an outdoor kitchen and we would like to incorporate some curves into the design. Does the Z form bend in a curved shape? That's my first question and my second question is can the finished sealed counter be exposed to the elements after it's been properly sealed? IE rained on Sunshine and so forth, this house is in Northern California so there is not any concern of snow. As a veteran teacher I must say that this video you created is spot on and 100% helpful. Thank you for your time.
Great job dude! That company is awesome! I did my countertops using them! Great customer service as well (which is rare now a days). 12 bags…. Yea…. I the guy mixing was glad after the last bag!
I was hoping your customer would have opted for some color tint or texture so you could show adding that and the results. You really have to love the concrete gray color otherwise.
I enjoyed this video. I would have liked to see you break the panels off the back. I never thought this could be done. I will use this method. Thank you
This guy is giving me epic mealtime retiree vibes and from the thumbnail I thought he was going to pour concrete straight over the existing countertops "these are trash!! Let's refinish them!!" Nice tutorial video though, respect
Very nice work. I would like to point out for educational purposes. "Curing" and "drying" are two different things. Cemetuas products will fully cure wet or dry. So your plastic sheet trick works to tell you when it's dry enough to not mess up the sealant. It is not cured for about 28 days typically. Does not matter if it's a basement wall or countertop still takes about 28 days to fully cure. Like paint can be dry to the touch in minutes, but it won't cure for hours or days.
I love my concrete counters 8 years after doing them myself using this same system. One pro tip - drape sheet plastic over the fronts of the counters before installing the Hardie Board - it cuts away easily after pouring and polishing, but makes cleanup MUCH faster.
Work Smarter, Not harder! Great tip!!!!
definitely! cheap plastic drop clothes will save your rear-end on clean up.
Thanks
I'll do this when I do mine this summer. Thanks
over the fronts? didn't he do that?
MUY buena calidad, el texto imagenes. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxbnOKZBE4evMO5V2vroHeCjq6d_MV6wJO Un manuel muy completo y trabajado. Resulta muy práctico. Para principiantes y profesionales. Lo recomiendo
Ya know, most videos I've seen on the tube include a lot of finish sanding to smooth the concrete out, kudos to you showing that patience, and a light touch during smoothing leaves a smooth top.
I use a orbital sander with no paper to vibrate the sides. Works great
He should have done that. He has loads of imperfections on his edges
I went 18" floor title for counter top. They look like Italian Marble.. Its a eye attraction. Every one loves it. I do myself > I made it all by my self! Only took a week in my spare time. Pulling the sink out, and update it! Took the most time
I did some custom cement counter tops over a decade ago from scratch - Here's another very cool tip!! Buy white cement, use white sand, buy yellow oxide powder and you can literally tint it to a light river sand color. Now - use a white powder cement waterproofer in the cement mix, this will give you a tuscan look with varying tints of the same color - plus it makes the sealer go alot further cos it wont soak in as much - Once you put on the epoxy resin (or whatever sealer) the colors will look amazing. . They bleed out and it really makes form some amazing results - Takes some experimenting but well worth looking into!
One important note - for large counter tops that require multiple mixes - mix all the dry goods together first - that way you get a consistent look!
This is my own self designed system - done a few jobs and always comes out awesome looking.
You mention the powder cement waterproofer in the mix, can you clarify the process you're talking about?
@@drewkaree i found a waterproofing powder as opposed to liquid ones.. it helped not soaking up so much of the clear coat (pollyurethane resin - smelly stuff but cure quick :) - but having recently been using epoxy resin the soaking up is not so much an issue. This was over seas but im sure lime powder would have the same effect- it basically gae a really beautiful tuscan/victorian look, like old Italian ceilings.
Nice tips Mr Burns!
That sounds so cool! Care to post pictures (over on imgur for instance)? Cheers!
Sounds like an awesome idea but also like you would take a little bit of work to get all those ingredients cuz I doubt home Depot has yellow oxide tinting whatever. Cool idea though
This is by far the best tutorial I've seen for this method of countertops. You're a good communicator and teacher and you went over those very important details that a lot of people miss such as: DON'T USE A STEEL TROW BEFORE THE FLOAT, AND NOT TOO EARLY!. I screwed up an entire countertop that way.
Awesome! Screwing in the boards from the top and then adding concrete so it can never be removed again is such a smart idea...
Agree! There is really no need to screw down the hardiebacker because the concrete slab is so heavy, this way you can remove in the future if needed
My wife recently asked about concrete counters when we were discussing some renovations.
I told her I could do it, after a little research. The last time I saw it done was over 30 years ago.
Your video was refreshing to see there have been some innovations in the industry to make it a lot more user friendly.
Thanks for the video.
After TH-cam kept recommending this video more than 8 times, I finally caved in and watched it. I felt dirty and cheap BUT I’m glad I did. I was not disappointed! Great tutorial!!
Bless this man for bringing us all 3:00am content
2:05am here lol
As a decorative mason i love this video never heard of the concrete solutions countertop forms, definately will use in the future. However a good tip for getting a nice "beveled" or "bullnose" edge without having to grind or router it is to use a bead of silicone caulk in every hard corner of your form and use a caulk tool or your finger to give it a nice rounded edge.saves time and money so you dont need to buy a router or expensive concrete beveling blade
Color matching epoxy to concrete and epoxying the the original counters saves far more time and far more money
@@yzrippin not the point of this video though. It’s for people who want concrete counters……..
Lots of great tips in this video. Really appreciate your fast pace, hitting all the important details without lingering.
2 years later, and this is still helping people. I am planning an outdoor kitchen with concrete counter tops. So I won't have so much of the 'mess' issues. Those forms seem like a perfect solution. I have seen other videos where you can use a sander to vibrate the form and underside of the counter to absolutely eliminate bubbles.
Did you finish your project? How did it turn out? Did you use a sander to eliminate bubbles?
thanks to this video I now have significantly more countertop space and dope breakfast bar with coffee station. all made with z form countertop molds and using this video as instruction. thanks man.
Nice job. Best DIY instructor I've seen. I finished watching this video and had absolutely no questions at the end.
The ones I put in my kitchen at my old house looked so nice. Made my edge forms out of this triangle strip of wood we used when we pored columns. It gave the edge a classic 45° angle then I polishes them to a glass finish we had sage color added to it and little lime stones instead of pea gravel. It looked great.
How did you polish the concrete top?
A few small tips that could come in handy-
Cover hardy backer with plastic, will further dry time.
Use a long level to check from as many angles as possible. There's a lot of trust in the cabinets 'levelness' in using the forms.
Use a longer mag trowel in initial screed, long enough to touch front to back.
Vibrate under countertop (palm sanders work well) to get best consistency.
Use a pool trowel to further finish concrete* (tricky but rewarding)
Sand countertops with fine grit before seal.
Knock down sharp edges with sand paper or stone.
Pretty good video overall, but could use a few pointers.
Exactly he skipped the sanding part witch is an important step for a proper finish product.
Does the sanding work with sand topping mix? I assumed it would pull sand granules. I've never used sand topping mix on projects like this however.
Probably would have looked better and stronger if he used some aggregate and chamfered edges
The best video on concrete countertops yet! I absolutely love your channel, and I'm glad to be learning so much from an Oregonian.
This technique works great for stepping stones, walls, bath tubs, showers, etc....adding pea gravel and other decorative aggregates are a neat touch for grinding/polishing later.
I've been considering concrete, but thought it would be a lot more work, and hadn't realised there were proper stuff to do it with. Really useful video thanks...
Thanks for such a detailed, comprehensive and entertaining tutorial. You truly took the mysticism out of doing your own concrete countertop. You're awesome!
Love the humor 😄 and a damn good 👍 👌 salesman
Dude...one of the best instructional videos Ive watched....so clear, paced right so really easy to follow...Im planning to do an island and also need to drop a stove top appliance or a fitted sink into a single long run...will check out the coloring process too.. thanks
At 57 I love diys and is excited to do my own counter top. This have answered a lot of questions I had. Great job.
Thanks a lot, am just a 20year old teen looking forward to learning this kind of stuff and your instructions are easy to follow thank! You!😁
How tf are you a 20 year old teen? LMAOOO 😂💀😂💀
We just bought a house built in 1959 and can’t wait to try this out! Thanks for the help!
Concrete is horrible, dont do it
@@stephenbatman33 agreed, imagine needing to fix it, or making a hole in it for a new appliance in a few years... Yikes
@@sararojas5315 You can fix concrete a lot easier (and cheaper) than Quartz/Granite.
Concrete is for millenial retards.
The way you speak. No ands or uhms. So refreshing. You deserve any more views. You could have a show
I am literally not lookin to do absolutely nothing to my countertop I just watched this because I was bored and this seemed satisfying😂
same
The wonders of youtube selection algorithms, eh?
Yeah I dont even own a house yet. This is just interesting and you cant be too knowledgeable lol
Same lol
youtube recommended gang
Used this awesome system about 7 years ago and it is very DYI friendly. The recommendations are spot on - wish I had been able to watch this video before we did it. Do add plastic everywhere: front of cabinets, floor and a few inches above the counter too as your tools will be running against the wall. However do not like the concrete sealer shown. We found after a year or so what started as tiny holes became larger and the moisture that seeps through will discolor the concrete. We probably had done something wrong, but you may too. We ended up removing it (very hard to do completely as it is basically an epoxy - lots of scraping and sanding) and used the Cheng sealer instead. This one is super simple to apply and if it wears, you simply apply some more. Wish we had used the Cheng product from the start.
Thanks for the video. I’ve poured thousands of yards of concrete on the ground but never done a counter top. This is very helpful.
Awesome video. Everything you did made perfect sense and you made everything so easy to replicate. This is the 1st no-nonsense concrete countertop educational video I’ve seen so far. Others just make it so difficult to make and time consuming. Thank you!
maybe a slight bevel or round on those edges, they look quite brittle and would be prone to chipping.
That’s exactly what I was thinking about. I would hate to see one of those edges get chipped off
Any edging tool used same as doing a sidewalk or drive would work. From the very slight 1/4” edge right up to a bold 1” radius edge.
I used to cut pvc pipe to create lower bullnose forms when doing house steps. Then used a matching (or reasonably close) edger to do the top edge.
(But I’d have steeled to surface more than just the once? To give a harder polished surface.)
This video is how I found your channel Jason. My wife said a firm NO to concrete in our kitchen, but my outdoor kitchen will definitely utilize this method. Love everything that’s followed!
This isn't exactly a "wife approved" countertop. You have to really enjoy the look of concrete to put it in your home like that. The end product literally looks like a sidewalk. I'm curious, did you ever end up doing it to the outdoor kitchen?
Just wanted to say, I watched this video a few months ago & decided I'd have a go at upgrading my English Yorkshire farm house kitchen tops from the old horrible woodchip tops to concrete. But I went one step further & placed down copper pipes at an slope towards my sink as a trainer. All I had to do was carefully grind the ends of the drainage grooves so water does flow off into the sink. I couldn't find the sealer you used however, probably only available in the US, but after some advice, I went with food safe concrete oil specifically for water sealing concrete counter tops.
So big thank you for the inspiration. What should have cost me £600-£700 for a wooden replacement, it only cost me £200.
Concept is ok. I’ve see them wear they use real concrete. They grind the tops (use a industrial vacuum cleaner) it brings out the colours in the stone. Really nice and colourful
Cheers have a great day
Wow I love the progression on doing these counter tops. These forms...my god! I did my own CC tops 15 yrs ago and used Melamine forms and wire mesh-which I thought worked well too. PITA!! I used a mix called "Sakrete 5000". It had fiber mesh, mostly sand and Portland. No aggregate. I used 3 layers of colored acid stains to make a patina which looked sick. Could you have stained these counter tops before you sealed them? Nice work man.
I used the exact same product for my countertops and they also turned out amazing! I went with a charcoal tint and I also wet polished them with diamond pads. The wet polish looks amazing because it really shows off the beautiful aggregate in the concrete, but damn, was that a freaking mess. I had plastic sheeting covering the floor and from floor to ceiling, it seriously looked like a Dexter kill room in my kitchen. But even with all that protection the wet polisher shot slurry all over the place and there were waterfalls pouring over the countertops pooling onto the floor, my buddy was unable to keep up with the shop vac to keep the water under control. An absolute mess but they turned out gorgeous. Maybe you can do a video on how to do these with a wet polisher, you may come up with a better solution to the crazy mess I had to deal with.
hello, please tell me this countertops how resistant they are to absorption and staining when spilling liquids and how strong they are to scratches compared to granite. thank you
I used a spray bottle with my polisher and had much less mess and my counters turned out fantastic.
@@tefaniademadeiros7476 after you seal them they are very stain resistant. I sealed mine with bees wax and after a year I have no stains. As for strength, I am fat and I stand on my counters .
Thanks so much man. I just subscribed. Ever since my dad passed away few years ago I have been having to learn all this DIY stuff on my own. Many things have been challenging... so its all helpful to see how others are completing the job. I’m going to be removing a portion of a non load bearing wall in between our kitchen and adding a bar area w/ concrete counter. Wish me luck.
Your story is just like mine man. Adding a bar in my kitchen where a load bearing wall is and my dad passed on some years ago. Learning all this diy stuff is challenging. Sure wish my old man was here to teach me this stuff
Tile is so hard to get. Cause there either isn't enough to do a whole kitchen. So it took me 4 months to get enough title. AND THE TYPE OF TITLE I WANTED > To start the job... It was worth the wait. IT EASY TO CLEAN, AND VERY DURABLE > to cutting on it, banging on it. hot and cold skillets and things. Plus if you spill some thing on it. IT DON'T RUN ALL OVER THE TOP. It pretty much stays there > I like this title so much that i did all the window seal bottoms in it. A Deep freeze top for a butcher table, and a bar. Not counting all the Kitchen. It gave my log cabin new life. and made it look AWESOME 👍
Thank you so much for the detailed tutorial. My husband and I are considering this technique for the shower floor.
Somehow I stumbled into this video and stayed for the whole thing. DAMN they came out sharp!! Great job!
I love what's written on your shirt, Kind of similar with what I wrote in my wall "Work hard, stay humble"
I love the look, the simplicity of clean lines!! Perfect modern finish, perfection! Really well done 👍
Loved your video. Definitely going to do this. A good solution I learned is using an oscillating tool with a sanding pad as a vibrator to eliminate air bubbles. Hope this helps.
Excellent video as usual 👍. There is only one think different I would have done, only because I've watched a ton of videos on the subject, would be to trim the hardie board 1/4 to 1/2 inch in the stove opening on each side, to hide the hardie board and having it show only concrete. 👍
I’m a big fan of adding bonding liquid or key coat - just about half a cup. Makes any concrete mix a little more creamy/buttery and better to work with - and also adds some water proofing properties.
I also like to throw extra concrete powder to the top and float that in - to increase surface hardness
this is probably a bad time to mention my floors aren't level.
Self leveling compound
Level cabinets is what's important.
gabrielle bourbonnais exactly. Anyone who’s set cabinets knows this.
Use a laser leveler to level your cabinets. I saw a "this old house" do an episode on it. If I can do it you can too.
@@mmebourbonnais yeah more often then not floors aren't level.
Tip - put the water in the bucket first, add the dry ingredients to the water. No dust and easier to mix.
Sick bro!
There is still dust
You're so good at answering every single question before we know we have them. Thanks!
Bravo, sei perfezionista che con soluzioni alternative riesce a semplificare un lavoro complesso.
Loved this. Great quality and care at installation. Research clear on products used which help with the finished quality. Really useful.
Being a builder I would add some care should be taken handling concrete as the burns can be horrific! Gloves must be used,and ones that don’t suck up the water ie rubber gloves!
My husband was concrete contractor, you are so right about burns and nasty I fertions. Wear gloves his hands and fi get nail were smooth not dry and cracked. Miss him.
i don't even have a countertop, or kitchen, or house, and I still watched this
🤣
LOLLLLL same,
Lollllll
Me too
I actually offered my landlord a replacement of cheap, shitty solutions (which I'd simply consider as flaws if I were buying the property) for a few months off my rent. You can do this stuff even when you don't own a house!
When I worked as for 3M as a travling hard floor teck, I was able to make a concrete floor look li,e a sheet of glass with the diamond pads on a swing machine. Those diamond pads would fit to a disk sander and could be used on this before sealing it. Just an idea.
I pour concrete for a living for about 6 yrs so far in out town nobody doing concrete countertops! I’m about to advertise countertops lol, thanks for the video learned I’ll I needed about the forming! I have the mixing and finishing covered 😂 they call me slick Rick 😅
I was about to make butcher block for my entire countertop... these are about to save me so much time and still look awesome!
If you pre drill your form it won’t pop up when you’re screwing it down. Makes it much easier to keep miters tight
Happy New subscriber right here! Yep. Great fit for this chick. I’m doing my own, so this was by far the best channel out there with all kinds of “save your butt “ mistake saving tips.
Concrete Counter tops have always been super scary to me. Definitely going to try this now! Thanks!
On mine, I saved some money by first using fiberglas reinforced concrete mix and filling up the forms about halfway, making sure to also keep it out of the edge forms. Then, while that was still wet, I used the sand mix and boxes to fill the forms up the rest of the way, making sure that all visible surfaces were with the sand mix with the boxed additive. I am about to redo the epoxy coating because my first try was ugly, but of the five different countertop sections in my kitchen, I see no cracks. I also used the Z edge forms and I can't imagine an easier, better system.
love how you just leave the dishes in the cabinets below ... Im glad to see your using rigid tools I like my tool to be rigid aswell wife is a fan also
Looks like a great system to work with. We’ve been thinking about adding concrete countertops and you may have helped us decide.
Add some colour hardener and trowel that in and you got your own masterpiece!
This was pretty cool. I dont even own a home, but yet I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. I like how the countertops turned out.
All
Coolest video I've watched in a while. Comments are positive and FULL of cool tips and tricks. You guys get me inspired for my home projects! Also know your married and such but love the beard and aesthetic - very handsome:)
Thanks for sharing have a great day!!!!!!
Those came out awesome!! Ever considered using an epoxy over them similar to a flooring? With a white base then grey and swirl some more white in it to give it a nice color. Then use a sealer. That would be awesome 👏🏼 but still the look of these would be fine for me in my home. Just customers might want more options
Is there a reason why you didnt try to color them, or maybe go for a marble or granite appearance? Just curious. Great video/tutorial btw.
If that's the look you're after, epoxy over existing counters is the cheapest/easiest way. People who want concrete counters want the industrial look
@@elizabethpenton2306 idk...I seen some videos of people making colored concrete and pouring and lightly mixing into the wet concrete already poured for the countertops. They turned out looking really good. Pretty damn close to marble or granite in my opinion and at a fraction of the cost. I also like when the sinks are made from concrete instead of dropping in sinks.
2 options. You could add pigment to the mix, but like he was explaining about adding water, get your measurements figured out on the first pail. Otherwise you risk varying the color.
Other option is to stain it after it’s cured before the sealer.
(If you are going for a faux finish or mottled look, I’d recommend staining.)
@Elizabeth Penton imagine not just epoxying the wood veneer original countertops to look like concrete for like 180$ but instead going through all of this work, trouble and 1000s to end up with unfinished concrete countertops
Enjoyed seeing it come together! That’s awesome how the fronts of the form just snap off. Great job explaining it!
Found another use for my wife's hitachi magic wand "back" massager. Run that baby along the form to get those bubbles out
Lol Why hasn’t anyone else commented on your comment it’s fucking hilarious
LOL
Lmao
I just use my girl dildo and slap the edges
buzzbox sander with no paper on it works great for getting the bubbles out.
One of the best DIY presentations I've seen - makes me feel like ripping out the granite tops, just so I can try it. I'm thinking that I might get the mesh right up into the overhang - maybe keep it back a heavy 1/2" - it just seems like it could use the extra support...?
Absolutely NO IDEA how or why I came to watch this video. I’m on the computer putting together a business presentation. But glad I did. Well done!
This will be my next project, but I’ll be trying out their white countertop mix. Thanks for the helpful video!
Big Smoke weirdo
I was thinking about white , hmmm - gray looks kinda sad.
bourbon moth: "make sure you get sand top concrete, not just sand"
me after pouring pure sand into my forms: "FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK"
No way!
😂😂😂
I didn't realize why my countertop would not get hard. Without concrete in the mix lol.
OK I’m about to order and I am confused. So I believe I see the same stuff that they bought from Home Depot But it just says topping and Bedding mix??
😂😂😂
I thought the diesel brothers changed their careers.😂✌️
he looks (and sounds) like a less-buff version of Brandon from Buff Dudes
@Bien on watch ....you’re spot on with that comparison. I immediately thought the same thing.
I have always asked myself how Chip Gaines creates this perfect glass-like finish on his concrete countertops. I knew there had to be some kind of coating. Finally, I know the secret! :-) Thanks for sharing this information across the Atlantic ocean, where concrete normally is not used insider kitchens at all. ;-)
This was such a wonderful video I am very limited on my budget and I think that I can do this I've always wanted concrete countertops anyway and now with that chips you showed it looks amazing thank you for posting this I can't wait to do my own
Awesome work boys! Just wondering if people add colours or effects to the finished product and is it a difficult process to do? Thanks for the tutorial. Learnt alot. The only thing that worries me is getting products that you've used cos I'm in Australia lol! I'm sure that we have similar products here but different brands and names. We call hardie boards cement sheeting down here.
Excellent, detailed instructions !!! Can't wait to do this too. Question, can you add a colorant to get different colors? Thanks for sharing this video!
Yes but you’d probably want to use white cement to get the best colors they have concrete dye
When he said "Subscribe down below" I was like.... Mannn, you don't have to tell me Twice. I love Construction!
Great video! It has convinced me for sure that this is what I want to do for my coffee bar. In my house
You my friend are a true artist with your hands thank you for your time and effort you put in to your videos
Wow that tile work is amazing.
- No one.
😂😂 not my work
Bourbon Moth Woodworking hahah I know I’m just playing. I’d make the contractor redo that, especially how bad it is laid right in the focal point.
Thank God I wasn't the only one. I couldn't take my eyes off the closed joints and crooked tiles
Rustic
Out of 1.7m people that watched this I wonder how many people attempted this
1. Your tools DO NOT NEED TO BE WET!2.Its better to do it with a fiber float than finish off with the trial
3.Its better to not angle your trial as much because it can leave something know as concrete cellulitis and it looks a bit odd, instead barely angle your trial and pass over it fast to reduce tiny air bubbles. Everything else was good. Great job
Hardy board haha that’s my new word of the day . Loving the concrete . Floating fibreglass mesh never sounded so sexy . I’m impressed .
Add dye to mix . I did a charcoal and got my tops to darken very well. I did mine in melamine forms. Then flipped and attached to bases. ( i was intimidated by methods i saw to do a direct pour) Turned out great . But i think on my next set i will do this method. Thanks for the video .
Thanks for teaching me how to install concrete counters, Keemstar.
"Hey, where'd you buy that leveling screed?"
"Across the skreet."
Love the idea but there's a couple minor issues, the main one being the sharp outside corners, they're likely to chip in no time and God help your kid when they eventually crack their head on it. If there was a way to round the edge it would make an awesome bench top. I also have some reservations about the fiberglass mat, unless those clips and add tension they're likely to just get pushed against the hardie board.
I promise I'm not being a smartass but if your kid cracks there head off a wooden worktop it's a trip to A&E either way. As for corners grind then sand.
No it won't be a trip to a&e, it'll be a few tears because wood is far softer and has much more rounded edges.. you're the second person to comment about grinding edges yet I can almost guarantee neither of you work with concrete if that's the best solution that you can come up with. You'd never get the edges looking right and just fill the house with silica dust it's a bad idea around....
@@VeritasSimRacing hmmm have you heard of this thing called concussion... Oak, walnut, cherry, maple none of them are soft against your head lol.... And if your scared of dust don't make a concrete worktop. Simple
Also I never put my resume up so don't assume anything.
@@markdove5906 scared of a little dust? Never heard of silicosis obviously... The intelligent thing to do would be to make a form that's already rounded... Makes for a far cleaner finish.
@@VeritasSimRacing use your common sense and wear a mask!!!
I don't think they've outlawed work on concrete! If you can mitigate the risks not a problem.
Nicely done sir.
I'm sure if I scrolled through the questions somebody might have asked it and you may have already answered it so forgive me if you've already answered.
I'm building an outdoor kitchen and we would like to incorporate some curves into the design.
Does the Z form bend in a curved shape? That's my first question and my second question is can the finished sealed counter be exposed to the elements after it's been properly sealed? IE rained on Sunshine and so forth, this house is in Northern California so there is not any concern of snow.
As a veteran teacher I must say that this video you created is spot on and 100% helpful. Thank you for your time.
Great job dude! That company is awesome! I did my countertops using them! Great customer service as well (which is rare now a days). 12 bags…. Yea…. I the guy mixing was glad after the last bag!
Word of the day "accoutrement"
That looks really cool. Nice video. One question, what about that hard /sharp edge on the front? Wouldn't it be better to round off somehow?
120 grit sanding block
I was hoping your customer would have opted for some color tint or texture so you could show adding that and the results. You really have to love the concrete gray color otherwise.
Easy to dye it afterwards
Best woodwork and diy website on youtube
I enjoyed this video. I would have liked to see you break the panels off the back. I never thought this could be done. I will use this method. Thank you
So it looks like no one has priced a countertop renovation, and this checks all the boxes when it comes to a good looking countertop.
This guy is giving me epic mealtime retiree vibes and from the thumbnail I thought he was going to pour concrete straight over the existing countertops "these are trash!! Let's refinish them!!" Nice tutorial video though, respect
that would be awesome if you did a concrete coffee table video with the z counterforms!
Such a good idea
Very nice work. I would like to point out for educational purposes. "Curing" and "drying" are two different things. Cemetuas products will fully cure wet or dry. So your plastic sheet trick works to tell you when it's dry enough to not mess up the sealant. It is not cured for about 28 days typically. Does not matter if it's a basement wall or countertop still takes about 28 days to fully cure. Like paint can be dry to the touch in minutes, but it won't cure for hours or days.
Easily the best vid on YT on this topic.