Concrete Countertops

By: Fu-Tung Chen, with Eric Olsen

Become a Concrete Countertop Expert. At last, a complete how-to instruction manual on creating countertops from one of the most versatile building materials available.

Here you’ll find step-by-step instructions for making concrete countertops, from planning, building the mold, mixing and pouring the concrete, to curing, grinding, finishing, polishing, and finally installing the finished countertop and backsplash.

You’ll even learn a potential side business of maintaining concrete countertops.

This is the first and only complete guide to the techniques and design possibilities of concrete in your kitchen and bath.

Countertops made of custom-formed, colored, and finished concrete can look like marble, granite, glass, or sculpture-the look is limited only by the imagination.

Written by a master of design and construction, the book covers every angle of creating concrete countertops, including.

• Design and planning
• Building the form
• Mixing and pouring the concrete
• Grinding and polishing the countertop
• Troubleshooting and maintenance
• Installing the finished countertop

Contents:

Introduction, 2

1. DESIGN AND PLANNING, 6

Why concrete? 8

Before you begin, 11

Break out of the mold, 20

Complements and supplements, 31

2. BUILDING THE MOLD, 36

Tools and materials, 41

Laying out the mold, 49

Assembling the mold, 56

3. MIX DESIGN, 78

The basics, 81

A basic mix, 96

Calculating and proportioning ingredients, 98

4. MIXING AND POURING, 104

Tools and materials, 105

The work environment, 112

Mixing the concrete, 113

Placing the concrete, 119

5. CURING, FINISHING, AND TROUBLESHOOTING, 124

Curing, 125

Releasing the concrete, 130

Grinding and polishing, 136

Placing inlays, 142

Sealing the concrete, 143

Troubleshooting, 149

6. INSTALLING THE COUNTERTOP, 158

Preparing the cabinets, 159

lnstalling the countertop, 163

Installing the backsplash, 170

Appendix 1. Building a Curved Form, 174
Appendix 2. Forming a Drop-Down Front Edge, 176
Appendix 3. Pouring a Countertop in Place, 178
Appendix 4. Maintaining a Concrete Countertop, 190
Resources, 95
Credits, 198
Index, 199

208 Pages - 8-1/2x 11 in.