Why should I choose Concrete over granite for my countertops?

The answer is not found in which material is better; rather it comes down to preference of color and design. What we do know, is that for the past 10-15 years there has been a surge in granite countertops. When you walk into a neighbor’s house or even a relative, there is a great chance that they have granite and because of price points and quantities, the identical look you have. For some, this trend has robbed them of the individuality and style that they were intending to create in their kitchen or bathroom.

For this reason Concrete Countertops are gaining market space. Concrete countertops offer a natural handcrafted look and feel which allow for a variety of colors, textures and designs. This means that you can now accentuate your room and create a theme or design that is not available on a shelf or store.

What if my neighbor or friends try to copy me?

The makeup of a quality concrete countertop mix delivers natural variants meaning that your concrete countertops have subtle variations in color, shade, texture and appearance that cannot be replicated. Although they may want your identical look they will only be able to achieve the basic color concept. The hues and variegated look Concrete Countertops produce make each one a piece of art rather than a mass produced and over used depiction of what a company thinks looks good. Couple that with hundreds of colors, stains and effects and the questions is why would someone want to copy?

Whether you live in Denver Colorado, Chicago Illinois, Indiana or even Canada concrete countertops are being used in creating a timeless modern appeal to their kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor kitchens. This can be seen on HGTV and DIY networks where their designers have been using concrete countertops to provide a functional yet individualized look to their projects. We hope that you enjoy the same satisfaction and appeal when you choose concrete countertops for  your home project.

Advancements in Concrete Countertop Mix – Xtreme Series Product Line

How does one choose the right concrete countertop mix?

Well there are many reputable companies out there that take great pride in their concrete countertop mix designs. Outside of cost, what can be some deciding factors to help narrow the choices?

1. First off your concrete countertop mix should match your intended design and profile thickness. Example;  if you need to pour a concrete countertop 1″ thick can it be done with ease? If so what kind of reinforcement is needed?
2. Next, are you looking to pour it in place or precast your concrete countertops? This is a very important choice. Certain mix designs can handle both preferences. Be cautious about demold and cure times. Compressive and flexural strengths vary in concrete countertop mixes.
3. Most concrete countertop mixes can achieve multiple textures, looks and designs. The only caution can be the size of the aggregates in the concrete countertop mix. If you are looking to polish the concrete countertop, cut it in place or do any mechanical manipulation,  this can expose aggregates that may not be part of the intended look. This should be taken into consideration when choosing the right concrete countertop mix.

With those three factors in mind, we looked at many of the more popular manufacturers of concrete countertop mixes. One that stood out was the Xtreme Countertop mix from SureCrete Design products. Lets take a look at what made this product the smartest choice in concrete countertop mix design.

Xtreme Countertop is a dual component concrete countertop mix. It combines the most advanced chemical technology with modern fiber advancements, to create an unparalleled concrete countertop mix design. This technology binds the raw materials of cement and sand with other ingredients into a stronger, denser cementitious composite than ever before possible.

How is this an advantage? The advancements in the Xtreme Series concrete countertop mix greatly reduces the amount of materials and labor required to construct a traditional concrete countertop. It addition to that, the concrete countertop mix does not have any polymers or acrylics. This opens the door for larger temperature swings during mixing and pouring along with little to no shrinkage issues after the fact. With the wide range of color selection and aggregate loading, design considerations are nearly limitless.

Xtreme Concrete Countertop Mix Features:

• Pre Blended Bag mix design with (1) gallon of XCTOP Modifier
• Pour as thin as 1/2″ with No rebar or steel
• Extreme PVA Fiber load
• Compressive Strength – 10,500 PSI
• Flexural Strength – 1,500 PSI
• 30-45 minute pot life of self consolidation
• 4-6 hour cure to demold time (design and texture can alter time)
• Begin tooling or polishing after 8 hours
• Bend into designs!

Here is a video that show’s you how creative one can get with the right concrete countertop mix. The product was demolded 6 hours after pouring. At 18 hours old, it could hold 3 adults at 5/8″ thick, standing on its own legs.