FAQs For Homeowners and Designers about your Concrete Counter Top.

Q1: Why should I consider concrete as a material for interior applications like kitchen or bathroom counters?

A: Concrete is an extraordinary material that is practical, expressive, and esthetic all at once. From a primal
and formless slurry, you can transform it into virtually any shape that becomes a solid mass. The
possibilities for creative expression are endless. You can grind, polish, stamp, or stain it. You can embed
meaningful objects within it.

Q2: What are the advantages of concrete counter tops over marble and/or granite? How does concrete
compare to granite in terms of both cost (per square foot) and texture?

A: The biggest advantage of concrete is that it is completely customizable; you can sculpt, mold, and texturize it
to your own desire. If you have a concrete kitchen or bathroom counter made for you, the cost will be based
on the complexity of the form, the mold-making process, and the desired finish, rather than the size. Cost
comparisons between materials should be done on a project-by-project basis.

Q3: Do concrete counter tops have an application in more traditional kitchens?

A: Yes, absolutely. Style is dictated by design; concrete can adapt to any look. For example, edge detailing and
decorative inlays can help a concrete counter blend into more traditional environments.

Q4: Can I use concrete counter tops in a commercial kitchen?

A: In Florida you should check with your local health department official first before starting any commercial
project.

Q5: Would concrete counter tops be good for outside use—as in an outdoor barbeque counter top? How will
a colored concrete counter hold up in the sunshine?

A: Outside use is possible, but you need to consider and address efflorescence problems which can be tricky.
In addition, there are issues of wear and tear from weather and natural elements.

Most iron-oxide pigments are color-fast, including the reds, yellows, browns, and oranges (as far as black,
synthetic black oxide is more colorfast than carbon black). Greens are a bit more unpredictable, and blues
(except for very expensive cobalt blue) are especially unpredictable when subject to UV rays.

Q6: Can I use concrete counter tops as a cutting surface?

A: As with marble or granite, we do not recommend cutting directly on a concrete surface, as it could result in
scratches and gouges in the finish of your counter as well as harm the blades of your knives.

Q7: Can I put a hot pot directly onto a concrete kitchen counter?

A: Concrete is heat-resistant but is subject to thermal shock if a red-hot object is placed directly upon it. Like
granite, the exposed area may flake or chip away if too much heat is applied. In addition, the heat could
damage the sealer and wax applied to the surface. We recommend using trivets for hot cookware.

Q8: Can concrete counter tops chip, flake, or crack?

A: As with marble and granite, concrete corners and edges can chip if struck by a hard object. Sealing and
rounding the inside corners of the mold with silicone will ease the edges and prevent chipping. Hairline
cracks can also develop, but these are not structural failures; rather, they are inherent characteristics of the
material.

Q9: Do concrete counter tops stain?

A: Concrete has approximately the same porosity as marble. Acids (especially red wine, lemon juice, and
vinegar) will etch the surface if not cleaned up right away. Sealer and finishing wax will help resist stains,
but they aren’t acid-proof and won’t make your counter impervious to stains. Luckily, like aged butcher block
or marble, a patina on concrete counter tops can actually enhance the character of the surface, so a spill is
not necessarily a disaster.

Note, however, that while Designer Concrete Counters has always used special penetrating sealers, we now use
a “hybrid” topical sealer that also has penetrating qualities. We now use CHENG Sealer in our fabrication