You will find 2 options in regards developing homemade concrete counter tops. You are able to put them in place, and put individually, and after that put in place. There are cons and pros to both methods. Establishing one in position requires creating a form straight atop the medicine cabinet or perhaps design the counter top will probably be addressing. The benefit of building available is you eliminate transferring a large counter top once poured. If you have a pool with colored coping, it looks really nice if you can match it. You may need to contact your pool contractor to find out what they used to color the concrete. The disadvantage? it may be hard to produce the form based on what you're positioning it on. Although then there's the issue of moving it in place, building separately really makes it painless to pour and finish in an open area. Both techniques have been done by us, and each have worked. But of the 2, I am able to say we choose building in place. It's great when you're almost all done and never need to concern yourself with finding a crew of individuals to go the large slab! Step 1.: The Concrete FormAfter you choose if you should establish instead or even different, it is time to construct the concrete form. Two x 4's for our exterior countertops were used by us. We ran them through the dinner table saw to write two x 3 's, after which constructed the type from there. The three thickness is ideal for standing up on the outside elements. Something less, plus you risk cracking, something more, and also it's just way too heavy. We began by putting 3/4 plywood in addition to the outdoor kitchen area, after which screwed the two x 3 's in in the bottom part. We also developed a cutout in which our built in gas grill will go. The great thing when dealing with concrete is you are able to produce some design or maybe cut out by just creating it to the type. Additional screws were used by us to secure our two x 3 's to one another. It's essential to work with screws as nails are able to pop out very easily from the strain on the concrete. The moment we'd the type in place, the tips of the board and two x 3's with silicone caulking to maintain everything in the form were sealed by us. Mixing, Pouring And LevelingWire mesh or metal fencing placed in the middle of the pour adds strength It's essential to utilize a high strength concrete mix for long-range durability. We utilized eighty pound bags of Quickcrete 5000 sequence concrete blend for the projects of ours. We then added fibre reinforcement as we blended the bags at a speed of two cups of fiber per container. This will help to to reduce the possibility of cracking. You are able to also buy the bagged blend with the fibers now within the mix. You are able to likewise blend in colorants to produce all sorts of looks. When colorants are added by you, remember they're water, therefore they are going to change just how much water you have to produce the mix. We utilized a concrete tub to combine 2 bags at a period and put in to the type. The key element in mixing is adding some h20 at a moment, until the blend is all about the consistency of smooth peanut butter. Our first outside concrete countertop task was at the barn. In case excessive water is mixed by you, it is able to lower the hardiness of the concrete. Although aproximatelly three quarts of water per bag were used by us, it is able to vary. When blended, we lifted the bathtub with the assistance of several individuals into the type and also spread it out there. It's crucial at this stage to operate the concrete down into the sides. After the type was half loaded, we pressed in metallic fencing to serve as rebar. The fencing was cut by us to place, leaving about and also inch from the advantage of all corners and sides. We then continued mixing just pouring until the type was filled. Concrete is self leveling by nature, so as soon as the form was loaded, we troweled it until eventually smooth. A hammer was used by us to softly tap the tips of the type. This helped any concrete voids which might have created to fill. The pour and also one last trowel was complete. We used a maximum of fifteen sacks for an eleven x thirty two wide counter. At five dolars per bag that's quite a cheap counter top! Completing? Sanding And SealingWe left our wood styles available for 2 days, and that is the time when unscrewed and eliminated them. Although could nonetheless be smoothed away in the usage of any grinder, the concrete is difficult only at that stage.
An angle grinder was used by us and then went over entire exterior to smooth over the sides. It's a dusty procedure, so use a mask! We watered down the area before sanding to cut back on the dust. Once the concrete had cured for several weeks, we choose to use a water-based acrylic sealer to provide it with a shiny appearance. We won't ever have food specifically ready on the outside, therefore the sealer is good to utilize.
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FreddyMy wife, Eileen and I come up with a lot of creative ideas for this blog. But, it is I (Freddy) that does most of the writing on this blog. ArchivesCategories |