This video was the most practical way to build one without any fancy tools that I’ve seen. Using car wax a mould release was genius! The surface finish right out of the mould was fabulous. Thank you for sharing your techniques!
Thanks for a great video, showing a very straight forward and approachable way to do this. One "thought" that possibly (?) could make "mold making" even easier. What about cutting all the "edge pieces" to be a "bit to long"(4-5 inches). And then when You mount them You start by fixing the first one perfectly aligned on one edge of the "bottom" and let it "over extend" the other edge. Then when You then mount the second, third and fourth "edge piece" You just put it "but up" to the overhang of the previous piece, thereby You will also "automatically" get perfect fit without really having to measure the length of any of the "edge pieces" exactly (which I believe could simplify the procedure for people who have more "rudimentary setups") . AND since all the "edge piece" will have one end with "overhang" You might even get a mold that is even easier to "break down" without "endangering" the slab :) Just a thought..And I realise that it might be hard to understand when put in writing, but I hope that I got the general idea across. Best regards
Anytime, I'm glad you liked it! It actually wasn't long after I made this that I realized that method would be even better lol it does make measuring the sides even easier and gives each piece a pull handle. You are correct! Good luck on yours and let me know how it goes! Thanks for sharing
Amazing!! i've seen like 10 tutorials for this kind of countertop and this is by far the easiest and the pretiest. Greetings from Argentina and thanks for this!!
Hi Jesse - As so many others have stated, yours is BY FAR the best instructional video for a DIY concrete counter I was able to find. Thank you! I used it to make a fireplace hearth. It came out amazing except for one small glitch. For some reason, I'm able to see outlines of the wire reinforcement on the surface. I see in other comments you referred to this as "ghosting." My slab is 1.5" like yours. Perhaps my cement mix was a little too watery and it settled closer to the surface during vibrating. I used countertop mix. I don't think it was too watery, but who knows. Anyway, I wouldn't mind natural color variations since it is concrete after all, but the visible "grid" does take away from the natural look a little. There are spots of the surface that are darker like where the grid lines are and it almost seems as though there is a residue or something in the pores causing the lighter spots. I included a close up photo as well so you can zoom in and hopefully see what I mean. I have thoroughly polished with the 800 grit several times with no change. These photos were taken while it is completely dry. I have not sealed yet and was wondering if you could think of anything I might be able to try to "clean" the lighter areas so at least the grids lines blend in a little better. Thoughts? photos.app.goo.gl/6d5mUvg7XCADpFjNA photos.app.goo.gl/xczbMPRhvs8B7snv8 One other question. Since this is a hearth, I am concerned about using an acrylic (film) sealer rather than a penetrating sealer. Fireplace tools would likely scratch a film over time. My plan is to use a penetrating sealer with the wax. Is my thinking correct on this?
I agree with the sidewall method. When I've done this in the past. I actually scrubbed measuring length of the sides all together. Just over lengthed first side flushed to one corner of the base leaving a wing, then did the next side clockwise. Leaving each sidewall with just one "wing" for that same sort of grab handle. Worked a treat an eliminates any need for needing any sort math or precision ..or even measuring for sidewall length cuts. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝒴o𝓊 for the carwax mold release idea. Excellent!
Amazing video my mom bought one an told me she wanted another i figured I could maybe make one this is giving me confidence lolim going to give it a try
Hi! Just wanna say I like your video My favorite trick with finger finish- put a tiny bit of dish soap You can also take a bolt and run it on the corner and pull off the excess so you’re left with a super minimal finish on your corner.
Just demolded mine 3 days later. The car wax is amazing, the sides literally fell off. GREAT video! You cannot vibrate the form enough. I spend 30 mins, I could (should) have spent an hour.
Awesome! Glad to hear it! I love car wax, I find it better than oils. I'm glad I could help. Yeah I vibrated mine for 45 mins and yes, you literally cannot do it too much. Do you have any pics you could email me so I can feature it?
This is a great video. Followed your tutorial to make the first countertop for our outdoor kitchen. Just removed the form today and it looks so good. Waiting now for the next stage. Then just another two countertops to go!!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for a great video. I took the forms off of the slab and am in the process of sanding, sealing and waxing. So far it looks fantastic. I did exactly what you described and I was surprised at how easy this was. Thanks so much for all of your efforts!
Awesome! Thanks for watching. I'm glad I could help and stoked it turned out for you! I'd love to see it, and I'll even feature it if you send me an email with a pic, or tag me on Insta
@@chrisfaircliffe5533 I used Quikrete counter top mix with some charcoal coloring added in. I bought both at my local big box orange colored hardware store.
Thanks! Nah, that stuff isn't recommended. I've used both and for a lot of projects this is just fine. There are certain instances for GFRC, but a basic slab can be made without. Good luck on yours!
Excellent tutorial - thanks very much! I stumbled upon this whilst looking to buy a concrete dining table but now I think I can make my own thanks to this guide, and it'll be at a fraction of the cost of buying one. Thanks again for sharing this, much appreciated!
Yep! Intention is to do a couple of small tests first - that way I can mess around with colouring and, more importantly, get the technique right. Eventual dining table I've got in mind, isn't going to be particularly large - just 150cm long and around 80cm width.
Nice job! I'm doing a bench for my shower. Frame is built wire cut. Getting ready to silicone and was the frame. I'll probably wait until tomorrow to pour it. Will watch again too. Thanks!
Looks pretty darn smooth I am going this route for my (93) mom's m-in-law kitchen and hoping to do a corner sink also. as you say details- pin holes can be filled, as you wish I think I want to make the sink corner 34x34 but into the longer @ >8' and 5' pieces counter tops with w thin rubber joint rather than grout. The sink will be a project alone.
You have put together an exceptional video about how to cast a tabletop or anything else, really. I would offer one small criticism. Concrete does not dry. This is so commonly said that it changes how people handle/work concrete. Concrete cures. It is a chemical reaction, that even generates heat, making it an exothermic reaction. Concrete requires water to go through this reaction and some of the hardest and strongest concrete is formed underwater. After the surface is hard enough to not be disturbed by water let it have all it wants---flood it, especially if it is a hot day and in direct sunlight. Great video!
Thanks. That is true. I am typically a big proponent of telling people the difference between dried and cured, they are very different. Doesn't matter if it's concrete, paint, or some kind of coating. I was trying to keep this video as simple and DIY approachable as I could. Thanks for sharing
Jesse - thanks! I’ve been debating on which type of countertop to use for my outdoor built in bbq, but no more - it’s gonna be concrete! I just poured and de-molded a perfect, 14”x33” slab! Thanks for the guidance.
UPDATE - just de-molded a perfect 43” x 33” slab! That bad boy is heavy - needed the neighbor and his two sons to help me with it. Nearly bbq time! Thanks again!
I've been watching a few videos on doing this. Yours is the best I've seen so far. I want to do one for an island we have in our kitchen that's about the same size as the one you did here. I have an idea to just use the countertop that is a laminate top as the mold since it's already the correct size and smooth. Hope it turns out as nice as yours.😊
Great video, I'm going to try it as soon as I can get all the supplies lined up and outside weather is a little warmer, I'm in Canada, still kind of cold here. I was wondering what kind of dye you used, I would like to add that to the mix as well. Thanks for giving me the courage to give this a try, I plan on making a top for a outside coffee table on my deck.
Thanks, glad you liked it! I'm in Saskatchewan myself lol where you at? I used Quikrete liquid charcoal dye, I only used one bottle per bag of concrete but you can use up to 2, just reduce the water a bit. I'm glad I could help you out and that you found it useful. Good luck on your project, keep me posted on how it goes!
Thanks a million. Just about to make a test piece of a countertop with scrap melamine board before making big countertop. I will make one mould with sand, cement and plasticiser and another with small stones added to see if aggregate can be seen on the finished surface. Great video. Much appreciated. Great to know I don't need to buy expensive tools for a good finish
Thanks! Aggregate is used for strength, without it, it will be much weaker and more likely to snap or crack. If vibrated correctly, you won't see any as the concrete creme with encase them. Good luck and have fun! Any questions, just ask
Must be a very fine sand. We cannot get sand that fine in Ireland. But the small gravel in the mix I use looks good but requires more sanding. All the best from Ireland.
Thanks for the video. Thanks also for being normal and informative and not full of 'rah rah. Just made my countertop out of the Glass Fibre Concrete (GFCR) and it came out really well. Only thing I would say is that I wished I'd used as little silicon as possible - the concrete has picked up all of the change in texture and it has left an obvious mark around the edges. Especially where it had smeared a bit wide. But for a first effort I am pretty pleased.
Anytime, happy to help! That's awesome, I'm glad you gave it a go. Yeah, it's amazing what the concrete can really pick up, it conforms to everything. That's exactly right tho, you learn by doing so next time you have that experience! Good job
Thanks! As long as they haven't absorbed any water and swelled up, you can probably get away with using it a second time with a good cleaning before. Good luck on yours!
@@JessedoesDIY So I have a deck that's about 20 years old. Considering replacing the wooden steps, and wood on top of the deck. Would thinner fiberglass concrete be an ideal replacement for the steps?
Thank you! The biggest problem is people literally vibrate it for like 2 mins, and smack it 8 times with a hammer. It takes waaay more than that to get the bubbles out. I find it's easier to vibrate for much longer than fix the bubbles later. Thanks for subscribing! Glad to have to on the crew
ive been racking my brain for a while trying to find and minimalist table top that would be perfect for my house, ive looked on pintrest and all sorts of places, this is a fantastic idea!! thank you for posting
Can you make a video showing how you affixed to your cabinet? I would like to try and make an end table. Thank you so much. Your videos are so inspiring and you explain things so simply...
Thank you so much, I appreciate that. I have the full cabinet video coming, but I'm not finished building it yet, probably a month yet. It's rather easy tho, take some clear, 100% silicone and make some 1" dollops in the corners and set it in place. If you watch the small square cube table I built with a concrete top, I show how to attach a concrete top in that video.
I'm thinking of making a concrete desk to deaden frequencies from my speakers. I just need to think of a solution for the legs that provide enough integrity to support the mass and allow enough surface area to prevent the concrete from cracking over time. Thanks! A quick google seems like metal U shaped legs with a double bridge connecting both should work.
The legs can support more than you think, it's usually the stretchers between them that's the problem, yeah. I've used 2x2 stretchers and they can be just fine. But as long as you've found something that works, it's all good. Good luck on your project
Refreshing to see someone clearly demonstrate *not* trowelling right after pouring. And all the time vibrating is very interesting. I guess that the metal reinforcement does not end up on the bottom, even with all the vibration? Kern, in "The Owner-Built Home" (c) 1972, 1975, says "The Rocla Laboratories of Melbourne, Australia, found that an 11 percent higher tensile strength can be obtained when sand and cement are first mixed together, with the coarse aggregate being added after the water. This is an 11 percent gain in strength over the customary practice of mixing coarse aggregate in with the dry sand and the cement." Nordmeyer, in "Quality Concrete from CRAP" (c) 2017 says, "when using a portable mixer, always add most of the water first, about a third of the sand, and then all the fines (Portland cement, pigments, fiber, admixtures); then add the rest of the sand." I can't square these two experts in their opinion, but I'm inclined to believe Nordmeyer. Any comments on this?
The reinforcement will eventually fall to the bottom which is why most of the vibrating is done first and then it's added in the top half of the pour. I can't speak to strengths like they are referring, I used pre bagged mixes. I'd use additives or different mixes to get more strength out of it but even basic concrete is super strong for this use case I wouldn't be worried about it
This looks great and super doable. On some of the tutorials I've seen there is an acid wash step with a muriatic acid solution - curious if you're able to elaborate on why or why not one might do that step?
Thanks! It's totally doable. The acid wash step can help seal up some of the pores in the concrete and can help with smoothing and help prevent staining. On most slabs like this I don't find it totally needed, maybe on a big countertop for that crazy perfect finish. But after a quick sanding like I showed, a good couple coats of sealer and then the wax, I've never had a problem. It's plenty smooth enough for me, and I've never had a problem with staining or anything as long as it's wiped up and not left to dry in
Love your video so much! So easy to understand and made me very confident to actually do it. Hopefully I’ll get another pair of hands to help out this pregnant mama ❤️
Hello. Excellent video. Very helpful indeed for an absolute beginner. You said "any 6000psi concrete" but can you tell us more specifically which concrete you used. It's the perfect colour. And I'm very impressed with the lack of tonal variation. I notice when I'm trying to buy concrete here in the UK that there are lots of options including 40N, Coarse Concrete 40N, and QC10. Some of the available brands are Blue Circle, Hanson, UnltraCrete, and Quikrete. We just want to get this right so we don't waste too much time. Thanks for any additional information you can give us on buying concrete.
Thanks very much, I'm glad you liked it! I used Quikrete 6000 psi concrete in a blue bag, but the 5000 psi also works very well in a white bag. Both are plenty strong for this use. I also added 2 bottles of Quikrete charcoal liquid dye. I used 2 bags of concrete, so 1 bottle per bag, but you can used up to 2 bottles per bag if you wanted to go even darker. Honestly and brand will work, but the finer the better for this. Just make sure after adding the dye that you mix it like crazy after. They prefer you add it to the water, I did that with 1 bottle, and poured the second bottle straight into the mix. Hope that helps, let me know if you have more questions
I just finished watching this UA-cam video you made and, boy, am I impressed! What you made is beautiful! I'm now inspired to make something similar - a concrete hearth for my fireplace. A question I have - and I'm hoping you have some knowledge on the subject and can offer an opinion - is if the concrete could handle the heat from a fireplace insert without cracking. The concrete hearth that I have in mind would be 5 ft long x 20 inches wide x 2 inches thick and placed directly on an existing concrete slab foundation. Also, what proportion of 'charcoal dye' did you use per sack of conc? The tone of grey is perfect. Thanks for your posting such an impressive video.
Thanks so much, glad you liked it! That's awesome man, that was my goal, to show you that you can. In terms of cracking in extreme heat, you'll probably get some minor thin cracks. The larger the reinforcement or more surface area the better, you may want to look at thin reebar or a thin wire mesh used for parging, you can find it in the concrete aisle. The stronger it is and more surface are it has to grab, the less chance for large cracks. I used 1 bottle of dye per bag of concrete, but you can go up to 2 bottles per bag if it's the quikrete dye. Hope that helps, good luck!
I do the edge pieces like you, on the side, not too, to make demolding easier. But I make all four pieces too long. One edge flush with the edge of the bottom piece and one end over hanging. Then you can easily pry off all four sides like your showed.
I've watched a bagillion of these videos, and yours was the only one that has the smooth finish I'm looking for. 👍
Awesome! Glad I could help and good luck on yours!
This video was the most practical way to build one without any fancy tools that I’ve seen. Using car wax a mould release was genius! The surface finish right out of the mould was fabulous. Thank you for sharing your techniques!
Thanks! I'm glad I could help out! Have fun and good luck on yours
This is the BEST video on UA-cam about this!
Hands down the best concrete countertop tutorial I've ever seen. 🙌
I can't wait to make my concrete table.
Thanks. Glad you like it and good luck on yours!
One of the nicer looking slabs ive seen and i've watched dozens of similar videos.
Thanks very much!
im just another guy that needs to watch other guy making concrete table. Thanks brotha
And nothing wrong with that. Anytime man. Good luck on yours
I have to say for me never have done this before this is by far the easiest video to make a concrete table.
Thanks! Glad you think so and happy to help. Good luck on yours!
Cheers mate, great display of a common sense approach to this project. This is going to be my preferred method when I have a crack down here in NZ.
Thanks man, glad you liked it. Good luck on yours
I've been searching/researching videos for a while now. I found the ONE with everything I need.
You get a follow. 👍
Awesome! Good to hear and welcome. Good luck on yours!
Definitely the best countertop tutorial I’ve seen, makes me even more keen to have a go! Good job, thank you
Thank you! Good luck!
Absolutely, you should be blowing up with way more subs!!!
I'm trying, it's been a long slow grind
here to say that he is right about using the finger to get a great finish, I have been using it for years and get no complaints.
Thanks for the comment
Best clean concrete top I’ve seen 👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks! Glad you like it
Thanks for a great video, showing a very straight forward and approachable way to do this.
One "thought" that possibly (?) could make "mold making" even easier.
What about cutting all the "edge pieces" to be a "bit to long"(4-5 inches). And then when You mount them You start by fixing the first one perfectly aligned on one edge of the "bottom" and let it "over extend" the other edge. Then when You then mount the second, third and fourth "edge piece" You just put it "but up" to the overhang of the previous piece, thereby You will also "automatically" get perfect fit without really having to measure the length of any of the "edge pieces" exactly (which I believe could simplify the procedure for people who have more "rudimentary setups") . AND since all the "edge piece" will have one end with "overhang" You might even get a mold that is even easier to "break down" without "endangering" the slab :)
Just a thought..And I realise that it might be hard to understand when put in writing, but I hope that I got the general idea across.
Best regards
Anytime, I'm glad you liked it! It actually wasn't long after I made this that I realized that method would be even better lol it does make measuring the sides even easier and gives each piece a pull handle. You are correct! Good luck on yours and let me know how it goes! Thanks for sharing
We just finished a countertop using this video as guidance and it turned out beautifully ! We haven’t sealed it yet but the surface is super smooth!
That's fantastic! Wait till you seal and wax it, crazy how smooth it gets. Thanks for sharing, glad you found it useful
Amazing!! i've seen like 10 tutorials for this kind of countertop and this is by far the easiest and the pretiest. Greetings from Argentina and thanks for this!!
Greetings and thanks, glad you like it! I'm just happy to help. Thanks for watching and good luck on yours! Let me know how it goes
What sealer and wax you used?
@@joseuriarte9788 usé hidrolaca. 3 manos y quedó perfecto.
I used Tuff Duck sealer or Changs, and Clark's concrete countertop wax. Links are in the description
Argentina! I bet you are making a barbecue ??
Jesse that concrete slab is very well finished off. So often you see air holes. You have really done an amazing job! This is what got my attention!
Thanks, I appreciate that! Should check out the concrete vanity top I made, that one gave me problems lol
Wow!!! From all the videos I’ve watched this is the one guide I’ll use on my counter tops. Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Argentina!
That's awesome, glad you liked it! Good luck on yours, keep me posted!
Hi Jesse - As so many others have stated, yours is BY FAR the best instructional video for a DIY concrete counter I was able to find. Thank you! I used it to make a fireplace hearth. It came out amazing except for one small glitch. For some reason, I'm able to see outlines of the wire reinforcement on the surface. I see in other comments you referred to this as "ghosting." My slab is 1.5" like yours. Perhaps my cement mix was a little too watery and it settled closer to the surface during vibrating. I used countertop mix. I don't think it was too watery, but who knows. Anyway, I wouldn't mind natural color variations since it is concrete after all, but the visible "grid" does take away from the natural look a little. There are spots of the surface that are darker like where the grid lines are and it almost seems as though there is a residue or something in the pores causing the lighter spots. I included a close up photo as well so you can zoom in and hopefully see what I mean. I have thoroughly polished with the 800 grit several times with no change. These photos were taken while it is completely dry. I have not sealed yet and was wondering if you could think of anything I might be able to try to "clean" the lighter areas so at least the grids lines blend in a little better. Thoughts?
photos.app.goo.gl/6d5mUvg7XCADpFjNA
photos.app.goo.gl/xczbMPRhvs8B7snv8
One other question. Since this is a hearth, I am concerned about using an acrylic (film) sealer rather than a penetrating sealer. Fireplace tools would likely scratch a film over time. My plan is to use a penetrating sealer with the wax. Is my thinking correct on this?
I replied to you via email!
I agree with the sidewall method. When I've done this in the past. I actually scrubbed measuring length of the sides all together. Just over lengthed first side flushed to one corner of the base leaving a wing, then did the next side clockwise. Leaving each sidewall with just one "wing" for that same sort of grab handle. Worked a treat an eliminates any need for needing any sort math or precision ..or even measuring for sidewall length cuts. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝒴o𝓊 for the carwax mold release idea. Excellent!
It's so much easier that way. I'm glad you liked it!
Amazing video my mom bought one an told me she wanted another i figured I could maybe make one this is giving me confidence lolim going to give it a try
Thanks, glad I could help! Good luck on yours
This is the best concrete countertop I’ve seen!
Thanks!
Hi! Just wanna say I like your video
My favorite trick with finger finish- put a tiny bit of dish soap
You can also take a bolt and run it on the corner and pull off the excess so you’re left with a super minimal finish on your corner.
Hi! Thanks.
Absolutely you can, I've shown other ways in other videos, but this was simplest this time. Thanks for sharing
I've watched a lot of these concrete top videos, yours is the best. I'll be doing this once my house is built and my cabinets are in.
Awesome, thanks! I'm happy I could help! Good luck on yours and keep me posted
One of the best down to earth tutorials ever...!!!! Thank you so much for your time and effort! 👍🔥❤️
I appreciate it! Thanks
Just demolded mine 3 days later. The car wax is amazing, the sides literally fell off. GREAT video! You cannot vibrate the form enough. I spend 30 mins, I could (should) have spent an hour.
Awesome! Glad to hear it! I love car wax, I find it better than oils. I'm glad I could help. Yeah I vibrated mine for 45 mins and yes, you literally cannot do it too much. Do you have any pics you could email me so I can feature it?
CanaDIYan I’m going to flip it tomorrow. I’ll shoot you some photos once I turn it over
Cool. Look forward to seeing it. The waiting is the worst part hey
This is a great video. Followed your tutorial to make the first countertop for our outdoor kitchen. Just removed the form today and it looks so good. Waiting now for the next stage.
Then just another two countertops to go!!!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks! That's awesome, I'm pumped you gave it a go! Good luck on the rest of the projects
Thanks for a great video. I took the forms off of the slab and am in the process of sanding, sealing and waxing. So far it looks fantastic. I did exactly what you described and I was surprised at how easy this was. Thanks so much for all of your efforts!
Awesome! Thanks for watching. I'm glad I could help and stoked it turned out for you! I'd love to see it, and I'll even feature it if you send me an email with a pic, or tag me on Insta
What mix did you use
@@chrisfaircliffe5533 I used Quikrete counter top mix with some charcoal coloring added in. I bought both at my local big box orange colored hardware store.
I stopped by to say this is by far the best concrete tabletop project I have seen on UA-cam! Thanks mate.
Thanks very much! Happy to help
I realize this video is a little old but gave me great tips on an outdoor grill counter i want to make. Thanks.
Age doesn't make the tips and less useful! Happy to help
After some YT vids i thought the only right way was GFRC but this looks amazing and is way cheaper. Good stuff
Thanks! Nah, that stuff isn't recommended. I've used both and for a lot of projects this is just fine. There are certain instances for GFRC, but a basic slab can be made without. Good luck on yours!
That slab came out perfect. I’m definitely gonna have to try it like he did. I wanna make 2 nightstands like this. Thanks for the info dude. 👍🏼
Awesome, good to hear! Good luck on yours
Excellent tutorial - thanks very much! I stumbled upon this whilst looking to buy a concrete dining table but now I think I can make my own thanks to this guide, and it'll be at a fraction of the cost of buying one. Thanks again for sharing this, much appreciated!
Thanks, glad I could help! Just beware of the weight, they get heavy fast. Good luck on yours!
Yep! Intention is to do a couple of small tests first - that way I can mess around with colouring and, more importantly, get the technique right.
Eventual dining table I've got in mind, isn't going to be particularly large - just 150cm long and around 80cm width.
Oh nice. That's not a bad idea. Good luck
One of the best tutorials for beginners!
Thanks so much! Glad I could help
Nice job!
I'm doing a bench for my shower. Frame is built wire cut. Getting ready to silicone and was the frame. I'll probably wait until tomorrow to pour it. Will watch again too. Thanks!
Thanks, glad you like it! Good luck on the pour, keep me posted! I'd love to see it when its done!
Thanks for the tips, I went all out today and poured 4 table tops for my outdoor kitchen, eager to see how they turn out in 2 days
That's awesome! No problem at all. Good luck, I hope they turn out!
@Jesse does DIY come out perfect
Nice! Good job. I hope you enjoy them and get tons of comments
Great video. Perfect instructions for exactly what I need. Cheers from Finland! 🙂
That's awesome! Glad I could help. Good luck on yours and cheers 🇨🇦
Looks pretty darn smooth I am going this route for my (93) mom's m-in-law kitchen and hoping to do a corner sink also. as you say details- pin holes can be filled, as you wish I think I want to make the sink corner 34x34 but into the longer @ >8' and 5' pieces counter tops with w thin rubber joint rather than grout. The sink will be a project alone.
Thanks! Sounds like you have your hands full. Good luck!
I've watched a few video's on this topic, This particular one nailed it. This is what I needed to see in order to give this a try. Great Job Thank You
Awesome! I'm glad I could help. Good luck on yours!
You have put together an exceptional video about how to cast a tabletop or anything else, really. I would offer one small criticism. Concrete does not dry. This is so commonly said that it changes how people handle/work concrete. Concrete cures. It is a chemical reaction, that even generates heat, making it an exothermic reaction. Concrete requires water to go through this reaction and some of the hardest and strongest concrete is formed underwater. After the surface is hard enough to not be disturbed by water let it have all it wants---flood it, especially if it is a hot day and in direct sunlight. Great video!
Thanks. That is true. I am typically a big proponent of telling people the difference between dried and cured, they are very different. Doesn't matter if it's concrete, paint, or some kind of coating. I was trying to keep this video as simple and DIY approachable as I could. Thanks for sharing
Awesome, Awesome, video bro. I watched about 8 different video. You are the best bro. I will be using all your tips. Thanks! 👍🏽💪🏾👏🏾
That's awesome man, happy to help! Glad you liked it and good luck on yours! Keep me posted
Jesse - thanks! I’ve been debating on which type of countertop to use for my outdoor built in bbq, but no more - it’s gonna be concrete! I just poured and de-molded a perfect, 14”x33” slab! Thanks for the guidance.
That's awesome! I'm glad to hear it you attempted it and it came out great. It's the perfect material for that. Enjoy!
UPDATE - just de-molded a perfect 43” x 33” slab! That bad boy is heavy - needed the neighbor and his two sons to help me with it. Nearly bbq time! Thanks again!
Sweet! Yeah, it's crazy how dense they are lol Good job, enjoy it and have a drink for me over the grill!
Great piece of work. Considering taking up concrete decor you've made it look simple.
Thanks! It's fun, I really like it
I've been watching a few videos on doing this. Yours is the best I've seen so far. I want to do one for an island we have in our kitchen that's about the same size as the one you did here. I have an idea to just use the countertop that is a laminate top as the mold since it's already the correct size and smooth. Hope it turns out as nice as yours.😊
Thanks! Sounds like fun, good luck on your top!
Excellent tutorial and craftsmanship.
Thanks!
Fantastic video. You include all the necessary and helpful info so many others leave out. Well done.
Thanks! Happy to help. Good luck on yours
The result is superb! Thanks for the tutorial!
Anytime, thanks!
Excellent work. As you said *vibration* is the key to proper finish.
Thanks! It is, it is
Great video, I'm going to try it as soon as I can get all the supplies lined up and outside weather is a little warmer, I'm in Canada, still kind of cold here. I was wondering what kind of dye you used, I would like to add that to the mix as well. Thanks for giving me the courage to give this a try, I plan on making a top for a outside coffee table on my deck.
Thanks, glad you liked it! I'm in Saskatchewan myself lol where you at? I used Quikrete liquid charcoal dye, I only used one bottle per bag of concrete but you can use up to 2, just reduce the water a bit. I'm glad I could help you out and that you found it useful. Good luck on your project, keep me posted on how it goes!
Best tutorial I've seen to date.
Awesome, thanks! Happy to help. Thanks for watching and good luck on yours
Thanks a million. Just about to make a test piece of a countertop with scrap melamine board before making big countertop. I will make one mould with sand, cement and plasticiser and another with small stones added to see if aggregate can be seen on the finished surface. Great video. Much appreciated. Great to know I don't need to buy expensive tools for a good finish
Thanks! Aggregate is used for strength, without it, it will be much weaker and more likely to snap or crack. If vibrated correctly, you won't see any as the concrete creme with encase them. Good luck and have fun! Any questions, just ask
Excellent video..love the step by step and how you broke everything down so simply..not nervous to do my own now...thanks so much👍🏾
Thanks! That's what I was going for, glad I could help. Have fun
Must be a very fine sand. We cannot get sand that fine in Ireland. But the small gravel in the mix I use looks good but requires more sanding. All the best from Ireland.
I used a bag mix, but yeah, if you're mixing your own you want a fine sand for the mix. Thanks for saying hi!
Lovely ❤ you gave me the courage to do that, finally ❤ love from ITALY ❤
Awesome, good to hear it! Good luck on yours and thanks for reaching out 🇨🇦
Excellent tutorial m going to try
I wanna make outdoor bbq counter top and planters
Thanks. Sounds great!
Thanks for the video. Thanks also for being normal and informative and not full of 'rah rah. Just made my countertop out of the Glass Fibre Concrete (GFCR) and it came out really well. Only thing I would say is that I wished I'd used as little silicon as possible - the concrete has picked up all of the change in texture and it has left an obvious mark around the edges. Especially where it had smeared a bit wide. But for a first effort I am pretty pleased.
Anytime, happy to help! That's awesome, I'm glad you gave it a go. Yeah, it's amazing what the concrete can really pick up, it conforms to everything. That's exactly right tho, you learn by doing so next time you have that experience! Good job
I’ve never seen concrete look so beautiful, awesome video.
Thanks! Glad you like it
beautiful! Looks amazing and manageable to make. I'll give it a shot.
Thanks! I'm glad you like it, good luck on yours
so good result without polishing
Thanks!
Very good DIY video ...thanks for tips on leaving handle at end of mold.
Anytime! Thanks for watching
Thank you for showing this process using simple tools. It looks great!
Thanks!
Super clear tutorial... can't wait to try it! Wondering if molds can be reused? I'm hoping to make two small 1'x2' side tables.
Thanks! As long as they haven't absorbed any water and swelled up, you can probably get away with using it a second time with a good cleaning before. Good luck on yours!
Great tutorial, looking forward to giving this a shot for bbq cart top. Awesome job man!
Thanks! That'll be awesome, good luck
I've watched many such like projects but this particular one conquered my heart. It's simple, straightforward and pthe product amazing!
"Math is hard..." 😂 This is amazing!! You made me feel 100% confident that I can do this. Thanks!
Thanks! So glad you like it. You can absolutely do it! Good luck on yours and keep me posted!
Best video ever thank you
Anytime
@@JessedoesDIY So I have a deck that's about 20 years old. Considering replacing the wooden steps, and wood on top of the deck. Would thinner fiberglass concrete be an ideal replacement for the steps?
That's a different animal altogether but a fiber reinforced will be super strong
Great video. Thanks for sharing you methods, Jesse.
Thanks, glad I could help
Thank you so much 🙏🏼👍🏼 Been searching everywhere for this
Anytime! Glad you found it, good luck on yours
Nice job at keeping it simple.
Thanks
watch quite few of these, the first one i have see with no major air bubble issues. great work and subscribed right away
Thank you! The biggest problem is people literally vibrate it for like 2 mins, and smack it 8 times with a hammer. It takes waaay more than that to get the bubbles out. I find it's easier to vibrate for much longer than fix the bubbles later. Thanks for subscribing! Glad to have to on the crew
brilliant best countertop video to daste thanks for sharing deff going to be doing this soon in the utility room
Thanks! That's awesome! Good luck on yours, keep me posted!
Very appreciated video. Thanks for making it !
Anytime! Glad you liked it
ive been racking my brain for a while trying to find and minimalist table top that would be perfect for my house, ive looked on pintrest and all sorts of places, this is a fantastic idea!! thank you for posting
No prob. Good luck
Can you make a video showing how you affixed to your cabinet? I would like to try and make an end table. Thank you so much. Your videos are so inspiring and you explain things so simply...
Thank you so much, I appreciate that. I have the full cabinet video coming, but I'm not finished building it yet, probably a month yet. It's rather easy tho, take some clear, 100% silicone and make some 1" dollops in the corners and set it in place. If you watch the small square cube table I built with a concrete top, I show how to attach a concrete top in that video.
Thanks a lot. Ill do it. Ill need to form for a sink cutout as well.
Cool! Some foam, siliconed down to the mould works great for that. Good luck on yours!
I'm thinking of making a concrete desk to deaden frequencies from my speakers. I just need to think of a solution for the legs that provide enough integrity to support the mass and allow enough surface area to prevent the concrete from cracking over time. Thanks!
A quick google seems like metal U shaped legs with a double bridge connecting both should work.
The legs can support more than you think, it's usually the stretchers between them that's the problem, yeah. I've used 2x2 stretchers and they can be just fine. But as long as you've found something that works, it's all good. Good luck on your project
great video brother, you explained things right down to the minor details so anyone could understand, keep up the good work and thanks for sharing
Thanks man, glad you liked it! I'll do that and thanks for watching
Turned out really nice.
Thanks!
Great video, looks like the best option I have seen to put my argentinian grill on ;)
Thanks! Many people have used it for BBQ's and grills, works great for it. Good luck on yours, let me know how it goes
Refreshing to see someone clearly demonstrate *not* trowelling right after pouring. And all the time vibrating is very interesting. I guess that the metal reinforcement does not end up on the bottom, even with all the vibration?
Kern, in "The Owner-Built Home" (c) 1972, 1975, says "The Rocla Laboratories of Melbourne, Australia, found that an 11 percent higher tensile strength can be obtained when sand and cement are first mixed together, with the coarse aggregate being added after the water. This is an 11 percent gain in strength over the customary practice of mixing coarse aggregate in with the dry sand and the cement." Nordmeyer, in "Quality Concrete from CRAP" (c) 2017 says, "when using a portable mixer, always add most of the water first, about a third of the sand, and then all the fines (Portland cement, pigments, fiber, admixtures); then add the rest of the sand."
I can't square these two experts in their opinion, but I'm inclined to believe Nordmeyer. Any comments on this?
The reinforcement will eventually fall to the bottom which is why most of the vibrating is done first and then it's added in the top half of the pour. I can't speak to strengths like they are referring, I used pre bagged mixes. I'd use additives or different mixes to get more strength out of it but even basic concrete is super strong for this use case I wouldn't be worried about it
Excellent job and extremely well explained. You have some serious skill there.
Thanks! Glad I could help!
That looks spectacular !!! You’ve done a great job with that! Great tutorial too.
Thank you for sharing.
Wow thanks! Glad I could help
Great job and very detailed video. 👍🏻
Thanks, glad you liked it
Excellent. Demo and results.
Thank you, happy to help
Awesome! This is the video I was waiting to pop up on my sugestions
Thats awesome! Glad you found it
Great video with attention to the details of mold building & finishing. Great job showing the actual finish! A lot of other videos miss this.
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I wanted to show it all, finish included, to prove my point
Such a great tutorial dude, love it thanks 👍👍👌👌👌👌
Anytime!
all I can say is brilliant.
Appreciate it
I'm going to make one today. This helped me out a lot!!
Awesome, glad I could help!
@@JessedoesDIY it came out great by using your tips! Do you have an Instagram?
This looks great and super doable. On some of the tutorials I've seen there is an acid wash step with a muriatic acid solution - curious if you're able to elaborate on why or why not one might do that step?
Thanks! It's totally doable. The acid wash step can help seal up some of the pores in the concrete and can help with smoothing and help prevent staining. On most slabs like this I don't find it totally needed, maybe on a big countertop for that crazy perfect finish. But after a quick sanding like I showed, a good couple coats of sealer and then the wax, I've never had a problem. It's plenty smooth enough for me, and I've never had a problem with staining or anything as long as it's wiped up and not left to dry in
My next DIY project for sure. Thank you for this tutorial :)
Anytime! Good luck on yours
Im thinking about some concrete elements for the house. You definitely gave some ideas with how smooth it came out. Cheers
Thanks! I love them, it's nice having another material, changes the look and feel. Good luck on your projects! Keep me posted, I'd love to see them
Great tutorial man!
Thanks! Glad you like it
Way better than those branded diys they are just a money grab !
Thanks, glad you like it!
Love your video so much! So easy to understand and made me very confident to actually do it. Hopefully I’ll get another pair of hands to help out this pregnant mama ❤️
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'm sure you can, good luck on yours
Simply the BEST!!
Thanks!
Hello. Excellent video. Very helpful indeed for an absolute beginner. You said "any 6000psi concrete" but can you tell us more specifically which concrete you used. It's the perfect colour. And I'm very impressed with the lack of tonal variation. I notice when I'm trying to buy concrete here in the UK that there are lots of options including 40N, Coarse Concrete 40N, and QC10. Some of the available brands are Blue Circle, Hanson, UnltraCrete, and Quikrete. We just want to get this right so we don't waste too much time. Thanks for any additional information you can give us on buying concrete.
Thanks very much, I'm glad you liked it! I used Quikrete 6000 psi concrete in a blue bag, but the 5000 psi also works very well in a white bag. Both are plenty strong for this use. I also added 2 bottles of Quikrete charcoal liquid dye. I used 2 bags of concrete, so 1 bottle per bag, but you can used up to 2 bottles per bag if you wanted to go even darker. Honestly and brand will work, but the finer the better for this. Just make sure after adding the dye that you mix it like crazy after. They prefer you add it to the water, I did that with 1 bottle, and poured the second bottle straight into the mix. Hope that helps, let me know if you have more questions
I absolutely love your videos
Thank you!
damn that finish was incredible, nice stuff!
Thanks!
I just finished watching this UA-cam video you made and, boy, am I impressed! What you made is beautiful! I'm now inspired to make something similar - a concrete hearth for my fireplace. A question I have - and I'm hoping you have some knowledge on the subject and can offer an opinion - is if the concrete could handle the heat from a fireplace insert without cracking. The concrete hearth that I have in mind would be 5 ft long x 20 inches wide x 2 inches thick and placed directly on an existing concrete slab foundation. Also, what proportion of 'charcoal dye' did you use per sack of conc? The tone of grey is perfect. Thanks for your posting such an impressive video.
Thanks so much, glad you liked it! That's awesome man, that was my goal, to show you that you can. In terms of cracking in extreme heat, you'll probably get some minor thin cracks. The larger the reinforcement or more surface area the better, you may want to look at thin reebar or a thin wire mesh used for parging, you can find it in the concrete aisle. The stronger it is and more surface are it has to grab, the less chance for large cracks. I used 1 bottle of dye per bag of concrete, but you can go up to 2 bottles per bag if it's the quikrete dye. Hope that helps, good luck!
I do the edge pieces like you, on the side, not too, to make demolding easier. But I make all four pieces too long. One edge flush with the edge of the bottom piece and one end over hanging. Then you can easily pry off all four sides like your showed.
That's a great upgrade to my method! Thanks
CanaDIYan as you mentioned, you want to pry wood to wood and not wood to concrete. So that’s why I went this route. Give it a try!
@@BoredAtWork2000 Will do!
Wow looks amazing man
Thanks, glad you like it!
Nice work. Your video was clear, well done and helpful. Thank you.
Thanks. Glad you liked it