Concrete Countertops Start to Finish | Quikrete Mix, Stone Polish, Metal Trim #46 DIY Off-Grid Build
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2022
- Building the forms, pouring, sanding, and sealing our concrete countertops.
Price per linear foot: $24.41 $415 ÷ 17 feet
This was a several week process. Red made the forms out of 1/2 inch plywood, and trimmed the edge with 2 inch aluminum angle. We use Quickrete countertop mix, wet sanded with regular 120 grit sand paper, and then stone ground and sealed the countertop with tung oil. We still need to add a coat of wax which will add more water protection and shine.
We are Red and April, on this channel we are sharing our DIY off-grid home build and other projects. April does the filming, editing and everything related to channel. Red does most of the building, design, and narration.
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You are very patient and careful to get the results you want. Well done!
How clever and innovative you both are. You have the confidence to try something new and out of your comfort zone, and isn't it a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when the outcome exceeds expectations. Your home will be testimony to your hard work, tenacity and diligence. Looking forward to more Red and April's techniques. Sit back now with a beer and stare at your lovely counter tops.
Aww thanks! We are glad it worked out! Yes we are definitely going to enjoy using and looking at these countertops! I touch and stare at them every time I go in the house. Excited for them to fully dry, so we can shine them up with some wax! 😊🏜️
It turned out stunning. You must be so happy Thank you for sharing
Thanks! Yes, glad it's done, and it looks great! 😊
You guys still amaze me. Everything you take on turns out great.
Aww thanks! It's always a learning experience, and some projects just end up with a little extra character. 😊
Beautiful design the tone of the concrete goes perfectly with the mint/sage green
it turned out nice thanks for sharing and have a great weekend
The countertops look amazing. I liked the trail Cam pics of the bobcat.
Thanks! It turned out much better than we expected! Yes, love catching footage of the bobcat.
That counter-top looks nice. Thanks for sharing it.
Appreciate it, thanks for watching! 😊
Oh my goodness, it's beautiful. I was holding my breath the whole way through! You must be so proud of yourselves 👍👩🌾👍
We aren't too picky, so we figured we could make it work however it turned out. It's definitely nice when things turn out better than expected! 😊🏜️
That's a long time to hold your breath!
Never seen anyone do a stone grind like that or use aluminum edging, looks incredible! Such a low cost and beautiful countertop!
Thanks! We we're sure how well it would work, but are very happy with the results! 😊
Cement is the glue that binds the aggregate. Concrete is cement plus aggregate (stones, sand). Your counter-top is concrete, not just cement. I'm being picky because I used to get it wrong before UA-cam. The front sink edge needs to be extra supported for cracking as it is a thinner strip and will snap under weight. Maybe not with concrete but definitely with a marble sink (ask me how I know!!). Great job, guys. Looks amazing.
Wow, what a great project! And it looks great 👍
I absolutely love your kitchen and how it turned out it’s beautiful ❤ xxx
Thanks! 😊🧡🏜️
Love the look.
Wow that turned out awesome! I really like the exposed metal. Great job👍
Thanks! 🙂
Counter tops look awesome! Really good job guys
Thanks! 😊
I didn't know much about concrete counter tops till now ! Thanks !
We did it a bit different, but love how it turned out. Thanks for watching!
Amazing, I have always wanted concrete countertop
Thanks! Yes, they can be really beautiful! Excited to actually use them. 😊🏜️
4 or 5 cycles with paitence and time is the only way to trowel your concrete right and make it flat and smooth. Always keep a bucket of clean water and clean the tools after every use. You did it right!! I bought cement molds online and making concrete benches, flower pots, and tables.
Thanks! Sounds like some fun projects!
I’m planning to do the same in my kitchen. He just convinced me, and inspired me to port in place. You’re both very talented I really appreciate your video.
Hope it goes well! We love our concrete countertops and they still look great! Thanks! 😊
I really enjoyed all the details you mentioned in this process. So many videos leave out these important details! I need one of those sanding pads
Glad it's helpful! The countertops are working out great for us.
Your counter tops are so beautiful. Good job!
Thanks! Excited to put them to use! 😊
These are absolutely gorgeous! Well done you two!!
Thanks! We were really nervous about doing concrete countertops, but glad we did.
Wow that came out really good thanks for sharing
Thanks! We love how it turned out, and it has a nice easy to clean surface.
Looks great. Nice work!
Thanks! 😊
Looks like a long hard process but well worth it, looks amazing
That's a nice see-ment counter top. Good job!
Thanks 😄
Beautiful work! You two are amazing!
Aww, thanks! We are glad it turned out well. 😊🏜️
It looks beautiful 😍.
Thanks! We love how it turned out! 😊
i'm in the middle of renovating my place, working on the kitchen now. i really want to try concrete, but was also a bit intimidated by the idea. definitely going to give a shot.
Wow, they came out great. I love the permanent aluminum edges that also acted as forms. I don't think I've ever seen anyone do that. On that one side where you had to do plywood, maybe it would have been better to to that aluminum and the opposite side be the plywood, against the wall. We've thought of doing concrete countertops before, but in the end went with butcherblock. Tung oil yellows over time, so make sure to clean the aluminum really well, then possibly clear coat it with poly so it stays nice.
Thanks! It all worked out well! 😊
We ran out of the aluminum angle, so the little countertop in the closet just has aluminum across the front, and plywood on the side. Red glued a thin piece of plywood to the walls to create a lip for leveling.
We wouldn't have considered that tung oil could yellow aluminum. Good to know! I guess it also gives the countertops the brown tones.
Thanks! 😊🏜️
Excellent video. Lot to learn, Both are hard working and the best professional
Thanks so much! 😊
This is beautiful!
Thanks! It has worked out great in our kitchen! 🙂
Looks great! I really love the flowers you have! They are really beautiful. Last night we got hit by a big thunderstorm. Lots of crazy wind a heavy rain for about 30 minutes. I’m so done with the rain. Lol. I guess we need it though. ❤
Thanks! Wow, interesting! Hope everything faired okay! We got .3 inches of rain a few days ago. We haven't had any intense storms this year, which has been nice!
The flowers have done great and the grasshoppers have left them alone. We have had a lot of grasshoppers lately!
Take care, and hope y'all do an update on your place soon! ❤️🏜️
Very nice work, I've seen a few attempts at this and they all fell short. Yours did not, I think because you worked it hard and had some idea what you wanted to accomplish. So thanks for sharing your fine project.
Looks great!
Thanks!
cool work!
Beautiful job!
Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much 😊
I was holding my breath as well. Well done it looks great! Like the aluminium edging and the rivets, it adds another layer of detail and unique use of materials.
Thanks! We weren't sure what to expect , but glad it all went well! Yes, the aluminum sides worked out great and made the pour less stressful because we didn't have to worry about air pockets on the sides. 😊
Wax on! Wax off! Daniel-san more focus. LOL Looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing
Thanks! 😄
Awesome!!
Thanks! They are working out well!
I just subscribe to your channel thanks to Ashley and family! I’ve been watching them remodel their home and their previous one and they mentioned you in their video today.
That was really nice of them! Thanks for joining us! 😊🏜️
Love the counter top. Never thought of cement top, enjoy
Thanks! They seem to be gaining in popularity. Definitely a much lower cost option, and really beautiful! 🙂🏜️
Great job.👏👍🏠☘🙋♀️
Thanks! 😊🏠🏜️
Yooo so beautiful.smooth I lv that
Thanks! 🧡
Wonderful video, I need to decide to do with my land in Arizona.
Thanks, we love living in Arizona! 😊🏜️
Nice job!
Thanks!
Pretty cool
Thanks, they are working out great!
Well done :)
Thanks! 🙂
Looks great. To achieve a smooth surface when tooling concrete switch to trowels after the first pass. I only saw you using a float. Trowels have flexible blades that allow firm even pressure on the surface without digging in like a float.
I was going to say same done with float go to a trowel would have saved you alot of extra work.
Aewesome idea
Thanks, it has worked out well.
Looks cool, consider using SS button head bolts and nuts instead of pop rivets(looks cheap) for the edging corner joints.
Like the idea of the metal on the edge. We had concrete counters in out last house and tiled the edge. Like your idea better.
Thanks! We are glad it turned out well.
Coming over from DIYfferent . He mentioned your channel in a video.
That was sure nice of him! Thanks for checking out our channel! 😊🏜️
Your concrete countertop looks amazing! Are you sure you guys never done before 😃?
We hand poured 600 square feet of concrete for our floor, so that experience probably helped some. 😄 Thanks!
Its a good idea to clean your mixer when the mortor is still wet,lol. And yes your first batch of the day is a little different because stuff sticks to the sides. The second batch is a little better.
Yeah, 😄 this mixer has been used hard, and for many different projects.
One thing to remember on the "heat of battle" mix the concrete really well. If you don't it may start to set before you can float it properly. Also will ensure that any added color is homogeneous thru out.
Another channel mentioned your channel as one they watch and like in their recent video. They are DIYfferent in Florida. I am in Az. I have added you to my view list.
Thanks for checking out our channel! 🧡🏜️
Consider straight relief cuts at each of the inside corners created by the sink cut out to direct future crack development.
Thanks 🙂 We don't mind cracks. They can be sealed and will add some more interest.
Fantastic! Cost effective, conquered your fear and did a beautiful job. What else can you ask for? ☮️🙏☯️
We are glad it turned out well, thanks! 😊🏜️
Great project and result! I was concerned as to your use of so much tung oil given the extremely slow cure time of it, but clearly you were allowing for that.
Yes, the house wasn't done anyway, so we had plenty of time to let it dry. The tung oil sealed the countertop well, and we like the color.
$415 that are now $2,200 countertops. Great job!
It was definitely worth doing them ourselves! Thanks!
I'd start calling that a moonrock countertop
🌝 🌕😎
Top work guys. Any cracking since installation? I know with paths we put lines in to form smaller squares within the overall shape otherwise they always crack.
Thanks! We haven't had any new cracks. There is just the one small crack from when he removed the form for the sink opening.
Very Nice!!! Can you stain the concrete to different colors before sealing it?
Thanks! I'm pretty sure you can. They also sell a quckrete mix that is white.
i like the metal angle edge & 3/8"plywood @ walls-now I can do mine..those were the missing links to sucess.
We really love how it turned out. Just make sure coat it with something, so the wet concrete doesn't react with the aluminum. Best wishes!
When useing a drum mixer like you have, when you add the bag its easier to shut off the mixer for a few seconds.
🙂
I love the Color of your cabinets could you share the Color with me please. Great tutorial single Mom wanting to do this myself my countertops are in rough shape. ❤ thank you
good job, will the tomatoes bear fruit all winter ?
Last year it froze here in mid October, and this plant is way too huge to try to cover. Once it freezes though I will finally be able to get to all of the tomatoes in the middle that I can't reach now. Thanks! 😊🏜️
Wow I would have thought aluminum would dent really easy...You'll have to keep us posted on how well this holds up.
It's tight against the concrete, and isn't going to dent without some serious impact. It all looks great so far.
In my opinion. The aluminum is rediculous. Especially seeing the rivets
It should have been done with a removal form.
@@STEVEID1946 It looks amazing in the finished kitchen, and we haven't had any issues with it. Maybe it's not for everyone, but we love how it all turned out.
Switching to a steel trowel would give you a smoother surface, only use the mag floats for first pass
👍
They make kits specifically for this now. Comes in different colors as well.
😎
17 feet
Total cost $415
Price per linear foot $24.41
Now I think; "I can do that!". Thank you!!
To do my whole house. Bar, Cutting table, all the counter tops, redone the sink, and all the window seals bottoms, cost under? 500 bucks for porcelain floor title> Plus it looks like Italian Marble 👍
The kitchen floor always has water, I think a non-slip mat can be placed to avoid accidents
It doesn't get much water, but we did put some padded mats by the sink, stove and refrigerator.
The really nice thing about that counter top is it will never rot away like your standard laminate particle board countertops and if you ever get tired of how it looks you can tile over it. My only critique is, I'd do rounded edges instead of those sharp 90 degree metal edge, but that's personal preference. I know I'd end up smacking against it and getting a nasty gash.
It has worked out great, the square edge hasn't been an issue at all.
Very curious what exact tongue oil you were using, what wax, and what polishing stone grit? (I have to redo mine, the concrete countertop solutions products I used are not holding up). Thank you!
The stoning was done before the concrete was fully cured, and again when applying the first coat of tung oil. For the stoning, he used a basic knife sharpening stone from Harbor Freight.
He used "Real Milk Paint" Pure Tung Oil mixed with 1/4 citrus solvent.
The wax we used is Howard food grade wax with beeswax, carnauba wax, and mineral oil. It's a soft wax that doesn't harden.
The first 4 minutes of our most recent video shows some maintenance to the countertop. ua-cam.com/video/crNzm6RHRWQ/v-deo.htmlsi=MlrqwKPb42Fo3Tgd
Best wishes! 🙂
Maybe try a finishing trowel next time instead of that mag float. Way easier to get it smooth once it reaches the set point that it can be worked. You only need to hit it at the right time once.
I love your calm voice. surprise by the color variation in the concrete.
I don't like that. any way to prevent it? maybe sealer instead of the oil.
Thanks! The linseed oil made it a lot darker and it also enhanced the color variations, which we like. The wet sanding brought out some of the color from the sand and gravel. The unsanded slightly low spots were the lighter colored areas. If you don't sand it, or maybe dry sand the color should be more even.
❤ this idea! I want to replicate this for a counter....1. did u make the corner angles by cutting and bending the aluminum or did u buy a thicker metal corner bracket? And what type of screws did u use on the underside? Thanks
He put a chamfer on the corners and then used cutoff pieces of the aluminum to make the brackets for the inside corners and used rivets to hold it together. The edge was glued on with construction adhesive and while it was wet he pre-drilled and screwed in round washer headed screws. He screwed into the plywood from underneath. Make sure to seal the aluminum (we used polyurethane) to keep the concrete from reacting with the aluminum. Best wishes! We really like our countertops, and plan to do an update video on them soon.
@@RedandAprilOff-Grid thanks 😊
Awesome.... one of your coolest DIY builds yet ! how are the floors setting up?
Thanks! They are looking and performing great! They are staying really dark colored, we wouldn't mind if they would lighten up a bit. 😊🏜️
@@RedandAprilOff-Grid BTW, nice shout out from DIYfferent this week ~
@@et5222Thanks! 😊 You were the first to let us know, and I was able to get a comment in on their video.
Good morning how much is cost of 2.7mts_High and3.6mts size
Interesting, question though, had you thought of tiling it rather than oiling it before hand?
I don't like tile countertops. I prefer a smooth surface because it's easier to clean.
Hello I hope the counters are holding up, I’m a concrete inspector and one thing not allowed in concrete is aluminum, it releases gas and overtime can crack the concrete. Just want to comment in case a DIYer is going to copy this method
The aluminum was sealed. Our most recent video shows an update on how the countertop looks now.
Don’t talk so stupid.
Interesting. I was thinking stainless might be a good option.
Fab. Would it be possible to put some color pigments in the mix?
I think it would work. The pigments could be sprinkled on top when the concrete is still wet, and then after sanding some should be visible. They also make a countertop mix that is white.
@@RedandAprilOff-Grid alternatively mix pigment in the concrete mixer?
@@chrrev1 That might work too, but it could change the consistency of the mix, and adding enough so that it would show up on the surface might be pretty expensive. Only what's on the surface will be visible after it's sanded.
@@RedandAprilOff-Grid yeah i get your point but solid colour wow...
If you add a plastifier to the concrete mix like a carboxylate, then the same or even less water in the mix would give you concrete that would run and self consolidate.
😎
how is the tung oil and wax finish holding up after a couple years of use?
It's still looking good. Here's a video we put out showing an update and maintenance ua-cam.com/video/crNzm6RHRWQ/v-deo.html
I've been pouring and finishing concrete for thirty years your countertops look good! I just found out the hard way a couple of weeks ago that aluminum reacts with the alkalis found in portland cement and makes hydrogen gas. "Serious consequences can arise in situations of long-term contact. First, a significant corrosion of aluminum embedded in concrete can occur. The corrosion can cause expansion of the concrete and subsequent cracking of hardened concrete." I wonder if there is a coating on your aluminum you should have seen bubbles forming where they contact. I cut off an old aluminum threshold that turned down into my wet cement with a side grinder and finished all the flecks of aluminum into the slab only to have it start bubbling on me. Your aluminum is not embedded so I don't think it will crack anything. Hope it doesn't give you problems just thought I would warn you. Hopefully your oil seeping into that space may keep the two from reacting with one another. Maybe put enough outward pressure on the top of the aluminum when waxing to get a good layer of wax between the two.
Thanks! That's interesting that there is such an immediate reaction. He painted the aluminum and plywood with polyurethane, and that seemed to do the trick. We didn't see any bubbling or issues with the concrete.
Why would you use aluminum vs stainless steel for a kitchen? Very impressive.
Cost and availability were the main reasons. We could have ordered it, but it wasn't available locally. Thanks!
Did you add any color to the mix?
No coloring, the tung oil darked it and brought in some brown tones.
can anyone share a link with me the concrete reinforcement they used? I'd like to get the roll out type in the video. Thanks you in advance!
We used steel wire mesh sheets. It comes in sheets and can be cut to size. We bought it at our local Lowe's.
One thing I would do to save on cost is to throw a bunch of gravel in your forms down the bottom. You don't even have to worry about these showing through on the edge since you are using the metal edging.
Not sure about those long aluminium edges with no adherence to the concrete (worried that down the road something heavy will knock the edge and it will dent, which will lead to separation of the concrete and aluminium and a small gap that can catch water. I'd probably throw a bunch of evenly spaced rivets along the long edges of the aluminium that stick out into the concrete to act as anchors to fix it in place.
I noticed some bubbles coming to the surface that you had to keep dealing with on the big pour, if you had used a pice of rebar or somthing, and just stuck it down into the concrete, you could repeatedly tap it, (or use a hammer drill), vibrating the form and helping the bubbles riase to the surface (this would be even more important if you used space displacing gravel).
I really like this concept!
It's been about a year and it is looking great so far. The aluminum is pretty thick, it would take a lot of force to bend or dent it. I used a rubber mallet and hit the underside of the countertop to help work out the bubbles. Thanks! 😎
Why did you use a magnesium float instead of a steel trowel?😎
I suggested using a trowel, but he liked the float better. 🤷😄
I'am really glade i went to porcelain floor title over concert counter tops. Or even EPOXY Counter tops. looks and fells better! More durable to heat and cold> I can set a very hot skillet on it, Cut on it, Bang on it. If it freezes inside it want CRACK. My counter top with the title 👀looks like ITALIAN MARBLE~ Every one love it. I DO TO! 😉👍
We love the concrete countertop as it is, but sounds nice. 🙂
@@RedandAprilOff-Grid I'am sure you do. 👍👍
The forms you are removing make a tad bit smaller and screw them for easier removal. That narrow area was a tough spot though because concrete always shrinks. Water drys up, ya know. The standard concrete guarantee is: guaranteed to crack and guaranteed that no one will steal it.
👍 😄
Does Quikrete Countertop Mix require sand to be mixed in? I think not, but I'm not certain.
No, only water needs to be added. Best wishes!
Dry pour is all the rage now with regards to small patio slabs etc, has anyone ever done a dry pour concrete counter top ?
Sounds a bit risky, but it would be interesting to see someone try it. 😄
NO... don't do dry pour for a countertop (or for anything really). Dry pour is very porous and flakey, constantly producing dust and without a hard surface. Exactly all the things you don't want in a countertop. Without being outside for continuous water ingress, it will never set up property either.
The only dry pour technique I would use is for concrete stabilised soil, but even that is really just a different kind of mixing. For small patio slabs, I would just do soil-cement (for any kind of soil except heavy clay). Looks better and is cheaper.
Quik-crete pre-mixed concrete and mortors are the second best. The first best is spec-mix. Any of that Master-crap brand from menards is total garbage. Ive been a brick layer since 1985 so ive mixed a-lot of mud. Great job, i like it and it looks great. I dont think it wiuld have turned out though if it wasnt for april and your cool ass blue hat.😅
Quikcrete is all they had available locally, so we were glad to see it was rated pretty well. We love how the countertops turned out and they still look great one year later. Thanks 😄
🙋👍
Thanks! 😊🏜️
Are you from south Africa your accent doesn't sound American beautiful job👌
No, southwest US. Thanks! 🙂