How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops | Ask This Old House

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor learns how to create concrete kitchen counters. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)

Shopping List for How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops:
- Stone aggregate, used to add bits of color to the countertop

Tools List for How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops:

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How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops | Ask This Old House

[OldManTheseDays]

What a fantastic show. I’ve watched this on PBS since I was about 10 years old. Still top notch.

[soco]

Just a word of advice: I have done concrete restoration (decorative overlay over repaired and ground, or new concrete)... If you're going to grind concrete dry, those painter's masks are less than useless. Lose the beard, go to Lowes, and get a proper, tight fitting face mask. That is, if you wish to continue breathing afterward. I know. That dust is deadly. Now, for the actual job done above, I'd like to try that. The initial spray keeps bubbles to a minimum, and the layers with the fiber reminds me of how they make surfboards, in laminated layers. here's something we tried: Go to the pet department, fish stuff. Get that colored gravel. Use that for the aggregate sprinkled onto the initial layer. Another idea: embedded fiber optic, ends against the melimine, in organized bundles, to a light source. Polish the top. Flip the switch, and... the sky is the limit.

[JoshuaMalavolti]

This gave me so much validation to the process that I do. So many videos of people making countertops skip the finishing part with filling air bubbles. I slurry the surface the same way. Typically I wet the surface first before I slurry to make sure I get a good bond of the slurry to the existing piece. I do float my pours... yes heavier but so much easier and faster but I don't have issues with the fiberglass showing through.

[TimGray]

Very cool to see the old way of doing this. I am so glad modern process is done easier and in place on the cabinets. but it is always nice to see the old way of doing things.

[paultrigger]

This is a pretty advanced diy with all the special tools.

[valerymoyseenko]

The the last minutes of the show 13:45 are much more inspirational, than all previous.

[rmccarrillo]

Good I did one....years ago. Still looks sharp as can be. I used less, paid less and I did it with a person who had 55 years (give or take) of experience + my 5 months (give or take). A lil thicker, polished and personalised it. Thanks Dad for the help, ideas and everything else you brought to the table.

[bigclivedotcom]

Really loved that. Reminds me a lot of the terrazzo floors laid in supermarkets while I worked in the refrigeration industry. Super tough like complexly textured marble.

[nickbregin]

To everyone complaining about pouring in layers and rolling...The MOST important part of rolling the layers is actually to help the fibers lay flat. It's not mentioned in the video. If you just pour in one shot, fibers will be oriented all over the place, where the vertical ones won't do much. Like rebar, it's the horizontal fibers that are adding most of the strength.

[immortaljatt]

Kevin: This guy put some sea shells in his counter top


Richard: From the seashore



lol

[ronreiserer]

When dry grinding concrete, you should use a positive pressure HEPA filtered respirator. A standard dust mask will not stop the respirable particles between 0.1 and 5 microns that cause silicosis. Wet cutting/grinding eliminated respirable crystalline silica and is the best way to cut/grind concrete. The insidious nature of silicosis makes it particularly problematic. Symptoms may not become noticeable for 30 years after exposure. Even "accelerated silicosis" takes up to 10 years before symptoms require medical care. If you can see abrasively cut concrete dust in the air, you are being exposed to respirable crystalline silica. Crystalline silica was moved to the Group 1 Carcinogen list (same as asbestos) back in 1997 but has gotten very little attention. Legislation to improve OSHA regulations have been blocked by the concrete industry.

[thecaptain]

Thanks for your time making this vid. I agree with some of the comments about fiberglass in the top layer but for the most part I learned a lot and I am grateful to people who share their time and experience for the benefit of others. For everyone with negative comments, where are your vids? I would like to critique them as well...

[FranciscoRodriguez-kunl]

Wax around the edges, fiberglass peels, paint rolling, all new steps for me, so I was thinking that I knew everything about concrete counters....🤓 thanks for sharing.

[maddskillzdesignstudio]

This is one of if not the best GFRC instruction videos I've seen on youtube. Very simple and easy to follow. And all of the steps were clear. Very good job.now I'm gonna do my kitchen tops lol

[elliottdebell]

I’ve bought alot of the books and watched a lot of videos and this method is one of the best I’ve seen. People might think they are making it hard but there is reasons for every step to get a strong, light weight, flawless finish. Thanks for the video

[JohnBorgen]

It would have been nice to see how they laid out the sink and took care of the sink hole in the counter top.

[rosienavarro]

I am looking for that look of a thick overhang, an appearance of having a 5inch thick countertop for a firepit table. This is the best video I have seen to make it look like that without actually using all that cement. Now just trying to figure out all the cuts I need to make to have a rectangular in the center where the fire will be coming out. Thanks for a great video

[kucelkj]

Amazing video. For the DIY guy, or gal, you could have a sweet counter top that is a cool, chic and very modern at a fraction of the cost of anything else since it's all labor. Additionally, you get bragging rights when your guests are amazed at your handy work. Win/win situation in my opinion. Besides, who's afraid of a little work?

[dilldowschwagginz]

This was some of the most hilarious concrete work ive ever seen. Thx

[Maxid]

I've seen this done with a vibrating table. It gets all the air bubbles out without having to use the slurry after.