Of course, you can prevent cracks to a certain extent by adding fiber reinforcement, rebar, andor wire mesh. Diy concrete countertops another version kara paslay. Im finally sharing my experience installing ardex concrete countertops in our new kitchen. Ardex ra 56 is an ultralow viscosity, 2component hybrid polyurethane adhesive. Decorative concrete expert, jeff girard, provides indepth answers to common problems associated with concrete countertops. It is a rapid curing concrete repair material used when. I put it directly over the existing counter surface and havent had any cracking like what you showed. Ardex feather finish countertops the second try seeking. Feather finish concrete is applied in thin coats, as the name suggests. The cracks tend to be nonstructural and are a result of the natural shrinkage of the concrete. It dries quickly to a standard light gray concrete color white option also available and can be easily colored to match your countertop surface. I have a crack that appeared just after we poured our countertop.
Since then weve done dozens of projects with this product and gotten great results. Substrate preparation is key to success and ardex primers, crack joint repair and additives cover every situation prior to installing moisture control, selfleveling underlayments or finished surfaces. Being that ardex is a modified product it may not be as receptiveconsistent to stain as normal concrete, most concrete stains also work as a chemical reaction. Im not an expert, this is simply my personal experience. Ardex feather finish countertops the second try lets make this clear. Now the diy concrete countertops will dry overnight and they will be ready for the sealer. We built a solid wood base to shape our countertops and spread on feather finish concrete underlayment, to create a faux.
If youre using mixed concrete patch, mix according to the manufacturers direction and then trowel the patch into the crack image 2. Diy ardex concrete countertops kara paslay design kara. We were planning on the incrediably intimidating process of fabricating concrete countertops to replace the poor. Diy feather finish concrete countertops blesser house. This concrete countertops how to repair guide is intended to provide simple procedures on how to repair chips and cracks in concrete countertops.
Designer floors july delta, bc aug stockton, ca oct 16. Id be really interested to see how these counters hold up if there is any cracking or chipping. I really wanted to replace our builder grade, 1980s formica countertops with concrete until i talked to a neighbor who had actually done this. We introduced k521 for the polishing market earlier this year, says tracy. And as it would turn out, its been a year now since weve had them. To use the concrete filler, cut the nozzle off the bottle and slowly fill the cracks image 1.
My rule was that it had to feel smooth to the touch. Edgy and modern, concrete now plays a starring role inside the most stylish homes. Concrete countertop mix high strength white 50 lbs. How to create a faux marble countertop using concrete one of the most obvious places to get a major bangforyourbuck in a bathroom update is the countertop. Yesus diyers do make mistakes and this one i was completely to blame. For larger cracks up to 12 inch wide, use concreterepair caulk.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. You pretty much have one chance to smooth out or else you have to wait until it dries to sand over and apply a new layer. New innovations in the way concrete is formulated means that modern concrete countertops are relatively light and can be produced in an array of colors. While it may seem that concrete countertops are not as stylish and glamorous as marble, granite or ceramic countertops, the truth is, concrete is a chameleon that can imitate any high quality countertop available.
He explained how they built molds, rented a concrete mixer. A smooth, flat base is essential for every kind of wall design. Fine and fortified, z counterpatch is the quickest and easiest way to fill the voids that occasionally appear in your countertop edges. Henry feather finish we needed about 4 boxes to cover 60 square. I created a concrete countertop that impressed the next tenants enough they asked to purchase the property. Z counterpatch is a specially formulated cement patch mix. Instead of using the ardex brand feather finish which had to be ordered, i used the henrys brand feather finish found at our local hardware store. Sep 22, 2016 this concrete countertops how to repair guide is intended to provide simple procedures on how to repair chips and cracks in concrete countertops. Ardex ardifix is a twopart polyurethane repair compound for cracks, control joints, spalls and popouts on interior or exterior applications. Food grade, scratch resistant, acid resistant, and heat resistant. Today we look at the pros and cons of concrete countertops. It seems to go all the way through i can see it on the edge it has not been sealed, and has been about 10 days since it was poured, and the formbrace hasnt been removed. However, this can also be an expensive upgrade, particularly if you love luxurious options such as carrera marble.
If and how a crack gets repaired prior to a decorative concrete application depends both on the nature of the topping to be applied and on the nature of the crack. Ardex crack repair how to repair cracks and spalls in concrete. Ardex crack repair how to repair cracks and spalls in. Homeowners love concrete for its beauty, versatility, and strength. With the unparalleled support of technical and field experts, we provide onsite product knowhow and job site consultation expertise to architects, building engineers, construction managers, general and specialist. Z counterform countertop mix is a preblended, all in one, high strength castable concrete mix designed for the creation of concrete countertops. Repair concrete countertop crack everything about concrete. Concrete countertops pros, cons, and cost of concrete. Ardex is committed to matching the right products with your next installation to minimize time, cost and risk at every job site.
To avoid the appearance of a sidewalk, concrete countertops can have any color added to them, and must be sealed to make them nonporous and heat and stain resistant. Find answers to common questions and ask your own questions. Today i am going to discuss our kitchen countertops in detail, as many of you have been very very curious about them from our kitchen reveal post, here perhaps you have seen or heard of diy feather finish concrete countertops. Once you start mixing the concrete using the directions on the ardex feather finish bag its important to mix small batches at a time and apply then directly to the countertops because the concrete dries quickly. Ardex americas ardex pct selfleveling topping base for floors that will receive a polished concrete surface. Miniscule, or what are referred to as hairline cracks, are nearly inevitable in a concrete countertop. We made our counter tops by coating plywood in ardex. The concrete material is not expensive, but one con is that the fabrication and installation can drive up the price due to the time intensive nature of the process and the weight of concrete slabs. Concrete countertops with ardex feather finish diy product. Its been a couple of years since i first posted about creating my very own concrete countertops with this amazing product call feather finish by ardex americas find the product here. Acid in the stain opens the surface pours on the concrete and minerals in the stain react with the lime and minerals in the cement. Ardex americas ardex academy training schedule announced august ardex polished concrete systems. The best sealer for concrete countertops lovely imperfection.
Patch all cracks, crevices, and holes in the old concrete surface. The ardex sands really well, and you can keep as much or as little of the concrete texture as you want. The sealer is called stonelock e3 2k and it is offered by the concrete countertop institute. But that still left a lot of really cool variation in color. Diy concrete countertops over laminate surfaces lovely. Why concrete cracks cracks in concrete are extremely common but often misunderstood.
Concrete feather finish countertops a beautiful mess. Concrete countertops are one of the newest types of kitchen and bathroom countertops offered. What kind of concrete do you use for concrete overlay countertops. When an owner sees a crack in his slab or wall, especially if the concrete is relatively new, he automatically assumes theres something wrong.
The ardex line expanded to include ardex pct, a polished concrete topping in white, gray and light gray, and, more recently, a product with specialty aggregate. Trying our hand at diy ardex concrete counters young. Depending on your style and taste, you can leave it slightly more rough or keep sanding and apply until that. If there are cracks in the surface, this indicates that movement is occurring and your concrete may crack if the problem is not addressed before hand. They were a dull gray and felt ever so slightly rough to the touch. It is ideally suited to fill cracks and sawcuts prior to the installation of ardex moisture control systems, underlayments and toppings. Ardex americas introduced the underlayment product category in the 1970s, says tracy.
I did not know about feather weight concrete, it may not have existed. Still, cracks happen, whether because of pressure or the natural settling of the house. Check the cracks in a few minutes to see whether the filler has settled. The pros and cons of concrete countertops angies list. You can even use our concrete calculator to find the perfect concrete mix ratio and ensure theres no waste. There are two different processes for creating concrete countertops slab and overlay. Just add the materials in a concrete mixer, grab your concrete or bricklaying tools and get ready to work.
Why concrete cracks concrete crack solutions ardex ireland. It offers the very best blend of white sand and marble aggregates, white portland cement and proprietary admixtures to. Diy concrete counters poured over laminate averie lane. Thanks to their low shrinkage, they do not slump and are therefore ideal for filling cracks as well as for smoothing and floating wall and ceiling areas. One of its many uses is as functional, elegant countertops for kitchens and baths. Concrete countertops photo gallery, countertop design options, available colors, how concrete counters are made, cracking and maintenance issues, pricing, tips for concrete countertops in the kitchen.
Its not easy to come by, but you can hunt for a local distributor on their site or just. Selfleveling concrete toppings provide a shortcut to a. Ardex smoothing compounds offer the ideal substrate. Ardex ardifix low viscosity rigid polyurethane crack and. My search was on for the best sealer for concrete countertopsand i finally found one.
A follow up post in a few months or so would be great. To add to it, several cracks had developed as the concrete cured particularly where the dishwasher was i believe it was from the heat structurally, it was fine, but because it was also still uneven, we decided to do another round of concrete to level things out and fill the cracks. They come in a box and are found in the flooring aisle because they are used to level subfloors for tile installation. More on the sealer in the next post completion photos posted here as well. Diy feather finish concrete countertops and how they. Cracks are to concrete what death and taxes are to life inevitable.
It is a rapid curing concrete repair material used when minimal down time is crucial. Diy concrete countertops are not the type of project that you can dive. After kitchen and ardex feather finish concrete countertops tip do not go back on a surface as it starts to dry. Concrete countertops why concrete cracks, reinforcement methods, and more. Ardex cp is easy to apply, hardens quickly, is freezethaw resistant, and produces a surface finish that is suitable for foot and rubber tire traffic. Ardex cp outdoor concrete patch description ardex cp is a trowelgrade cementitious topping for filling and repairing small areas of outdoor and indoor concrete above, on or below grade. At first i thought using a mudding pan would work for mixing, but i quickly switched to the temporary buckets. Concrete countertops offer versatility in color and design. My experience installing ardex concrete countertops. See more ideas about diy concrete counter, concrete and concrete countertops. Black concrete countertops black concrete counter tops with ardex, tint.
If there are cracks in the surface, this indicates that movement is occurring and your concrete may crack if the problem is not addressed before. For hairline cracks up to 18 inch wide, mix four parts of ardex concrete dressing to one part water. Fixing concrete countertop problems the concrete network. How to create a faux marble countertop using concrete. The straight story on concrete cracks concrete decor. Diy concrete countertop over existing formica hymns and. I removed the old countertops, replaced them with wood. Concrete countertops are fabricated much like driveways or walkways but in the shape of your counter space. There are two basic ways concrete countertops are made. Most of all, i love the industrial look the diy concrete countertops add to the kitchen and especially the variation and imperfections in.
Trying our hand at diy ardex concrete counters young house love. In which i am overly optimistic about my ability to refinish our diy concrete countertops. We carry ready mix concretes, standard concrete mixes, cement mixes and other masonry mixes. Concrete countertops are made from a generalpurpose mortar mix. That doesnt include the sealer though, which is next on our list. Once youve got as many layers as it takes to get the look you want, its time to seal. Thats a risk that comes along with concrete countertops, most commonly when poured in place rather than precast. Check out how we built our 114 concrete waterfall countertops in our kitchen using ardex feather finish concrete on top of plywood. Cami tidbits cami redid her countertops about a year ago, using the ardex feather finish concrete method over plywood countertops that she and her husband built over the existing countertops. I tackled this project with ardex feather finish in february on my kitchen countertops and. Diy feather finish concrete countertops and how they failed. For this particular project, we sanded the wood and marble surfaces and opted to remove the laminate layer from the main countertop.
Concrete countertops countertop guidescountertop guides. Highflow formula minimizes the need for mechanical vibration. Superplasticizer additive provides a flowable mix at low watercement ratio. They also added some nonsanded grout to alter the color of the concrete. He was overly paranoid concerned that the concrete skim coat would crack if there. Using the putty knife we started to layer the concrete on as smooth as possible, then allowed the first coat to dry for 812 hours. In many cases, priming and crack joint repair is the first step to a successful installation. Force the thick paste into the cracks with a putty knife.