If you’ve always wanted a concrete countertop without the hassle of pouring one from scratch, you’re in luck. Creating a brand, spanking new faux concrete countertop (with actual cement) is a great DIY project to add a contemporary look to your kitchen.
Laura Gummerman over at A Beautiful Mess, walks you through her step-by-step tutorial on how she created a cement countertop on her preexisting countertop—and the results are beautiful!
To begin, you’ll want to sand your existing countertop slowly and wipe away the debris with a rag. Afterwards, let it dry for a while. Remember to tape off the small bit of space between the top and the wall to avoid scrubbing the walls or smudging it with color from the cement. If possible, take out the sink to gain full access to all areas of the countertop.
Once you have your countertop prepped, you now need to mix the cement in a container. To create an even mix, throw in a paint stirrer. As for the ratios, go for two parts cement to one part of water.
When the mixture is ready, start the coating process. When dealing with right angles, use putty knives to pull the wet cement off the walls; right-angled positions can appear rough if not well coated over. The curved angle on the top of the backsplash is going to be a problem, but a small putty knife will help you deliver and smooth it over with a small putty knives.
The second part of your DIY makeover needs to start after 24 hours— when the first coat dries. Sand the new surface over gently to remove any rough blips. Now, add a fresh coat of cement and give it 24 hours like you did with the first coat.
After the second 24-hour respite, spent some time sanding the new surface ever so gently to give it a fine, sleek look. Use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of all the dust flying around, and peel the tape off the wall. The top is now ready for sealing.
Water based sealers are pretty good to go with. Two layers are the standard, but three won’t break bones either. Use a nap roller and a brush and stroke the place over smoothly. When the surface is dry, re-install your sink.
And just like that, you have upgraded your kitchen countertop to a sleek concrete ‘top.
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Read MorePhoto by: Laura Gummerman & Elsie Larson| A Beautiful Mess
