• Concrete Colouring Options
• Test Pads

Perhaps the most challenging part of the concrete countertop equation is appearance. Who wants a countertop that looks like a sidewalk? And avoiding that fate requires two things:

1. The addition of colour to the surface.
2. The treatment of that surface to add depth to the colour and protect against stains.

Concrete Colouring Options

You've got a couple of concrete colouring options to consider:

1. The most common employs powdered pigments added to the water you'll use to make the mortar. One Ontario-based source of pigment is Form and Build Supply (800-563-2285; www.formandbuild.com).
2. Another concrete colouring option involves chemical treatments applied to the surface after it’s fully cured. This liquid isn’t a dye, but a compound that reacts with minerals in the concrete. The result is a colour that’s slightly mottled and much more like natural stone than surfaces coloured by dye. Kemiko (800-875-4596; www.kemiko.com) is a US supplier that ships to Canada.

Test Pads

The aesthetics of concrete countertop colouring and sealing are important enough that you should consider acquiring experience before tackling the real thing. That’s why test pads make so much sense. They allow you to proceed with the confidence of knowing exactly what your finished countertop will look like using a particular aesthetic strategy.

• Build three or four 2-inch deep x 12-inch x 12-inch test forms.
• Fill them with mortar mix to test your colour strategy.
• Be sure to apply both colour and sealer to these test panels, since full surface treatment is necessary to create a realistic impression of what you’re in for.

You should also take a look at a brand new book on the subject. Concrete Countertops by Fu-Tung Cheng (Taunton Press) is a compilation of the wisdom gained during more than 15 years in the craft. Besides the technical tips offered, you’ll be amazed at the stunning countertops that can be made with concrete.

For great articles, tips, inspiration and more visit casaGURU - The smartest way to find local house experts. 

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