Anyone ever grind/polish concrete?
I’m going to be doing concrete countertops, endtables, and a coffee table for my house this spring. Just buying materials now, and if anyone has done it before…just looking for some tips on wheels, aggregates, nosing, integral and surface coloring, etc.
ahahaha have fun …I do concrete work for a living …your in for a longgggggg process
Who do you work for?
I realize that. I’ve worked at a concrete plant for almost 10 years now.
I’m just looking to get into more decorative work for myself.
Did you ever polish? I’m not looking to get into floors. Just looking for good place to buy wheels. I found a supplier of colored aggregates.
go to D&C supply in bridgeville they should be able to help ya out
Cool. Thanks. I’d rather buy stuff from someone in person anyhow.
I know Knickerbocker rents floor machines and sells wheels for em, but that doesn’t help me.
Concrete countertops? Would this be for in a kitchen? I’m familiar with granite and other similar countertops but don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of concrete ones or perhaps just didn’t realize what I was looking at. Do you have any pics of what a concrete countertop looks like?
we have exposed aggregate in our driveway, I think that would look neat on a countertop, but maybe a PITA to clean :dunno: I’d think you would have to seal it, or the surface will be very pourous (bad for like raw chicken drippings–salmonilla… and ecoli etc)
Kitchen and bathroom countertops. Possibilities are actually endless.
It does have to be sealed unless it is dry polished (which I’m not doing). You do have to get a sealer that is safe too. I’m embedding a cutting board in mine since concrete isn’t good to cut on anyhow. The cutting board will be removable to clean.
thats pretty sweet,
Neat pics.
Do you form-up and make the countertop elsewhere and then install it in the kitchen or is there a way to form it in place? I take it you use some type of mesh or small rebar-like reinforcement in the countertop.
I’m going to be building or potentially remodeling a home very soon and always looking for ideas.
It can be done both ways. I’m doing precast. Forming it up in my garage, polishing it there, then moving it upstairs. The countertop is going to be in smaller sections anyhow. A big countertop would have to be poured in place considering a 3’W x 6’L x 2" thick countertop would weigh roughly 450lbs. Extra bracing needs to be done too. I’m using 4x4 mesh and #3 rebar in mine. #3 around the sink knockout and tie it into the mesh. Pouring it 2.5" thick or so. Haven’t really gotten into much more of the design other than reinforcing and color.
Yep, I’ve done it before. Isn’t really that hard, doesn’t really take that long either.
Get some viscosity modifying admixutres and use alot of portland cement to get the mix really consolidated unless you like the look of holes in your countertop.
I was going to use water reducer. You wouldn’t happen to have any mix designs do you?
I used to do some kitchen installations, and have done 2 concrete tops. Alot of work and can be quite a mess if doing large slabs on site. It shouldnt be a problem for the DIY home owner to make some small slabs of site. Great cost effective solution to solid surface counter tops.
I polish granite and marble…if u doing anything with those stones, let me know!
I did, I don’t know if I can still find it. All aggregates are different but it should get you in the ballpark.
When I find it I will post it up.
Thanks. I could alter one of ours from work, but it’d be much better to find one already proven.
Can you use standard cabinets or do you need something beefier?
standard modular cabinets need reinforced. The back is the weak point on them. 2x4s work.