Concrete Resurfacer Countertop

The idea of doing concrete resurfaced countertops came when a client of mine wanted to update their laminate countertops to concrete but didn't like the price tag that came along with them. So in a moment of genius we decided to try out concrete resurfacer as an alternative. The results were nothing less then amazing and I was quite impressed with us to say the least. It is always great to have a daring client that is up for taking a risk!

Below you will find all the information for how I went about creating these countertops and hopefully you too will be able to get great results.

Things you need:

-Concrete Resurfacer

-Concrete Chemical Stain

-Sealer

-Trowel

-Small Spackle Knife (aka putty knife/scraper/spatula)

-Small Sponge Paint Roller

-Towel

-Sandpaper

-Optional

Plywood

1x2 lumber

First things first you have to decide what base you want to use for your countertop. It needs to be porous enough so that the concrete resurfacer will stick.

For this project we had the old laminate countertops that we thought to recycle.

I literally pulled off the laminate surface from the existing countertops to expose the particle board underneath.

We also used old plywood that was laying around and used that for some of the other countertops we needed to create.

(Side note if using plywood you need to create a countertop edge that is what the 1x2 is for)

Once you pull off the laminate from the surface you need to sand down and rough up the surface a bit. No need for it to be a perfect smooth surface the purpose of this is to get the concrete to seep in and stick to the top.

Now here is the fun part.

You can start putting on the resurfacer. Use your trowel for this. You are going to put on several layers and each layers should be the thickness of a credit card.

Apply the first layer, again it should be the thickness of a credit card, allow it to dry for a bit (it does not have to be fully dry) then apply a second layer and a 3rd layer if you feel it is needed.

For this project my client wanted to have edges that seemed as if the concrete had been chipped and chiseled away.

You don't have to use a putty knife you can also use a butter knife or even a spoon. I used all 3 and came up with the look I was going for.

This is the simplest step, you just add concrete to the edges and play around with the form. I made sure that the concrete resurfacer I used on these edges was a little thicker consistency so I could have time to play around (sculpt) and create the look that I wanted.

(Remember thicker concrete also means a faster drying time cause there is less water so keep that in mind)

There is literally no special art form to this and no wrong or right way just have fun and experiment. No edge will be the same.

This part is the one where you really have to do trial and error and most importantly have fun.

Take your time, this is not a race to the finish. Using your small sponge roller just roll on your chemical stain. Don't try to make the color heavy start by lightly rolling on the stain.

Some places may be darker then you want no problem just have a dry towel available and gently wipe some of the stain off in the areas that you want to lighten.

Another thing you can do is take an edge of your dry towel, dip it in the stain and rub directly onto the concrete. Again this is all trial and error. You can use a dry towel, small sponge roller or a combination of both, entirely up to you.

I also used a damp towel to wipe up some of the excess stain and found that really great for me and used a bit of elbow grease to create some of the lighter areas.

The great thing about chemical stain is that it takes to the concrete how it chooses.

Also don't be afraid to experiment with different stain color options you can even mix colors together to create your own unique style and finish.

Check with your local store there are a variety of chemical stain colors to choose from as well as many water based kinds available. The waterbased stain creates more of an overall color flow while the chemical stain gives you that break up look which is my favorite.

Last and final step

Get a new sponge roller and roll on a very thin layer of your sealer. You should let each layer completely dry before applying the next.

Be mindful that there is a small possibility that you may get small air bubbles. Don't rush this process take your time and keep those layers thin and even.

The type of sealer you purchase makes a difference and not all sealers are the same so make sure you get one that is specifically for countertops and safe to use cause remember you might be cutting your food on this and children will definitely be getting their little fingers all over.

Please consult a professional if you are unsure about which sealer is best for you.

If you want a high gloss finish make sure you ask your concrete guy for a concrete sealer that will give you a high gloss finish and the same if you want a matte finish.

Finally, congratulations you have just made the coolest concrete countertops ever and for less then a few hundred dollars! I Hope you enjoy your new kitchen, bath or however you used this information I am sure it was great. Thank you for taking the time out to view my instructable if you have questions please ask, otherwise enjoy!!!