How to cover a concrete countertop. All about concrete countertops for the kitchen. Foundation, reinforcement and formwork

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Marble stains are fascinating. But marble is soft, so it is a rarity in the kitchen. Hard granite, but difficult to process. Concrete is an artificial stone, it is lighter, more diverse in color and pattern. A countertop made of acrylic or epoxy conglomerate would compensate for the shortcomings of stone slabs, if not for the price. Cast yourself out of concrete, feel like a sculptor - why not an idea? Having plunged into technological tricks, it turns out that concrete does not conceal any particular difficulties.

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Features of concrete in the manufacture of kitchen furniture

Required properties of furniture concrete:

does not crack at a small thickness, that is, it has sufficient viscosity,
does not create an ultra-high load on furniture supports,
absorbs a minimum of heat
the plate should be highly decorative, fit into the interior,
lends itself to grinding, polishing, and therefore the filling granules are selected with a hardness identical to concrete,
the mass is created with a homogeneous consistency, but thick, plastic - in such a way as to fill the form manually, without pouring (used building term"casting" is not quite correct here),
as a result - a solid plate up to 40 mm thick, this is the main requirement.

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The listed properties are achieved by adding washed quartz sand to cement (grade not lower than 400), marble chips, plasticizers, broken glass, resistant (dry/pasty) dyes.

Interesting: white grout for tile joints is M500 white cement, which has all the properties of a molding material.

Interesting chaotic mosaic. Pieces of polished onyx, marble are placed at the very bottom of the form, the gaps are filled with a mixture of sand, cement, crumbs. Fragments in the lower part should not be polished - for a bunch. The thinner the mosaic elements, the stronger the monolith.

Design and drawing

A product that is longer than 4 m must be reinforced. Depending on the method of reinforcement, concrete countertops are divided into:

with chipboard filling,
reinforced with metal
fiberglass.

Reinforcement methods are as follows:

From channels, corners, triangular brackets up to 60 cm are welded (the width can be greater), they are fixed in increments of 0.5 m to the wall in level using dowels. This provides access to the floor that has not yet been equipped. Level from concrete screed floor is h = 25 (floor) +850 (kitchen cabinets) - 30 - 30 \u003d 815 (mm), the first 30 mm is the concrete thickness of the countertop, the second 30 mm - moisture resistant plywood grounds. The wall is shtrobat until a groove is formed. The groove is filled with foam strips (the plate will “play” in size, heating up and then cooling down). On a plywood sheet, a table top board is mounted. Pour. Replacing plywood - two sheets of fiberboard fastened together.

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A reinforcing welded grating made of a metal bar is placed in the pouring tray between the layers of concrete, having previously processed the inlaid structure anti-corrosion composition. The bars do not reach the contour of the plate 5 cm.

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With a total tabletop height of 35 mm, the first layer of fiberglass is laid after pouring 15 mm of concrete, the second - after 20 mm, by pressing. The third layer is applied on top.

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But chipboard filling is considered the most advanced reinforcement: with it, the countertop weighs less, the plate is drilled, it becomes possible to reduce the thickness and reduce the cost. An important point is fiberboard sheet reused as an insert after the template has been made. Paradoxically, the combination of fiberboard with concrete must be prevented (the coefficient of stretching of materials is different). The recessed sheet has the value of a substrate; even before contact with cement, it is impregnated with drying oil.

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"Sandwich" of both layers is safer to mount and transport. So that the fiberboard does not fall out of the nest, it is wrapped with adhesive tape, the last stage is glued with mounting glue.

combination various ways reinforcement is always acceptable. Welded contours reinforce around big holes. It is important to prepare the reinforcing inserts in advance, because the casting process takes only 50 minutes. After the first setting, the concrete cannot be moved and moved: the structure will be broken. Full hardening occurs after 2 weeks.

Drawing, template

Working with the plan, you need to decide where the hob will be, where the sink will be. It is important to use the capabilities of the cast countertop to the maximum: an arbitrary configuration allows you to place the sink in the protruding “crest” of the wave, the hob can stand across, and not along the wall. Perhaps we need to abandon the semi-circular edge of the table and give the edges some avant-garde shape.

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Being original, they remember the modularity of cabinets, upper cabinets. Having measured the wall, they look for options in a grid with a step of 20, 30 cm (scale 1:10), entering the hob, oven, hood, and taking into account that all furniture will be covered with the same type of doors, flanges - it should look complete, rhythmic.

Two strips of fiberboard set the value of each specific angle in place, fasten the sheets glue gun. Then they bring the sheet to the wall, mark future slots on the fiberboard, ledges under niches, wall turns, sink contours, electric stove, etc. The start / end points of reference are not set on the plaster - at an indent of 18 mm from the corners (thickness ceramic apron). You also need to consider that the actual angles of the rooms differ from 90 degrees.

Experimenting with color

Are they determined whether the countertop should be light or dark, maybe gray?
Reddish, beige, yellowish or with a cold tint.
Showing blotches - dark on white. Then from what? Same for the reverse effect.

Cut off the milk carton, mix the sample, adding broken brown, green, transparent glass, mica, amber along with the dye. The result is corrected.

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Regardless of additives, the concrete base is classic:

for casting - cement + river (preferably quartz) sand, ratio 1: 4;
for modeling - a ratio of 1: 3.

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Water is added gradually. The density of the first solution is oily. The density of the second is plasticine. Fill in the form first. The second is kneaded for frame concrete.

During sample creation, the ratio of ingredients is recorded. The main components are the usual ones. To improve the plasticity of the mass, it is recommended to add 150 g to 25 kg of cement washing powder(solution). On sale there is a universal concrete plasticizer that improves viscosity and plasticity.

Form preparation

Chipboard is placed on a solid table, exceeding the contours of the product by 20 cm. The surface is covered with PVC, with a sheet of thicknesses. 2 mm (options - polystyrene, fiberboard). Chipboard strips (planed beams) on the drawn contours lay out a board lubricated with silicone, fasten it with self-tapping screws, clamping it so that the silicone goes beyond the gap. The excess is erased. To form a facet at the junction of the substrate and the bead, a hose with a diameter of 1 cm is fixed, filling the gap between the hose and flat surfaces with window putty.

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You can define the facet configuration yourself. To do this, a wooden plank is thinned at the edge “under the shoulder blade”, the profile is cut with a jigsaw. It is made of hardwood, water-repellent properties are obtained from impregnation with sunflower oil. With such an abacus, window putty is distributed in broaches.

In order to avoid the departure of the side from the perpendicular, it is reinforced with stiffeners from pieces of plywood, chipboard.

Circles are laid out with thick plastic, also fastening them on the “ribs”, drilling “into the secret”. Sharp bends are made up of thick plastic strips of the same height as the side, heated to 160 degrees. The work is carried out, protecting the hands with thermal gloves. A tungsten filament coil behind a metal box, covered with an even larger box - a simplified design of the heater. Plastics are chosen refractory.

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Pipe entry points, cutouts are laid with plastic plugs from shampoos, from old basins, polypropylene pipes, etc., fastening with a glue gun. The sides, checked by level, are sprayed with liquid wax (soap brew, as an option) from a household sprayer. Dried surfaces are reserved from sticking to concrete 2-3 times.

Filling the table

The concrete mixer is filled with cement - 60% of the volume, sand - 10%, solid fractions - 29.5%. Water is only 0.5%. Check the viscosity, shift manually or in bulk from buckets. Mobile concrete is distributed with a trowel. Plasticine is trampled with palms, small bars of wood. Align along the upper edge with a bar (or a building level of the “knife” type). After leveling, cover without gaps with a plastic film.

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A thick mass (for "stucco" tables) is laid by a team of manufacturers: in 50 minutes you need to have time to lay out, compact.

Laying decorative elements and inserting fasteners

Location of recesses for dowels, metal corners, if required, set in advance, mark on the template. The template is then attached to wooden frame, coinciding with the contour board. The template sheet is drilled (cut through) on the marks.

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The recesses for the dowels are formed by the dowels themselves, and the corners are welded onto pieces of reinforcing mesh. Moving the corners along the unfrozen mass, they find a match with the template, pour it from above.

Pre-cast molded brackets with protruding reinforcement are welded to the reinforcing mesh. Inserts protruding beyond the tabletop are aligned with squares and a level according to the marks indicated on the template.

Grinding, polishing

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After 2 weeks, the countertop is opened, moistened several times, dried - to guarantee the completion of chemical processes. A dry slab is ground first from below. Then turn over, moisten, dry and polish with a P 80 grit grinder. Increase the grit by 50 values, continue to grind until a “mirror” surface is obtained. Completion of the process - emery P 500 with the addition of water. The grinder must have guaranteed moisture protection. In hard-to-reach places, a round stick with a skin fixed on it is used, wooden beam OK.

Restoration of an old concrete countertop

A primer for concrete is applied to an old concrete countertop, it is dried. Distribute with a spatula similar to the previous composition. Cracks are filled with a knife, awl, trowel. The dried surface is polished, water-repellent properties are given to it with liquid wax, polishing wooden surfaces(like Pronto).

Video: how to make a concrete countertop, do-it-yourself kitchen sink - instructions

Above, we looked at how to make a concrete countertop, below - instructions for making a sink with your own hands.

Wide planes are comfortable, visually expand the space. The arrangement of the kitchen with ordinary rectangular countertops can be achieved by cutting chipboard, MDF. Is it worth bothering with the casting process if only rectangular shapes? Also: in a small kitchen, it is impossible to appreciate the spectacular wavy line. You need at least 4-5 meters of a free wall.

With the help of expensive exclusive materials, you can design an attractive interior in the room. Concrete countertop is a mix of art and practicality, stands out for its unique design and durability. Its surface can be ground, polished, painted, interspersed with marble, granite chips, shells, colored glass.

Decorative concrete countertop

Such products are formed as a result of molding and hardening of the mixture. They are custom made to fit any individual project, into a room with an unusual configuration. The main elements of the plate are cement, water, sand, stone, pigment. For example, a concrete kitchen worktop can be given any shape, a product of the type with bends or in several levels can be made. The surface of the table can even be decorated with lighting and create beautiful effect"starry sky". Such things are used for different rooms.

Concrete countertops for the kitchen

Products are suitable for classic and modern environments. They go well with wood, metal, glass, add a sense of reliability and massiveness of the structure. Concrete kitchen worktop goes well with window sills, floors, benches of similar texture. The material can be polished to a matte or mirror-shiny surface. To protect against contamination, the plane of the table is covered with a polymer protection that closes the pores. The final version of the surface due to colors can be made in various colors - gray, beige, pink, green.

Concrete bathroom countertop

The material is well suited for use in wet areas. To the touch, such a table is warmer than natural granite or marble, it looks like natural stone, not afraid of water and temperature changes. The concrete countertop in the bathroom is used to install the sink; when pouring it, it is easy to leave holes of the right size in it for further installation of the washbasin. The interior of the room can be supplemented with similar shelves, slabs on the wall.

How to make a concrete countertop?

Products are made by pouring material under individual sizes, in any particular case, the thickness, shape, color is selected. First you need to determine the exact dimensions of future products. Do-it-yourself concrete countertop is made for the finished table frame. When joining several pedestals, it is necessary to provide for the manufacture of the product from several pieces. The weight finished furniture large, and the concrete tabletop, divided into parts, is easier to move, handle. It has fewer cracks.

How to make a concrete countertop?

After calculations and drawing up a drawing, you can proceed to the purchase of materials. When deciding how to make a concrete countertop yourself, you need to prepare:

plywood sheets;
slats;
screwdriver and self-tapping screws (for mounting molds for pouring);
cement and sand;
decor (glass, shells, pebbles);
Sander;
diamond circle;
trowel, spatula;
solution container;
level.

Concrete do-it-yourself kitchen countertop

After preparing the frame of the kitchen table, you can start pouring the surface. The polished concrete worktop should fit snugly against the wall. If the design has non-standard corners or pipes, all bends and notches are exactly transferred to the drawing.

For the manufacture of stylish table top concrete is used interesting and simple technology. It allows you not to spend extra funds for furnishing apartments and minimal cost make the interior of the room stylish and individual. concrete pavement not afraid of burnout, mechanical damage and damage by chemicals. It will serve more than a dozen years, it will become a unique decoration of the interior.

Every housewife wants the kitchen in the house to be beautiful and functional. If the family budget allows, they usually order the design arrangement of the premises. If necessary, create a budget option, homeowners have to independently look for options for arrangement. One of the available ideas is to create a concrete countertop that looks like a marble product. So, choose a concrete countertop for the kitchen.

Preparatory process

To make strong with your own hands, beautiful design from concrete in the photo, you need to prepare for the workflow. Initially, the parameters of the future design should be determined. At this stage, it takes into account appearance, length, thickness and width of the product. It is necessary to determine the location of the working surface. Usually, work zone placed between hob and sink. Additionally, the area in the corner between the net and the headset can be used.

Before proceeding with the manufacturing process, you should carefully measure the dimensions, fix them on the drawing. Considering that the countertop has impressive dimensions, it is recommended to divide it into several parts. This will make it easier to make individual elements. In addition, the presence of separate parts of the structure guarantees the absence of cracks on the finished product.

Necessary materials

After creating the drawing, you need to buy the materials required for the production of a concrete work surface with your own hands:

Manufacturing steps

Reviews of the masters claim that the quality finished construction made of concrete, made by hand, depends entirely on the skill of the manufacturer. However, not an unimportant parameter is the chosen shape and dimensions of the structure. To create a form, it is necessary to use plastic sheets that correspond in size to the future product. Along the perimeter of the sheets, you need to mount a side, the height of which is equal to the thickness of the countertop.

To ensure the sealing of the form, all seams should be treated with silicone. If it is planned to place a sink in the working surface, the landing site must be left unfilled, enclosing the area with boards. Do not forget that the countertop for the kitchen should have rounded corners. For this, silicone inserts are used, which are removed after solidification. concrete mix.

Reviews of the hostesses claim that working surface should be decorated with decorative elements. Therefore, before pouring concrete into the mold, you need to lay out stones, shells, broken glass prepared earlier. To fix the elements, they should be sprayed adhesive composition. Then over decorative finishes we mount a mesh that acts as reinforcement.

pouring concrete

As a rule, coatings of concrete countertops for the kitchen have a beautiful color. To achieve the desired color, at the stage of mixing the concrete mixture, the desired pigment should be added. It is important to add the pigment at the stage of kneading the dry mixture to obtain uniform coloring. If you want to get stains on the outer surface of the countertop, the coloring matter is added to the finished mixture.

A beautiful, modern and comfortable kitchen is the dream of every housewife. Someone brings their desires to life with the help of professional craftsmen and expensive building materials, while someone uses their own imagination and skill. A striking example of such creations can be do-it-yourself concrete countertops for the kitchen, which practically do not differ from marble countertops, but are much cheaper. Such a hand-made product will become the true pride of the owners of the house.

Concrete allows you to create exclusive products that can emphasize any style of interior design. He is ideal material for the manufacture of kitchen surfaces due to its advantageous characteristics:

resistance to high temperatures;
low probability of scratches and chips;
rich choice artificial stones, textures and colors;
concrete is warmer compared to natural stone;
high functionality - the material is very well suited for the manufacture of custom-shaped countertops, etc.

Such a "concrete" solution for decoration kitchen furniture helps to solve several issues at once related to the strength and durability of the product, its cost and uniqueness - there will simply not be a second one like it.

If you still decide to make a concrete countertop for the kitchen with your own hands, then it is very important to follow the technology - then your work will turn out to be strong, reliable and resistant.

Design

The process of manufacturing a kitchen countertop consists of several stages, and the very first is, of course, the creation of a project. Decide what sizes and shapes your future concrete countertop should have. Calculations must be made taking into account the pieces of furniture that will be nearby. If the countertop has an angular arrangement, you need to clearly measure the radius, since the corners are not always strictly 90 degrees. When creating a drawing, reflect the exact dimensions of the countertop, not forgetting the location of the sink and faucet, which will be mounted in concrete surface. Completed drawing actual size kitchen countertops will greatly facilitate the entire production process and help to eliminate possible shortcomings and errors in a timely manner.

Preparation of the necessary tools and materials

So that nothing distracts you during the work, and everything you need is at hand, you should take care in advance that you have everything you need to create a concrete countertop.

Since the main material for the future kitchen surface is concrete, you need to prepare all the components necessary for mixing it:

water;
cement grade 1500 and above;
purified river sand fine fraction;
plasticizer for concrete;
crushed stone or marble chips.

You can also use a special pigment (colour), which can be bought in almost every hardware store. The use of various dyes allows you to make a countertop of any uniformly colored shade, as well as with a marble or granite pattern.

In addition to the constituent components of the concrete mix, you will need auxiliary materials:

MDF board or sheet plastic;
wooden blocks for creating formwork;
medium density polyethylene film;
steel mesh with a mesh size of 25x25 mm;
profiles for the edge surface;
screws, self-tapping screws and metal corners for the manufacture of formwork;
surface polishing paste;
materials for decorating countertops.

Tools that will be required during the work:

roulette;
building level;
screwdriver;
electric jigsaw:
grinder with nozzles;
container for mixing;
an industrial mixer for kneading or a drill with special nozzles;
plasticizer for solution;
putty knife;
Master OK;
rubber mallet;
machine for grinding work with polishing pads.

Formwork preparation

This is a rather important stage of work, requiring extreme accuracy and accuracy - the strength of the product and its appearance will depend on the quality of the workpiece.

Transfer the prepared drawing of the future countertop to a chipboard sheet. Attach a wooden beam to each line if the countertop will have rounded shapes or a flexible profile can be used for the sink hole. It is also necessary to provide a hole for the mixer. Ideal for this purpose plastic pipe with a diameter of 3.5 cm. The joints of the formwork walls must be connected using corners or long screws. In this case, their fastening will be reliable, able to withstand the load created by concrete.

The height of the structure depends on the planned height of the countertop. The ideal parameter is considered to be 50 mm - this is optimum thickness surfaces for full use, without worrying about the strength and reliability of the product. It is also not worth making the table top too wide in height - a significant increase in the mass of the product will make it difficult to process and install.

Laying the reinforcing frame

As a reinforcing frame, a special steel mesh with a cell width of 25x25 mm is best suited. The grid is laid in such a way that it recedes from chipboard sheet by 2.5 cm and its edges also did not reach the edges of the formwork by 2.5 cm.

Under metal mesh it is necessary to put polyethylene film, the density of which allows styling without folds and wrinkles. Otherwise, the do-it-yourself kitchen countertop will turn out to be of poor quality, with prints of all the existing irregularities.

Preparing and pouring concrete

Prepare the solution in accordance with the recipe and the required dosages. Classic recipe concrete preparation:

1 part cement;
2 parts sand;
4 pieces of filler;
0.5 parts of water.

First, water is mixed with cement until a homogeneous mass is obtained using a drill or an industrial mixer at low speed, and then the remaining components are added to the resulting mixture.

The finished solution is poured into a pre-prepared frame, after which it is carefully and evenly distributed over the entire surface of the formwork. Next, the mixture must be covered with a film and left in warm room for 24 hours. At the end of the day, the film must be removed and instead put a wet cloth on the concrete - such a maneuver will prevent the appearance of cracks.

After 24 hours, the formwork can be dismantled and the countertop removed. To do this, unscrew and very carefully remove the sides, and then turn the formwork over with the slab and, tapping with a rubber mallet, disconnect the tabletop from the plywood base.

Sanding and polishing concrete countertops

Exist different ways decorating concrete surfaces. The simplest and fastest of them is laying ceramic tiles. In this case, you do not have to grind the surface - lay the tiles, mount the ends, and after a few days you can mount it in the right place. All other processing and decoration methods will require much more time and effort.

First, using a coarse-grained nozzle, it is necessary to process the entire concrete surface and its ends. Before performing this work, it is recommended to wear a protective mask and goggles so as not to harm your health. It is advisable to have a vacuum cleaner on hand, as the primary grinding process is accompanied by huge amount dust.

The second stage will be surface treatment with fine grinding material. To give the concrete water-repellent and grease-repellent properties, a special impregnation should be applied to the surface, and then continue to grind using the smallest disc fraction. grinder. The final step will be surface treatment with a suede lining and grinding paste at the lowest speed.

This long and painstaking work will be crowned excellent results- the work surface for the kitchen will acquire a glossy sheen, perfect smoothness and, despite its low cost, will look no worse than a worktop made of natural stone and will serve you for many years!

If you no longer want to see ordinary ones in your kitchen or in any other room of the house, you can order an expensive marble counterpart. However, you can make such a product yourself using concrete. As practice shows, the design looks very attractive. And you can decorate it with different elements, including glass. After completion of work, you will be able to receive unique table which will be very cheap.

Preparation of materials

If you will be making a concrete countertop, it is important to prepare the necessary set of materials. Among them, boards, plywood, cement, fiberglass, acrylic-based polymer concrete, guides, broken glass, and fiber optic cable should be distinguished. You will need a sheet of laminated plywood, two sheets of plastic, sand, sealant, drawer handles (if any are supposed to be done), and also decorative elements.

Boards must be made of hardwood. And their total length should be 6 meters. Plywood can be the most common. There is no need to use moisture-repellent material at all. When preparing plastic, remember that its thickness can be approximately 18 millimeters. You will need two of these sheets. The volume of cement will depend on the specific dimensions of the future countertop. However, this article considers an example that involves the use of two 50 kg bags. Therefore, we will give the figures characteristic of this model. As for the sand, it will need six bags, each of which should be 25 kilograms. Silicone sealant will be enough to purchase in the amount of one tube. But for decoration you can use different elements and not just glass.

Design

The concrete worktop will be made using some tools, namely: a set of polishers, a woodworking tool, an electric grinder, and a device for working with concrete. Initially, it will be necessary to create an action plan that provides for the creation of a drawing of the future design. You must clearly imagine how the table will look like. It is necessary to measure the room where it is planned to place the product.

You will waste your energy in vain if, after completing the work, you find that the countertop does not fit in size. It is not recommended to pour a solid monolith. The process should be divided into several stages. This will prevent the formation of cracks. In addition, moving and installing individual parts will be much easier than a solid product, the weight of which is quite impressive. When a concrete countertop is made, the master must take into account the features of the interior. This will allow you to make a design, the design of which will match the decoration.

Frame construction

Each table design is unique. Therefore, it makes no sense to describe in detail the technology for constructing the frame. It is worth considering, however, that the fronts of the table will be made of a table top, while it can be supported by two pipes. In the central parts, it is possible to provide for the presence drawer. The load-bearing elements of the frame are recommended to be made of solid wood. In order to create boxes and a facade, it is recommended to cut a sheet of plywood.

Create a fill shape

If you will be making a concrete countertop, you must first create a form, the parts of which will be 18 mm plastic sheets. Along the perimeter, it is necessary to install boards. Their height will be 50 millimeters. Thanks to these parameters, it will be possible to pour the required layer of concrete to ensure high strength. It is important to complete the forms, given the size of the frame. Already at this stage, it is recommended to do everything as accurately as possible, since after pouring the concrete it will be impossible to correct the situation. The joints obtained between the plastic sheets and the sides must be filled silicone sealant. It will prevent leakage beyond the liquid concrete.

Laying decorative elements and frame systems

A concrete countertop should not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also as durable as possible. To do this, use a wire mesh as it can be used. Decorative elements should be laid at the bottom. Broken glass can act in their role. After surface treatment, the decor will show through and become visible on the base.

The concrete countertop may have holes for laying communications. If so, then their presence must be indicated at this stage. To do this, you can use a ring made of pvc pipes. The blank is wrapped in polyethylene and placed in the designated place. After the concrete has hardened, the pipe is pushed out, and the polyethylene will be easy to dispose of.

Work methodology

The grid rises above the surface of the base of the form by 25 millimeters. The easiest way to do this is with wire. Should be given great importance decor. For attractiveness, it is necessary to prepare transparent, brown and green glass, which breaks into fragments. If you wish, you can use coins, pebbles and other items.

The tabletop will look original with plastic sheet holes need to be drilled. They have a cable installed. Gaps should be filled with sealant. The ends of the cable will hang down under the mold. They need to be collected in bundles. Later, light elements are inserted into them, which will create the effect of a starry sky. Glass shards can easily be dislodged when pouring mortar. To eliminate this, you should fix them with glue in the form of a spray.

Pouring concrete

The manufacture of countertops in the next step involves pouring the solution. To do this, mix cement and sand using a ratio of 1 to 3. Water must be added until the mixture resembles thick sour cream. It is necessary to pour the composition into the mold as carefully as possible. After it is half filled, the mass must be distributed throughout the form. The formwork is shaken to get rid of air bubbles. Then you can start mixing another portion of concrete, applying the same proportion.

However, in this case, fiberglass should be added. The composition is poured into the mold, and the surface is drawn by the rule. In this state, the structure is left for 24 hours. After that, the base can be covered with a damp towel, which will slow down the hardening process and have a positive effect on strength. The manufacture of countertops involves taking out finished product out of shape after two days. However, experts recommend waiting another day. If it turned out to be problematic to get rid of the form, then you need to pry off the edge with a spatula. Brick can be used as a support.

Grinding

The surface of the slab after the concrete has hardened must be sanded. This is necessary so that fragments of broken glass and other decorative elements that were used during pouring show through on it. Sanding will smooth out bumps and get rid of glue residue. To carry out these works, the master should use clothes that will not be a pity to get dirty. After grinding, the plate is again left to dry.

Kitchen countertops are usually very smooth. In order to achieve a similar effect, the next step is to mix the cement with an acrylic fixative. The mass should not be too thick. Its application is best done in three stages. It is important to remember that when drying, the material shrinks. It must be distributed over the surface, filling all the cracks and voids. Excess should be removed from the surface, leaving the structure to dry.

What to do next?

At the time of the second application of the composition, you must try to fill in all the voids that you missed the first time. When the kitchen countertops are covered with the third layer, there is no need to get rid of the remains of the mixture. One night will be enough for the slab to dry. Then you can surface grinder, providing it with a coarse-grained polishing pad. If during grinding you notice voids and holes that could not be filled with an acrylic cement composition, then the process can be repeated by applying another layer.

Carrying out polishing

After completing all the above work, you will get a dark countertop, the shade of which will be slightly different from concrete. On the final stage will need to be polished. In this case, the working element must be constantly wet. You shouldn't rush. Movements should be uniform and slow. If you are thinking about how to cover a concrete countertop, you can find out by reading the article. Gradually grinders change in grit. This is done until 1500 units can be reached. You can find polishing pads, the grain size of which is 3 thousand units. But in order to cover the surface with a primer varnish, you should make the base as smooth as possible.

The manufacture of concrete countertops ends with the application of a primer varnish. It should be allowed to dry well. To achieve a positive result, the varnish can be applied in several layers. And then the surface must be cleaned with a wax composition, after hardening of which the countertop is wiped with a clean rag.

Conclusion

If you are interested in the question of what minimum thickness concrete countertop, then this parameter should be equal to 5 centimeters. But even in this case, it is recommended to use a reinforcing mesh, which will increase strength. Many masters neglect the step of creating a template. However, these manipulations are very important to create a design of ideal proportions.

To do this, you can use fiberboard and cardboard scraps, interconnected with glue. Do not forget that a sink can be embedded in the countertop. This should be provided before the pouring stage, so that after that you do not have to cut the material. The cost of a factory-made countertop can reach 20 thousand rubles. However, if you want to do the work yourself, then the costs will be limited to the price of sand and cement.