Why choose concrete countertops compared to other countertop materials?

Custom: Concrete’s biggest advantage is that it is completely custom. You can provide your client with a countertop that is unique to them, and highly personalized.
Versatile: Concrete is extremely versatile. It can enhance any style, from French Country to Contemporary. From Arts and Crafts to Industrial. From Traditional to Modern. The possibilities are endless.

Practical: Contrary to popular belief, concrete countertops do not need to be stain-prone and difficult to maintain. They do not have to "develop a patina". In the past few years, especially in 2004-2005, concrete sealer technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and sealer manufacturers are recognizing that concrete countertops have unique and stringent performance requirements with regards to staining, heat and scratching. Although there is still no one sealer that all concrete countertop craftsmen use, ask your craftsman what kind of sealer he uses and what its performance characteristics are. Most concrete countertops actually behave similar to granite with respect to staining. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains.
Imperfections: We believe that this is an advantage. Concrete countertops are hand made and hand finished. Since concrete is a heterogeneous mixture of many different ingredients, subtle variations in color, shade, texture and overall appearance should be expected. All concrete is susceptible to harmless hairline cracks. They will sometimes appear months or years after installation, and are generally a result of seasonal movement of the cabinets and the house itself. These should be considered part of the aesthetic charm of concrete, and not a defect. Concrete exhibits natural beauty rather than plastic perfection.

How much will custom countertops cost?

Standard 1.5" thick concrete countertops range from $65 to $135 per square foot. Often the cost of installation is not included in this price range. Concrete countertops are handcrafted and are typically priced at a premium to granite, marble, and other natural stones. The true cost of the countertop is not in the concrete itself, but rather in the artisan's creativity and time for creating special details, unique designs, transportation, and installation. Large orders sometimes reduce the cost.


These items add to the cost:

•      Irregular or curved shapes.
•      2" thick concrete.
•      Integral drain boards
•      Custom edges
•      Back splashes

Some countertop contractors only quote on a per job basis. CONCRETEpoetry requires a dimensioned plan view indicating all backsplashes (if any), sink cutouts, and any other cutouts. Concrete countertops should be sold (or bought) based on being a beautiful, custom, handmade, relatively unique product.
The price of the concrete countertop is composed of the countertop construction, shipping (if required), and installation.

Shipping Costs:
Countertop contractors in almost all cases install their own product in their market area. So there would be no shipping expense. Shipping method and carrier, for those firms that do ship, varies by contractor. Discuss this with the contractor.
Installation Costs:
Installation, when done by the countertop contractors, runs in the $40-$50 per hour, per person, range.
Other installations, such as when the countertop has been shipped, should be done by a contractor experienced in installing countertops. Rates for this would vary by region of the country. The countertops arrive to the site in a completed state and there should be no modifications required. Most of the concrete countertop contractors provide detailed installation instructions. Request these instructions and make sure your installer understands the installation instructions prior to the countertops arriving on the jobsite. These are custom, one of a kind product.

What about Sealers?

We use ICT’s line of sealers, considered more of a treatment for your concrete countertops rather than a sealer.  Although they have the ability to seal the concrete, the true nature of this line of sealers is their ability to alter the concrete and change the nature of the concrete, creating a sealing action.  This is accomplished by the chemical reactive nature of these sealers to treat the concrete rather than mechanically coat or fill the pores of the concrete.  This reactive based sealing treatment system, uses hydration byproducts from the curing of concrete to create a durable solid long lasting surface.

Why are these Sealers referred to as a treatment for concrete countertops?

    This sealing system doesn’t mechanically stick to the concrete like many of the other sealers available on the market.  The chemical reactive nature of this sealing system is a way of altering the concrete itself to make the concrete more durable.  That way the entire sealing system is not simply dependant on just the sealer, like other sealers on the market.   This sealing system treats and alters the concrete, making the concrete denser, more durable, and long lasting.  A simple sealer wears out, this system improves with time.