Concrete Benchtops

What Are Concrete Benchtops?

Concrete benchtops are commonly used in most modern households these days. In the past, many homeowners preferred timber or stone benchtops due to their aesthetic appeal. However, recent changes in design awareness have paved for polished concrete kitchen benchtops to be thought of as a suitable alternative.

Concrete kitchen benchtops provide a sleeker and more modern look, while also making the surface much easier to maintain than other materials. Another added feature of these benchtops is their higher resistance to stains and heat, thus saving money on stain cleaners. Moreover, they are highly durable and can last for years if they’re adequately maintained.

Various Benefits Of Concrete Benchtops

Here are some advantages of concrete benchtops:

Naturally Chip And Scratch Resistant

Marble, granite, quartz, or wooden benchtops are more prone to chipping than dense concrete, making it an ideal surface for a kitchen environment. Furthermore, it is more difficult to scratch concrete, making them a perfect choice if someone wants a long-lasting surface. 

Resistant To Heat

Concrete surfaces can withstand heat from a hot pan when sealed correctly. As a result, their heat resistance is much better than various other options available for conventional countertops. 

Resistant To Stain

Once again, with the proper seal, concrete surfaces are stain-resistant. Furthermore, they have excellent stain resistance properties.

Low Maintenance

Concrete and natural stone benchtops are relatively low-maintenance. However, it does not come as a surprise since this material is used for parking lots and sidewalks having heavy usage. The only thing that must be remembered by someone installing concrete countertops is resealing it every two years. 

Limitless Color Options

With concrete benchtops, the sky is the limit for color due to the advancements in color technology and innovative staining. The contractor will discuss all the color options and help select one that works with the home décor style. 

Appearance Increases With Age

Another unique feature of concrete is its appearance which gets better with age instead of fading over time. So instead of discoloring and crumbling, concrete forms distinctive features the longer it is in the kitchen. 

Customized Sizing

A great benefit to installing concrete countertops is they can be perfectly tailored to fit any kitchen layout. Unlike granite, marble, or stainless steel benchtops, there are no limits to the shapes and configurations it can be formed, which is excellent news for people looking for unique layouts in their kitchen. 

Durability

As mentioned above, concrete benchtops are chipping and scratching resistant. In addition, the cement-and-sand mix strength alone has enhanced longevity and durability. It is also important to keep in mind that small hairline cracks can develop in concrete over time; however, they can be repaired with proper sealing. 

Types Of Concrete Benchtops

When it comes to the types of concrete benchtops available, there are various, and the most popular ones are discussed below:

Polished Concrete Kitchen Benchtop

The name suggests a polished, sleek concrete benchtop that looks exceptional in a minimalistic kitchen setting. 

Aggregate Benchtops Having Textured Look

In this kitchen benchtop, dark aggregate matter is employed to give concrete a textured natural stone look. When it comes to which material to use as aggregate, there are no limitations. 

Concrete Look Benchtops

Easy to clean and non-porous, the concrete-looking kitchen benchtops deliver the same appeal as polished concrete without being that expensive. 

GFRC Benchtops

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) resembles chopped fiberglass and is made by mixing cement, water, fine sand, polymer, various admixtures, and alkali-resistant glass fibers. 

This material, similar to engineered stone benchtops, shows high tensile, flexural, and compressive strength while also providing the same level of chip resistance as exhibited by granite. 

Extra-Thick GFRC Benchtops

GFRC makes it easier to customize the thickness of any benchtop. While keeping the aggregate materials to a minimum, the thickness can be increased to enhance functionality while not compromising aesthetics. 

How To Maintain Concrete Benchtops?

Sealers are pretty crucial for concrete benchtops to protect them from stains, chips, heat damage, and scratches. Therefore, it is essential to apply sealers, not only during installation but once every two years. 

Concrete benchtops are low maintenance. However, different sealants can solidify their damage resistance. Here are some ways to maintain concrete benchtops via sealers: 

• Topical sealers are only applied to outer surfaces, and they protect concrete by covering it, ultimately not allowing harmful material to harm it in any way. They are less effective in terms of scratch resistance but are an ideal option for stain resistance
• The next type is penetrating sealers that are further divided into two categories, repellent, and densifiers. Their names suggest that they penetrate the surface, compact concrete pours, and strengthen the material. As opposed to topical sealers, they are scratch-resistant

It is always possible to use both these sealers on the same concrete benchtop for maximum results. However, no sealer is 100% effective, even though their quality has increased drastically in the past years; heat damage, chips, stains, and scratches are always possible. 

One of the best ways to lower the possibility is to take care of the concrete benchtop. If any spills occur, clean them as soon as possible, never place oven dishes or hot plates directly on them, and always use cutting boards on them. 

Another thing to keep in mind for polished concrete benchtops is that they are susceptible to sunlight and extreme temperatures. Therefore, if the countertop location is directly in front of a window, it is better to use UV-resistant sealers or acrylic benchtops, or laminate benchtops since they do not fade in the sun.