Sure, granite is still the most popular material for beautiful, durable, versatile kitchen countertops, but there are plenty of other options out there, and one of them has been booming in popularity recently. When you picture a concrete countertop, you may be imagining something like the concrete that you see being poured at construction sites. But concrete countertops are actually surprisingly striking and versatile, and allow you to add an instantly modern touch to your kitchen remodel.
The biggest selling point of concrete countertops is that they can literally be made to order. Because they’re crafted by hand, they can be created in any shape, size, or color that you want. You can even add inlays of other stone, glass, or even LED lights! That’s something that pretty much no other countertop can match!
Of course, you may pay a premium for that versatility, and concrete countertops aren’t as cheap as many people assume, often costing around $100 per square foot installed. For many people who are interested in concrete countertops, though, it isn’t the initial sticker price that concerns them, it’s the longer-term investment. How do concrete countertops hold up, and how easy are they to maintain?
The good news is that concrete countertops are fairly durable when properly sealed, and easy to maintain with the right tools, including stone surface cleaning products from Rock Doctor. Concrete can crack, so you’d be well advised to avoid dropping anything too heavy onto your new countertop—always a good rule of thumb anyway! And while your knives may not damage your concrete countertop, we can’t promise that it won’t damage them, so it’s a good idea to always use a cutting board. Plus, cutting directly on your countertop can damage the sealer that protects the concrete.
Like most stone countertop surfaces, concrete countertops need to be sealed upon installation and re-sealed as needed throughout their life. Once your countertop is properly sealed, the best way to take care of it is to clean up spills as soon as they happen. Many concrete countertop manufacturers also recommend regular waxing or polishing for additional protection and to add an attractive patina to the countertop. Rock Doctor granite polish should do the trick.
In the end, concrete countertops provide a striking and increasingly popular alternative to natural stone surfaces for kitchen countertops, and like natural stone, they’re easy to clean and care for as long as you’ve got the right stone surface cleaning products on hand. Fortunately, you can get everything you need from Rock Doctor’s specially-formulated line of stone care products, available at fine retail stores including Lowe’s Home Improvement, as well as participating Ace Hardware, Do it Best, Home Depot, and True Value locations.
