To settle the concrete use an orbital sander without sandpaper against the sides of the mold.
Sanding concrete countertops in place.
Smoothing the concrete mix with a hand trowel is the only technique you will use on the day the countertop is poured.
Materials needed for pour in place concrete countertops.
The top surface will be against the melamine so make sure the mold is as smooth as possible.
Some hand polishers attach to a garden hose to provide a small steady stream of water.
The vibrations will help bring air bubbles in the concrete up to the surface.
Concrete countertops can give the kitchen inside your home a distinctly industrial look or provide an outdoor kitchen with a slab that is both functional and durable.
Tip finishing or polishing concrete countertops using these techniques is done the next day and in some cases 3 7 days after the concrete countertop was poured.
I started with 60 grit and then moved to 100 grit then 150 grit and finally 220 grit.
This guide will help you learn how to make concrete countertops and outline the tools and supplies needed.
The polisher is usually water fed and is attached to a normal garden spout.
There are a range of finishes possible from a single piece of concrete.
Making your own diy concrete countertops may require some dedicated time but the result of your effort can be gratifying.
Dampen the concrete surface.
Heavy drop cloths to protect cabinets and floors it gets pretty messy.
Fasten a hook and loop 50 grit polishing pad to a variable speed hand polisher.
Sand the concrete countertops.
Make sure the mold is on a level surface that can accommodate the weight of the concrete.
Mixing and pouring the concrete.
I sanded the concrete countertops using my rotary sander and regular sanding discs from home depot.
Remember the countertop will be upside down in the mold.
For the edges i used regular sandpaper and sanded those by hand.
When finished gently cover the countertop with a sheet of plastic or damp burlap to protect it from dust and dirt.
White countertop mix from ccs if doing white counters sand topping mix from the hardware store if doing gray counters z liqui crete if doing gray counters counter edge forms.
The water helps cool the pads down and also keeps dust to a minimum.