Common Questions

QUICKTOPS

by: LifeTime Floors

Will my concrete countertop crack?

Just like granites and marbles concrete countertops have the potential to develop hairline cracks. Unlike granite or marble a concrete mix, like the ones Concrete Arts uses, can be heavily loaded with polyethylene fibers to prevent surfaces cracking and increase the tensile strength of the top. If a piece does develop a crack the fibers will bond and piece together.

Will concrete stain?

Concrete in its natural unsealed state will stain. So after the fabrication sealers are applied to resist stains and allow time for cleanup. Just as the granites and marbles, we recommend the sealing of your concrete tops to extend the stain resistance. This process should be done every couple of years or as needed depending on use. This is a simple process and can be done in a day.

Can my concrete be repaired?

Concrete counters can be repaired; depending on the surface finish, the repair can even be undetectable when fixed. The “Dry Pack” method is the easiest to repair and fixes are almost unnoticeable. Full exposure is easily fixed, minimal exposure and fine exposure tops do allow for the shadowing of a repair.

Do I need to re-enforce my cabinets?

As long as the concrete top does not exceed 2” thick no additional cabinet support is needed.

What is the thickness of the concrete top?

Tops are generally 1-1/2” thick although 2” is also common. Depending on the size and layout 1-1/4” is possible. If you would desire a thicker top, a drop face can be integrated to give the appearance of a solid thick concrete countertop. As for a wish for a thinner concrete top, special considerations and possible reinforcements are needed.

Do you pour the countertops over my existing tops?

No, all of our countertops are precast off site and then brought to your home and installed in about a day. There is a little mess with this application. Your old tops will need to be removed.

What if my concrete scratches?

Concrete tops depending on the exposure can be polished to remove any deep scratches. Most scratches can be burnished out as they are most likely in the sealer surface.

How do I clean my concrete?

For daily cleaning we recommend soap and water, avoid acidic cleaners and avoid lime removers. For monthly and before entertaining we recommend a cleaning with Gel Gloss it is available at most home improvement stores. Gel Gloss cleans and protects the surface with a fine layer of wax.

Can I place hot pans and cut on my concrete?

Concrete is very durable surface, but in order to protect it from stains we use sealers, these sealers penetrate and form on the surface, therefore to protect the sealers we do not recommend placing hot items on or cutting on your tops.

What about imperfections in the concrete?

Part of the allure of concrete is the hand crafting that is involved. Concrete by nature has “air” in it. The air shows up as small bubble holes. Larger bubbles are slurried in and smaller holes are filled and protected by sealer. Concrete counters are hand polished and not polished by large machines like granites and marbles. You concrete will have a hand crafted look which will add to its character.

Will there be seams in my concrete?

In order to make the concrete tops manageable we try and limit the length of the tops to 8’. Tops can be poured longer and wider but access and staging concerns need to be addressed, most granite tops are 8’ long. Seams are filled with a color matching epoxy to help minimize the seam.

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