Saw an episode of “While you were out” on TLC or HGTV or something. The theory is that one spouse leaves on a short trip and the other spouse makes a change to the house. This was a kitchen remodel. Whe it was over, the crew admitted that a kitchen in a weekend was a bit toomuch.
Most of it came out nice. The floor did not get grouted however. The killer was the concrete countertops. I can’t imagine why they thought they couldform & pour tops OFF the bases and move them into position. And it didn’t work. The fingers around the sink snapped off as soon as they tried to pick them up to put them on the base cabinets.
“When asked if you can do something, tell’em “Why certainly I can”, then get busy and find a way to do it.” T. Roosevelt
Replies
I thought one technique was to pour the countertops off the bases and then when cured or whatever and then move them onto the bases. But not only after a day or two of drying! It would definitely be weak still.
I think a lot of concrete countertops are formed and poured off base.
Handyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK
I bought and read the concrete countertop book from Taunton, and off the cabinets is one way to make them,but I think they proposed waiting 2 weeks or more before moving them.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
still need your tauton books? im doing a counter for the first time just thought it might help.
Here's the book I got.
http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Countertops/dp/1561584843/sr=8-1/qid=1156941634/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-9687192-5956907?ie=UTF8You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Im afraid the real story would end up like Bosses .
Tim
Memphest 2006
November 18th
I'm planning on trying this for my house in NH. From what I have read, pouring them upside down (not in place) is a pretty common way to do the. It is ridiculous to try to attempt to do it in two days though.
Tom
Douglasville, GA
I saw that episode and cringed when I saw the breaks. I wonder why didn't they pour them in place?
I wonder why didn't they pour them in place?
Because they are idiots on tv, all "show" (and, just the least bit of controversy gets them a snapshot of angry views so they can gouge the big boxes more for the advertizing time . . . )Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Forming them can yield a much better product than pour in place. As others have pointed out, their downfall was not the method, it was the time factor. most sources recommend using 5000 pound concrete (high early strength) and leaving it in the forms for 4 days before releasing them. Then they need to cure (concrete cures, not dries) before polishing and placing them. I've done concrete counters for my bathroom, and am in the process of installing the kitchen ones. All of them formed out of place, polished and then placed. I recommend the book by Fu-Tung Cheng.
http://www.concreteexchange.com/ Known as the father of decorative concrete, I found his instructions clear, the products easy to work with. I consider myself a smart guy, with contractor experience, and did this with no problem.
Go for it. It can be a lot of fun considering all the possibilities with decorative concrete.
In general, I find the weekend transformation shows to be misleading in their ability to ensure quality remodel in that short a time.
Edited 8/30/2006 1:52 pm ET by neilpuck
You mis-read my note. I am not thinking about doing concrete tops. I was justmaking fun of the silliness of the show. They probably could have gotten away with doing it in place. I have one of Changs bboks, but I don't think it is the one in the link.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I checked out his entire website. Frankly, I only saw one or two countertops that appealed to me.
The stuff is too artsy fartsy for me. I was very disappointed.
blue
I'd say Buddy Rhodes is the "father of decorative concrete" and that Cheng is more the "stepson".
I've done both - poured in place & formed upside down. I recommend the upside down on melamine - very smooth finish, polished to 3000 grit - looks much better than my trowel work.
But yeah, those tops are heavy - we form on sawhorses very close, so we only need to flip the things. A 3x5 piece was about all 2 guys could handle. 1 week cure time - really gets in the way of finishing the kitchen. Not a weekend project, unless your on TV.