this subject is for any experienced concrete counter pro’s out there who can offer a bewildered builder some information. i have a request from my current client for concrete countertops. i normally build the cabinets on site on any given log home i’m completing, and have never worked with concrete as a counter material. my initial research on the subject has me intrigued, and optimistic about giving this a shot. the only trouble i’m running into is trying to find information on what “type” of polymer resin to use for a sealer on a concrete counter. if anyone has experience in this area i would greatly appreciate any feedback you might could offer, and possibly any brand name products out there that would be the ticket. my primary experience in sealers are those used on ceramic tile but all the viscous ratings and different adhesion qualities have me a little befuddled. hope all your jobs are going well and thanx in advance for any help. jon jordan www.jjordanbuilders.com
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The definitive article (IMHO of course) on concrete counters was in FHB about... 9 years ago I think? They talked about sealers at length. From what I remember the highest rated one was from a German company but contained small amounts of cyanide (I think it was) until cured so it was an outside only application ;)
I used a waterbased sealer from a place in Cali I believe...also mentioned in this article, but I think I have a bottle still kicking around if you want a name. It is a sealer only, not much for wear proofing. In my case I used the sealer and then poured a coat of Build 50 epoxy on it, looks quite cool. The counter is in my lobby and has cameras, etc embedded in it. I get compliments on it nearly ever day :)
paul, thanx for the information! i'm gonna try and see if i can locate that article. any chance you remember any brand names of the epoxy? thanx, jon j.
oops, missed the build 59 epoxy on yer post, samantha, (my better half) caught it, gonna go look for that stuff now, thanx again!
jon jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com
My No. 2 Son, a lawyer, decided he wanted concrete counter tops in his kitchen. Bought the Taunton book on them, read it through; studied it; asked me a lot of questions. Took off on his own doing it in the garage. He went to e-Bay, bought the appropriate stone polishing disks & a right angle grinder and polished the crap out of it, taking it down to the black grade of polish disk. That's sorta like using notebook paper for the last grade. He says you can see your face in it. Sealed it w/ some sort of carnuba wax product he got at Rockler store in St Louis. It's gotta look good. He didn't like the way the section surrounding the sink looked, so scrapped it & re-did it. Said he can't wait for me & wife to see it in Sept. When adult kids say things like that, it has to be good! Apparently a good finish on a counter top isn't very porous.
Go for it!
Don
Just did my first counters, (hopefully you'll be hearing from Mongo soon), went to CHENGDESIGNSTUDIOS.COM where they of course sell their own "mixes". They have a penetrating sealer, and then, carnuba wax. You might try there, as there isn't a brand on the container, you can get it through them. BeckRe-Home Solutions Inc.
i tried http://www.chengdesignstudios.com the link seems to be broken. you happen to remember the name of your epoxy sealer? thanks jon j.
http://www.chengdesign.com/
great!!!!!!!! thanx a million dude! i'm done with the reseach,,, this site helped a lot!
-jon j.
Google is your friend. :)
lol!! yeah maybe for a greater computer guru,, thanx a million for the link to that site! i'm all set. i'm looking forward to tacklin' this for the first time. when i get it done it's gonna be a showpiece on the company website. 'preciate all the feedback from here, fellow tradesmen are an invaluable source on this site!
jon jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com
thanx for the info., i'm still huntin' product lines on the internet, called home depot, and of course my lumber yard of ten years where i get the standard "dumb looks for free", and i'm pretty sure i'm just gonna have to find me someone local who has actually crafted their own counters and remember the epoxy sealer they use. i've found some jim dandy concrete sealers but they are all for exterior use. thankyou for the encouraging story, and i hope mine turns out as well as your son's, now i'm gonna take my daughters and give up work on a saturday for a bit to go contemplate the mysteries of bluegills, bass, and bobbers,, take care!
jon jordan
http://www.jjordanbuilders.com