While remodeling my own kitchen, a friend convinced me to try concrete countertops.  He’d built several, but mysteriously became scarce when it came time to pour the concrete or set the (450 lb) counters.  They came out very nice and smooth, pouring them off site into melamine-coated forms and then wet-sanding to 2000 grit.  I then treated them with black Lithichrome, which gave a nice appearance after three or four coats.

Installed, however, areas near the sink and stove have become washed out and stained from soda, citric acid, etc.  It’s not a bad look if it was consistent.  Trouble is, the washed out areas will not take stain as all the reactivity has gone out of the concrete, and I can’t seem to come up with a way to consistently wash out the rest of the countertops.  Any ideas out there?