If I re-did my kitchen tomorrow, I would have concrete countertops without even thinking twice. Allow them to dry for 24 hours. Ive had concrete countertops for almost 7 years in my kitchen.. If so, can you keep going over your final step or do you have to start the process with removing the sealer and go through the steps? Its important to keep a wet edge and to use big circular or S-shaped motions so the concrete surface is evenly covered. I would love to know how your reseal has held up as well. Very impressive! Then he asked why we decided to do concrete countertops. Then we allowed another 24 hours of curing time. OMG. After some lively debating of countertop ideas, we were enjoying lunch at an awesome place called Corner Kitchen. Would love to know how that reseal held up for you we just bought a house with beautiful concrete counters and Im a bit nervous to care for them. Im ready for the hard work. What grit sanding pads and diamond pads did you use? Mix together polyblend non-sanded grout and water and use a putty knife to apply a thin coating and fill in micro holes in the concrete to create a solid surface. We had one concrete countertop area that needed 2 additional layers of sealer, but everywhere else passed the drop test. How To Removing Paint From Concrete And Other Stains . been 11.8 million tons valued at $116 million, of which 6.5 I really like your effort in this article. Your kitchen looks amazing. We have to give a huge thank you to Jeremy for all his help and to Buddy Rhodes for supplying all the products we needed! I did granite instead. After the appropriate dry time, Scott and I went back to work. Use a microcloth to wipe off any excess grout. Be sure to use this concrete countertop sealer as part of your regular countertop maintenance. And are you still applying sealer every 6 months? Fast forward to the summer Scott and I went to Atlanta for a DIY blogger conference and were chatting with Jeremy from Buddy Rhodes Concrete during some downtime. Weve tried other products in the past, which you can read more about here, with less than ideal results. Everything is showing, everything! We lightly sanded the sides of the counters using course, medium then fine sandpaper, cleaned it off really well and then sealed it. Prep counters to seal by mixing together a 1:1 ratio of Counterhard Prep and water. Check out how small the world actually is! However, its also a highly porous material which makes it prone to spots and staining. Dry for 20 minutes again. Im happy to report that several weeks later there is no sign of staining and our cups no longer leave water rings on our countertops! What an awesome story!!! He asked about my blog. When we told him, he said, I built those concrete countertops.. Kitchen counters tend to be used a lot, so the general rule of thumb is to seal every 6 months to protect the surface. You guys did an amazing job, your counter tops look fantastic! ah tania, how cool is that! Thanks!! If your concrete countertop isnt sealed with a high-performing sealer, most things can stain the surface. What a great post! I know with granite, you should seal annually. Then it was time to prep the counters for the new concrete sealer. Thanks admin for sharing such a great post! Did you do the edges of your counter or did you leave it the way it was? At this point, we left them alone and allowed 24 hours of curing time. We were super excited because our beautiful, scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, and stain-resistant countertops were stained. I didnt realize that concrete counter tops could look so good. We sat at a bar and couldnt help but notice the amazing thick, gorgeous concrete countertop. Allow to dry 20-30 minutes then apply another coat. I do think they are quite pretty though! Hi Dave! We would love to have you. My daughter bought a house with concrete counters; there are no stains, but there are water rings. http://homecookingrecipebox.blogspot.com/, remove paint from concrete floors services in Fairfax, VA, How To Removing Paint From Concrete And Other Stains, DIY Concrete Countertops & a kitchen update - Run To Radiance, INSANE Final Before & After Pictures from our Flip House - Run To Radiance. Concrete offers many advantages as a countertop material, including being resistant to scratches and heat while offering a beautiful sheen. How To Organize Kitchen Cabinets Your Complete Guide! for more information please visit jimthehandyman.com. Do you have concrete countertops that develop stains when you leave things on them? I am installing new concrete countertops and am thinking of using the Buddy Rhodes system of sealer. Your blog is very informative and powerful. I wish when I re-did my house I would have put the all in one sink/countertop in my guest bathroom. To prep the area, we cleaned it and used tape around the edges to keep the water from splashing on the floor (or at least attempt to). I told him we did our own concrete countertops. Use a microcloth to apply Buddy Rhodes' Satin Concrete Sealer in large circular or S-shaped motions. Needless to say, we formed a fun connection. million tons was finely ground calcium carbonate and Then we let the counters completely dry overnight. Here's the method we used to remove unsightly staining from our concrete countertops and reseal them to prevent future stains. To prevent that from happening, youll want to plan on sealing your concrete countertops. . Required fields are marked *. Mine were done by a professional, stained a dark brown and sealed well. I am itching to do this to the concrete countertops my husband I installed 7 years ago! Thanks for sharing. the rest was construction aggregate. I seem to remember hearing hes sold him company? I love the idea of having concrete counter tops now, Ill have to keep it in mind for when I own a home . Be sure to read the product instructions for information specific to the sealer you use. Im not sure if he is still living in the area? (at least it cleans off easily, though). 100% my own. I can say without reservation that we finally used the great product we needed and it protects our surfaces from scratches and prime staining materials such as lemon juice and red wine. Do you think sanding will get the color out as well? They take a bit of work but I really love them! Not very practical for a kitchen, right? I have no stains, no pits, not anything except my work area looks a little worn and not as shiny as the other areas. To do this, you need to add lots of water to your countertops. Next, apply 1 coat of full Counterhard. Remodeling With Kids 10 Tips To Survive A Remodel! Scott and I were on vacation in Asheville, NC the week before we were supposed to close on our house. :). Cant wait for your thought out clear instructions. I have a feeling that they were not sealed correctly the first time around. We just had professionally made concrete countertops installed and two months later they are covered in water, oil, and acid stains. The number one thing people ask me about in our house is our concrete countertops. And I love that you shared a followup about your initial DIY project I feel that bloggers dont often update with how something is really holding up. However, do you know how long this should last? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You can read all about mehere.Run To Radiance is all about living a radiant life and dreaming big.Pull up a chair and stay awhile! If you are even considering concrete countertops, check them out! We also provide remove paint from concrete floors services in Fairfax, VA. Concrete is a naturally porous material that needs to be sealed thoroughly to create full stain prevention. He asked the name of the restaurant. Is this the case with concrete? The counters are badly stained and in need of resealing. also totally worth it! I am using this way of looking for a job and it might be really helpful because there are a big range of different options. We added 5 coats of countertop sealer to the concrete countertop surface and allowed 20-30 minutes of dry time in between each coating. I absolutely love, love, love mine.. Evidently, our previous concrete countertop sealer wasnt able to do a thorough enough job. To apply, we mixed a 1:1 ratio of water to the Counterhard Prep and applied it using a slightly damp microfiber cloth. I had stained mine though, and Im afraid that no amount of sanding will get the stain out, because I want to change the color. I will have to look into concrete as an option. This is the messy part. We used ICT CounterhardPrep. Thank you for sharing your experience with resealing your countertops. Yes, you should do it! Would love to see photos when you all are done. The final outcome and their beautiful sheen were totally worth all the time and effort. Mindy. Thanks Brynne! He mentioned that I looked familiar, and together we figured out he had seen our concrete countertop post. It was really weird to see that red head in your photos, really..what are the chances? To fix this problem and add the necessary protection, we did an easy-to-apply skim coat using unsanded tile grout and water. I was considering getting new counter tops and it can be expensive. Keep up the good work! I just moved into a home with concrete countertops with some stains, and this step by step instructions is exactly what I was looking for! Im writing your next article. This was a fantastically creative article. We are so happy with how gorgeous they look and their high gloss finish! The countertop appearance was even restored to the original rich gray color. If spots appear, you need to at least one more layer of concrete sealer. Thanks again for the post. Never fear though, Jeremy had a plan. What a great story Your countertops are gorgeous! (hand and the one with the orbital sander) Thanks! Repeat the process several times. Simply mix them together and then apply a thin coating to the countertop surface. We were extremely pleased with the surface after using Buddy Rhodes Satin Concrete Sealer. The lady that did mine did an excellent job because they look as good as the day they were put in except my small work area. Tania, Did you use a grey grout? Im happy to see your step by step, as well as knowing what products to use. After drying for another 20 minutes, you can then apply 2 coats of full Counterhard (each 20 minutes apart). I love your countertops! Using the orbital sander with the diamond polishing pads and the hand polishing pads, sand down the countertops to remove the stains. We applied 5 coats. I just randomly googled the issue and also randomly hit on your link a few links downand I live in Asheville and yes, Jeremy did my countertops. The natural look and appearance of the concrete surface won us over! After the last coat, allow the sealer to dry overnight. Heres how we removed stains and maintained our concrete counters. Be sure to read all product instructions to provide more detailed and helpful information. We built, installed, and sealed them ourselves almost two years ago. I would like for you to come join us on Share the Love blog party every Monday thru Wednesday. What an awesome blog. I wont lie to you it was a messy process and a lot of work, but (spoiler!) Allow to dry for 20 minutes. How lucky were you to run into him?? If the up keep wasnt so much Id dive in. 15 Small Playroom Ideas For Any Space & Budget. If not, theyre done! http://homecookingrecipebox.blogspot.com/. Or does it matter? Additional staining items can include: In order to make your countertop truly food safe and stain-resistant, you need to apply a high-quality countertop sealer. We usedBuddy Rhodes Satin Concrete Sealer and again applied it using a microfiber cloth, making big swooping s-shaped patterns. Repeat the process and sllow to dry for 24 hours. Our kitchen remodel still needs the counter tops, back splash and cabinets redone. We used the wet sanding technique with the diamond pads to lightly sand the countertops down until they were flat and smooth. thanks for the valuable and useful information you have provided in this post. Be prepared for mud to fly around everywhere! Im going to hunt for the products you have used and try to tackle a refinish on my own. Im so glad you were able to solve your stain problems the countertops are drop dead gorgeous! Allow 24 hours to completely dry. I used to love my concrete counter tops till they stopped shining after being polished. I mentioned it in this post if you want to catch it there, but now the story is even more fun to tell. We used a putty knife to make sure the holes were filled and then wiped the excess off the counters. We are incredibly disappointed. The products were provided to me free of cost, but this review and my feedback are (as always!) [], [] Built concrete countertops (then sealed themthen removed stains and resealed again) [], Your email address will not be published. Leave them for 30 seconds and wipe away. So cool, right? Find Your Dream Cheap Coffee Table For Under $200! My wife and I have been doing our own concrete counter job using your post for inspiration and guidance. Your email address will not be published. So, naturally, we installed them in our new home. We had to put down dropcloths everywhere to catch all the drips since theres no way to keep the mixture from running onto the floor! I came to this site about re-sealing just this one area that is used for everything. NOTE: You can grab the handy printable recipe instruction card at the bottom of this post to have the entire process nearby as you do your own countertops! We told him the dreamy story of our romantic lunch in Asheville where we held hands, sipped wine, and planned out our remodel. June 3, 2021 All Interiors, DIY's, Interiors, Remodeling. Apply the mixture to the counters with a damp microfiber cloth using large circular or S-shaped motions. They came out fantastic!! Thank you. The answer to this question completely depends on the product you use to seal your countertops as well as how much you use (and abuse) the surface. I have not had 1 second of problems with mine. We had tiny little holes in the concrete that were retaining the water and other liquids and causing stains. This concrete countertop sealer will make all the difference in appearance and protect against penetrating stains! Then Jeremy told us he would be in Dallas for a conference and would enjoy coming by to help us with re-sealing our countertops. After sanding, Jeremy pointed out the root issue of our countertop penetrating stains. We moved into a house 3 years ago and have concrete countertops, as well as matching concrete floors. Crushed marble production (for aggregate and industrial uses) in 2006 has Finally, we were ready to add the final piece: the actual concrete countertop sealer! The following morning, test the countertop seal by dropping a few drops of water around the counter. Although intimidating, Im so disappointed in how mine look (after loving them). Just curious, after you went through the whole process of sanding and resealing, do you have any issues with oil and acids? . [] Pssst update! We were doing lots of exciting daydreaming and planning and looking for ideas and inspiration absolutely everywhere. Using the sander and diamond polishing pads, sand the countertops one more time. In addition to the penetrating stain problem, the countertops had gone from a dark gray to a strange light cloudy gray that I didnt love. If spots appear, you'll need to apply at least another coat of sealer. When people ask us why we went with a concrete surface instead of granite or something else, we always tell them a fun little story. Yes, I love them and would probably do them again, but the upkeep is definitely there. True story. The granite is fine, but I like the unusual look of concrete. I think that there a plenty of different online services that are might be helpful in order to find a good job online. TIP: only sand a concrete countertop when its wet! Thanks, admin for writing a cool article on removing stains concrete countertops. Everyone has granite, but very few of us have concrete. Were curious about something. Prep your work area by cleaning it and adding tape around the edges to prevent the water from splashing on the floor. 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The next morning we did the water drop test. We talked about doing concrete counter tops. The idea of wet sanding sideways is making my head hurt. Ill walk you through the process of how we took our kitchen countertops from stain-filled to food-safe and stain-resistant. i love how yall ended up meeting the man who inspired your countertops, but its just as awesome that he ended up helping you reseal them a great story and gorgeous countertops <3. Love your story and counters look great! Even though we were fairly faithful with resealing them every 6 months, we couldnt leave any water or liquid on our countertop for any amount of time. If no spots appear, the counters are sealed. Weve been working on rebuilding drawers. As with our experience, even simple water on the unprotected counter can cause spots. Then, we sanded using Buddy Rhodes Diamond Hand Polishing Padsand Buddy Rhodes DiamondPolishingPads with a random orbital sander. Thanks Pearl! You basically put a few drops of water on various spots for 30 seconds and see if they leave a dark spot. Ive had concrete countertops for 5 years and I have zero memory of being told that I need to seal them/re-seal them. Any advise would be appreciated. If we did, a stain would appear. At this point, we had all the old sealer removed and were down to just the bare, dry concrete with the skim coat smoothed. Thank you for your post!! They go great with the rest of your kitchen. After the first coat, wait 20 minutes and then do a second coat with the 1:1 ratio again. What level of grit were the polishing pads? At this point, we let the countertops dry for another 24 hours. Allow to dry for 20 minutes, then repeat the process to apply another coat. We needed to remove the old, ineffective concrete sealers and seal the concrete countertop with a better one. Im still on the fence on what well use.