/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Interested as well. Need to update countertops within their next few years. Don't really want to pay the granite or quartz jew, but if they get in, get it installed and get back out it may be worth it just for the speed of not having the kitchen gutted for any longer than possible...

>>2684017
I'm in the same boat. My cabinets are oak and look great but the countertops are formica from the late 90s which is awful. Ideally all I want to do is:
> replace sink with a deep well one
> restain cabinets for darker wood brown
> replace countertops with something that is heat and acid proof.
> optional: more lights

>>2684014
Apologies on the typos. I'm phone fagging it.

>>2684019
Our cabinets are solid but need a good painting. I put in some tiled granite countertops like 15 years ago when we bought the place because it was way cheaper than solid granite and about all i could afford at the time with all the other renovations we had to do at the same time. They are still holding up well but in serious need of an updated look.

They're based but you better seal that shit.

>>2684014
I hate it when they try make concrete look like stone. Polished concrete is cool.

>>2684066
How so? I like the colored options when they're polished. You get the best of both worlds
>>2684027
>sealed
I always forget that concrete is porous. I wonder too if concrete sag becomes an issue over 15-20 years.

>>2684027
If I had to DIY, i would probably just do a thick epoxy coating on top..otherwise it would be a cunt to polish down to a smooth finish.

>>2684014
Why would you want to use concrete for a counter top? It would be a bitch to install. It doesn't look good either. Laminate, stainless steel, or granite is the way to go.
Stainless steel is my fav. Heat proof, easy to keep clean, more durable than laminate, and cheaper than granite. You can get a rolled lip to keep the mess off of the floor. It looks good with the right combination of cabinetry, tiles, and lighting. My father, a kitchen installer, did a stainless steel bench at my Grandma's when he did their kitchen a decade ago and she loves it. But hey, do whatever you want. It's your kitchen and wallet.

>>2684157
>bitch to install
It's poured in situ.
>doesn't look good
You can have it literally any color you like. You can even imitate marble, granite, quartz...
>rolled lip
Can do too.

Also you could have both. You can embed a stainless steel plate as part of a section of your counter top if you wanted.

>>2684014
The concrete kitchen top fad is over my man.

>>2684157
> laminate
Not heat or acid resistance
> stainless
Will leave hard water stains
> Granite
Acid and heat proof
>concrete
Acid and heat proof
>>2684161
I really want a counter top that naturally drains liquids into drains so all I need to do is rinse them off and dry them.

>>2684014
Based, especially if you pour offsite.
Pour in place is messy and finishing is a pain the ass. With offsite pours it’s possible to incorporate inlays and features. Finishing is much easier.
If you’re seriously contemplating it pickup picrel.
>>2684223
Laminate is absolutely heat resistant. Concrete will leave hard water stains and etch relatively easily but a light patina, character is par for the course.

>>2684014
>stain
interesting word choice

You either get aesthetics or you get something low maintenance. You cannot have both.

Man up and get a solid wood worktop - properly sealed and oiled its the most aesthetic and any cuts or stains or burns can be sanded off.

Wood is also a 'softer' material than concrete or quartz and wont cause all your glasses and crockery to shatter if you drop some or knock over a tall glass etc.

>>2684243
The concrete countertop on the cover of that book is obviously sealed, so you are not getting water stains.

>>2684243
>In-place messy
To an extent, but a one-man op cannot lift and place the concrete countertop. So that is also something to consider. If you are doing a big project anyhow, everything will be covered with plastic sheets and sectioned off. You can have a makeshift positive pressure ventilation system with a bathroom fan and you can use a buffer with dust collection - Bosch makes one.

>>2684223
>concrete
>acid proof
ever epoxy a garage floor? you have to clean it then pour on citric ACID to prep it since it etches the concrete for better adherence

>>2684335
Wrong. The only sealer that fully protects against stains is epoxy, but it looks horrible and defeats the purpose of using concrete.
That top is sealed using a water based penetrating sealer, and yes it will still stain. Standing liquid will find its way in.

I did mine in place. Messy to polish, you'll have to tarp off the area, but it was easy.

I used linseed oil to seal it.

>>2684014


Been a contractor for 10 years.

The only correct choice for a counter is stone. Everything else is retarded. Concrete is cheap and looks cheap.

Just put a slab of stone in already

>>2684513
Sadly most contractors are retards

>>2684513

Not everyone wants or needs "the best".

>>2684387
>adherence
adhesion

>>2684325
>You either get aesthetics or you get something low maintenance. You cannot have both.

>>2684648
Revolting

I think if you live in a hot place, a nice concrete counter that stays cool is nice, in a cold place though you want wood.

>>2684648
Brutal

>>2684648
That's what I don't want. It looks like a garage floor. Add some color or design to it ffs.

>>2684513
>Been a contractor for 10 years.
>The only correct choice for a counter is stone.
moron.

Concrete is very porous and any liquid will just seep in and stain it permanently.
Ever looked at an uncoated, untreated concrete garage or workshop floor? Tons of random oil stains, 50 shades of grey is a shit compared to it.
The only way to refurbish that is to mill off an inch and re-do it and then coat it with epoxy.

Same for a countertop, really. Unless you literally want a sponge that dirties from whatever you spill on your kitchen countertop on a daily basis, you'll end up epoxy coating it.
So you don't really have a concrete countertop, you have a plastic one. Soft plastic at that.

My countertops are granit, fantastic material. Hot pot/pan? Who cares. Spilled something? Who cares. Wipes right off since the granit is dense and polished.
Spilled some acidic cleaner? Who cares. Granit is really innert and doesn't care.
Dropped something on it? I hope whatever i dropped didn't broke, i'm certain the granit didn't.

Yeah it's a bit pricey if you buy new, but look for used countertops. Granit is millions of years old, used granit slabs are usually in excellent shape and it's easy to find it good as new.
The only challenge is to find the right color and size. Trimming the end is easy with an angle grinder and a diamond disc, cutouts better already be a standard size you can work with.

what's wrong with basic laminate countertops? it's not like you're sleeping on it, it's just a counter top. cheap, easy to install, easy to clean.

i'm convinced that the people who spend ridiculous money on exotic countertop materials don't actually use their countertops for anything

>>2684845
>cheap, easy to install, easy to clean.
Also looks and feels cheap and that is why people upgrade to stone countertops.

What is everyone's opinion on granite vs man made quartz countertops?

>>2684014
I never saw anyone prep food directly on countertops in my life until I saw ghetto cooking shows.
>use cutting boards you degenerate fucks

>>2684522
So are most home owners. Stone mitigates several fabrication, installation, and maintenance factors.

>>2684849
The artificial quartz stuff looks great and is way cheaper and more durable than real stone

>>2684845
>what's wrong with basic laminate countertops? it's not like you're sleeping on it, it's just a counter top. cheap, easy to install, easy to clean.

I had that for a while. I put multiple dents into it and eventually some of the coating chipped off and the particleboard underneath started swelling from moisture ingress.
I do admit that I am a bit of a violent cook, when I cook I cook fast and things do get dropped on occasion.
I do not want to worry about damaging my countertop when cooking, and i never will. Either it takes the abuse, or it's unsuitable.

Then my stove had some issues (it's old) and I decided to re-do the kitchen. It was clear in my mind that laminate isn't an option for me.

>i'm convinced that the people who spend ridiculous money on exotic countertop materials don't actually use their countertops for anything

Judging from the 50 or so ads on craigslist and such in my area I looked at for "used" granit countertops, this is accurate. They were all pristine like new.
I think I might be a rare exception.

>>2684885
>it’s easier so it’s better!
-Typical contractortard

>>2685227
>They were all pristine like new
It seems like the kind of thing that is hard to damage. A little cleaning and my counters are looking great. I’m not sure what you are doing that would damage a huge block of stone.

>>2684243
I have own book.

>>2684325
>You either get aesthetics or you get something low maintenance. You cannot have both.
Retard

Concrete countertops have their place. Stone and wood have their place, too. The engineered quartz countertops are my favorite, though. As far as maintenance goes, they are hands down number 1. Objectively, this is true. There are many different engineered quartz countertop manufacturers (Corian is one name brand) and you can get a countertop with a seamless transition into the sink. I cannot stress enough how important this overlooked detail is. With any other countertop material (perhaps excluding concrete) you must mount sink under or over the countertop and that mounting will always produce crevices and gaps that need to be sealed and will gunk up. Cleaning these is just another thing you have to do.

With the seamless counter-to-sink transition, there is none of this. It is so easy to keep your shit clean and looking good. Furthermore, I can vouch for the material (manufactured by LG). It is durable and self-healing. I was constantly leaving standing water on the thing with zero discoloration. I was always scratching it with a knife, chipping it even, and the marks just disappear after some time. I cleaned that thing with straight 5% vinegar or a very strong bleach solution regularly and the stuff still looks great. The bleach would bring the white sink material right back to a beautiful white. Hands down the most practical material and countertop-sink setup you can find. You really want your sink to be fully integrated into your countertop. The only competitor would probably be a full stainless setup, but there are usually too many hard corners and crevices in those while the engineered quartz is going to be way more smooth and easier to wipe down. Plus, stainless is so noisy.

>>2685544
That crevice between the countertop and under-mounted sink is a solid strike against your "low maintenance". I will admit that particular undermount style is less egregious than others, but it is still a haven for mold and bacteria as well as a gap that must be sealed.

The hard corners on the countertop-to-sink rim are another solid strike against your "low maintenance". A well-rounded slope on that part allows you to gently waterfall the countertop and sink wall with your pull-out sprayer without making a mess and a smooth slope is easier to clean compared to a sharp corner.

>>2685559
That's not the sink I'd choose. I'd do the corrugated counter for draining.
I'm not worried about sealing a seam with modern waterproof adhesives.
Soapstone is the best counter material. Who cares if it scratches, it's impervious to the elements.

>>2685577
>Let's create more surface area so we can spend more time cleaning.
Goodness. That lip and those grooves are just mold and bacteria farms. Fuck cleaning that shit.

I am a big fan of smooth. It's easy to clean so shit doesn't build up. All those crevices and grooves are a fucking meme. Double well sinks are another meme too. I will concede that it is a beautiful countertop and the grooves and lip are aesthetic.

>>2684078
I'm calling it now, epoxy is the next asbestos

>>2684513
I'll stick with formica thanks

>>2685227
>I do admit that I am a bit of a violent cook, when I cook I cook fast and things do get dropped on occasion.
what in the fuck do you arcade claws for arms

>>2685643
You red pilled me on engineered quartz and performed sinks. I am going that route. Thanks!

>>2684513
All stainless steel is the superior choice.

>>2686709
Awesome anon. Hope they turn out great for you!

>>2685556
wait, what if you somehow fuck up the sink? do you swap the whole top?

>>2686709
How does your sink perform?