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DIY Concrete Countertops Using Self Leveling Cement!
We are still at it, a home renovation that was suppose to last a month is going into month 5. There is really nothing blame, except lack of time. I started my Bachelors degree program and hubby had to go back to work, but we have been weekend warriors trying to get everything done. We really only have a few things that need to be touched up and we can finally say that this renovation is a wrap!
One thing that was high on my priority list was a new kitchen island. I had one of those small store bought ones, and it was just not doing the job. Not enough storage, counter space, and it looked tiny in our large kitchen. So, I opted to build my own! These DIY Concrete Countertops Using Self Leveling Cement was a fairly simple process, but time consuming. I did it all on my own while the kids were at school and hubby was at work, so please excuse the lack luster photos. Hopefully you will get the idea.
I still need to do a little more sanding and one more coat of sealer, but so far I am extremely happy with them! I used to stock cabinets as my base and left over wood from when we raised the floors as my base countertop and the frame.
I cut the main piece of wood to size and then processed to build a frame so that I could pour the cement in place. I wasn’t able to get a good photo of the frame, but below is a diagram of how I built it. I used brad nails to tack everything together.
I then proceeded to caulk the inside of the frame. This helps with removal because the cement will not stick to it and it fills any seams to prevent the cement from leaking out.
I primed the main countertop board with cement primer. I would suggest you do some research and find one that works for you. I used a basic primer I picked up at Lowes and it worked great.
While the primer was drying I went around the entire frame and duct tapped all of the seams. This is a secondary fail safe to prevent leaking. I also recommend keeping some extra on hand just in case, I missed a small area after I poured and ended up having to rush to another room to grab the tape to fix the leak.
Once the primer was dry I cut down cement ladders to fit the area. I placed them about 1/2 inch from the edge to help support the cement and prevent cracking.
Because I had to work pretty fast I was unable to get photos of the pouring process. But, I poured a layer in and then placed my support ladders into the wet cement. I used a trowel to push the cement into the corners and edges. If you can, I recommend trying to get all of your cement poured at once or there will be extra steps.
If the first layer dries before you can pour more, you will want to prime that first layer or when you pour the next batch the dry stuff will suck all of the water out of your fresh cement. It is a pain, but worth it.
After everything was poured and dried it was time to remove the frame and get sanding….and sanding….and sanding.
There were a few areas that I didn’t like and it looked a little flat to me so I ended up using a feather finish cement over the top to give it texture and fill in any low spots. After I was happy with the final results I sealed it with a concrete sealer. There are a ton of different sealers available on the market. If you are going to be using the countertop for food prep, I would recommend a food safe sealer.
I am thrilled with the way this DIY Concrete Countertops Using Self Leveling Cement turned out! I even ended up doing the same thing in my pantry/laundry room, but that revel will be another post!
All in all, I would say that this process was easier than other methods that I have seen for concrete counters. I would say though, if you can get help with doing it, it will be a lot easier!
I’ve always loved the look of cement counter tops and can’t wait to see your completed reno.
Your countertop turned out really nice! I’ve never heard of self-leveling cement, but it looks to be pretty easy to use. Thanks for the nice tutorial and tips!
Never thought of using self leveling cement! Great idea!
I was wondering if you had any problems with cracking after they had been installed for a while?
I have not had any problems with it and it gets heavy use.
How did you get the wood from under the cement when completed?
The wood under the cement stays in place as support. If you build an edge like I did, you can not even see it.
You mentioned it was poured in place. You did not have to flip it over? The top looks extremely smooth. Is there any aggregate?
Self leveling cement does not have aggregate, so it naturally smooths its self out.
i have the same situation a few cabinets sitting without tops and i saw this blog and was like that is what i have been looking for…i hate sanding so im thinking of covering with a shhet of plastic i did a stepping stone in pie tins in the summer and the bottoms came out suoer shiny and smooth and thought this is how i want my countertops…so i don’t have to sand… absolutely hate sanding… but this is so cool thank you for posting helps so much!!!self leveling cement is awesome for so many projects!
Thanks for sharing! Now that it’s been a while, any cracking or issues? Anything you’d do differently?
Also, can you share the products you used?
Thanks!
Robert
I have not had any issues, I will be doing an update sometime this month on how they are doing.
I’ve searched the internet for how to do cement countertops and stumbled upon your page. Thanks for a great explaination and photos of your project. I hope I’m brave enough to try it myself.
I love this idea for my outdoor kitchen counter tops. Currently it’s leuders stone and is pitted all over the top surface. I just don’t like the look of it, leuders is a soft stone. How much compound did you figure per sq. foot? I really just want to use it to level and fill in the pitted areas, yet still cover the entire surface with a thin coat. Will this work?