While granite, marble, and quartz are popular among designers, concrete is still a great material because it offers flexibility and some creative potential that other options cannot provide. So, if you want something unique and stylish in your kitchen, a custom concrete benchtop is the way to go.

In fact, a concrete benchtop can define the personality of your kitchen. Although other more expensive materials like quartz and granite top the list for most contractors, concrete can be moulded in various sculpture-like forms. You can even embed bits, blots, and ergonomic design elements.

Here are some things to consider before you pour the cement:

Be creative but don’t get crazy
The best thing about concrete is that it is not bounded by limitations, and you can do a lot since concrete can be dyed, poured, and shaped according to your design and taste. In fact, it has this unique quality, and you can get creative when building a concrete benchtop.

Concrete benchtops have many functions
Concrete is very versatile. Designers can be creative and shape it according to what they want to highlight. So, designing a rounded bull-nose benchtop can create a soft contemporary look. They can also mimic a cabinet door frame to set a more classical colonial style.

Builders can also choose to combine concrete with various organic materials like metal and wood as this can provide an industrial feel to your kitchen or your home.
Concrete benchtops can be installed in both affordable and high-end homes
Some high-end homes would use concrete to form a one-of-a-kind benchtop that will stand out among the rest. But unlike other luxury materials such as marble, concrete is more durable and can last up to 30-50 years if it is maintained properly.
Some crafty homeowners, especially those who have concreting experience, can make a low-cost, DIY-concrete slabs which can provide a more modern look to their kitchen. However, it is recommended that you get in touch with an experienced and professional concreting company because they have a team of highly skilled and qualified concreters that can help you achieve the results you are looking for.

 The cost of building a concrete benchtop will depend on whether you have them professionally installed or you go the DIY route. Also, the cost will increase if you are going to personalise your design. Concrete can be cast into any shape, stained, or textured with various types of finished. You can even embed tiles, stones, and other materials in it.

Pros and Cons of concrete benchtops

• Concrete is durable, but it can crack

The strength of concrete is due to the cement and sand mix, and it can be moulded based on the design you want. In fact, concrete is the same material that creates sidewalks, so it is a viable option for benchtops.
However, concrete can crack, especially if it was poured in place rather than pre-cast. So, it is essential that you do some countermeasures to prevent cracks to a certain extent, and you can do this by adding rebar, fibre reinforcement, and wire mesh. Although some cracks may happen due to the natural settling of the house, they won’t be that significant.

• Cracks can be fixed, but concrete is also susceptible to stains and scratches

Cracks can be fixed using sealers, and those fractures are usually not noticeable on your benchtop. However, concrete is also susceptible to scratches and stains, and they can be absorbed by your concrete if you don’t remove them right away. In fact, bacteria can also accumulate in your concrete counter, so it is a must to seal the surface upon installation.
Also, sealing will make your benchtop heat, stain, and scratch-resistant, but even sealed concrete will show markings, especially if exposed to red wine, olive oil, juice, or coffee. That is why it is essential that you clean your concrete benchtop regularly so you can remove dirt and stains.

• Concrete is very durable

You won’t find any material on the market that is more durable than concrete. Yes, it can acquire scratches and stains but so can every other material, including marble and granite. Some people are bothered by concrete’s imperfections, but other homeowners love its rustic look and feel.
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The bottom line
If you are looking for perfection, concrete may not be the right material for you but if you love that rugged and rustic aesthetic and you are passionate about patina, we recommend that you try a concrete benchtop or even construct your entire home using concrete. You just need to do your research and most importantly, maintain it properly.

There are four popular types of concrete used for building homes and commercial structures, and each of them has their unique advantages and disadvantages. In fact, they are the favourite of contractors because they are flexible and very durable.

Here are the four common types of concrete houses:

• Concrete blocks

Concrete blocks are one of the most affordable options on the market, and they can be manufactured quickly and easily. A lot of people think of them as being solid, big blocks that are used on buildings and skyscrapers. But some concrete blocks are very small and made for a specific aesthetic purpose, while other blocks are very large and simply designed for a more economic reason. So, it all depends on the type of house it will be used on.

• Precast panels

Precast panes are commonly built inside a plan, and transported to the job site or where the home is being constructed. Generally, they will look good and stylish but they can be more expensive than other types of concrete materials like concrete blocks.

• Insulating concrete forms

These concrete forms are hollow and are commonly filled with reinforced concrete. But the main benefit of this material is its insulation properties since the form stays in even when concrete has been poured inside it. However, this concrete is generally not pretty to look at and may not be flexible to use.

• Removable forms

These are conventional concrete forms usually used to build basement walls and are also popular for the many insulation options they offer. But like concrete forms, they are also not aesthetically pleasing.

What are the costs?
How much does it cost to build a modern concrete home? As with many other questions regarding budget, it all depends on the complexity, requirements, and specifications of the one building the house. However, most concrete homes are significantly cheaper than houses built with more conventional materials like wood and bricks.

So, a 1,800 square-foot home which is the common measurement in most countries around the world, have a modest cost. This home will usually take the form of a cube and not be that aesthetically pleasing. Although the owner can upgrade the look of their home by adding more sections and entertainment areas.

If you are looking for a reliable concreter in Canberra, contact us today!

Modern concrete homes are usually built using stone aggregates, cement, water, and sand. This is the most popular recipe combined with several chemical properties to make the concrete durable and strong.

Concrete homes are usually built using the same process as regular houses. It follows the same blueprint to a regular wood-frame house. However, concrete is commonly paired with steel reinforcements and other materials. This process will ensure the durability of the structure while ensuring that it is aesthetically pleasing rather than plain and ugly.

Concrete blocks
Concrete blocks are used and preferred by various building contractors due to their minimal carbon footprint. They are very versatile and also sustainable, so they are environmentally friendly.

They are also the most common material in building concrete homes. To produce the concrete blocks that are often used in building homes and other big structures, concrete is a required material, and masons cast it into what is known as a reusable mould. The reusable mould is taken to a controlled environment and cured, but it must follow certain protocols like an ideal temperature to achieve the desired effects.

The processing plant is taken to the job site and used by concreters in their project. This process is effortless, with minimal effects on the environment since it has very small carbon footprint. Most importantly, it has significantly contributed to the popularity of modern concrete homes.

Pros and cons of concrete homes?
Pros:

• Walls can be constructed quickly with minimal effort
• It is unaffected by extreme temperatures and termites
• It has good noise isolation properties
• Concrete homes don’t need a house wrap since it provides isolation for hot and cold weather

Cons:

• Building concrete homes requires experience and expertise
• It takes a bit more to build it properly
• Some concrete block may look boring and drab if it is not applied correctly
  

Why you need a professional contractor concreter

If you’re planning to build a concrete home or any other repair project that involves concrete, it is always a good idea to hire professionals to do the job for you. In fact, the main reason why it is essential to hire a reputable concrete contractor is their expertise and they can save you time and money. Plus, you are assured that they can fulfil your requirements and specifications.
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Most importantly, they can accomplish the project in an orderly and timely manner without delays and other inconveniences.

Learn here about placing and finishing concrete.