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There are some things in this country that we as consumers will pay a lot to have, just because they are different. There also is a certain cachet as well to being the first one to have a NEW thing, but with that there is an inherent risk as well. I still try not to buy a car the first model year, like my Dad always said “Girl, let them work the bugs out first!” Concrete, or cement counter tops aren’t really a new thing anymore, but they remain in the high cost range of counter top surfaces.

So, the questions remain: what were the initial “bugs” as the product developed, and have they been satisfactorily addressed? And: is the surface really worth the added expense when completing a kitchen remodel.

When I was building a home in 2000, a lifetime ago, concrete counter tops were the latest thing in old technology if you will. My homebuilder was offering it as an upgrade, but the project managers were very discouraging, offering up advice as I recall that sounded quite logical at the time: concrete counter tops can be great in a settled structure, but the weight of them in a house that is just newly built can cause dramatic settling putting the tops at risk for cracking. Well certainly based on that information, and facing all the other decisions I needed to make, I quickly abandoned the thought; there wasn’t any way I wanted to run headlong into that kind of an “I told you so”.

Keep in mind concrete is tremendously heavy, I found this out first hand on a do-it-myself field trip to a local fabricator; handling the tops is strenuous and labor intensive. Concrete weighs virtually the same as granite, but it is generally poured thicker that the typical 1 1/4″ used for stone counters. The heavier visual weight is more luxurious, gives the top a more substantial presence.

As it is, concrete is a mixture of natural aggregates, activated by water; therefore it is potentially susceptible to cracking, mostly by way of a few different but manageable conditions. Air bubbles in the mix weaken the material, therefore it is essential to loosen and release any bubbles when the top is first poured. This is difficult to do by hand, commercial manufacturer’s, like the one I recently visited in, Rockaway, New Jersey use giant automated agitating tables to properly achieve the desired result. Factors which can contribute to cracking over time are shrinkage in the material due to continued drying over time, which is why professional fabricators store the tops in a humid climate controlled environment after they are poured. Lastly, the concern of handling and installation, the weight and the size of the tops make them difficult to transport and install. The proper equipment, shimming material, and epoxies ensure that all the hard work that went into making them won’t be wasted if they are broken or damaged just as they are about to complete your entire project!

All of these factors lead me to believe a few things:

• the guys building my house may just not have wanted to deal with the material: the weight, the temperament, and the service issues
• the counter tops we fall in love with in magazines and trade shows are not made in an hour or two
• making concrete counters is not for the typical DIY’er
• like all great art, there needs to be a passion for the subject

I was fortunate to have the help of the true Pro’s of the industry when I made my concrete tops (one vanity top, one for a dry bar),Bill Gockeler a recognized expert in the decorative concrete fabrication industry, and owner of “Artisan in Concrete” the facility I visited in Hackettstown, NJ. It was muscle and skill that we needed to make the forms, the molds had to be mitered to precision, center lines for faucets and sinks accounted for, and then we calked and sealed everything into place, and headed to the mixing room. Following strict recipes for the mixtures to create our specific chosen colors and finishes, we formed a bucket line and passed full and empty buckets back and forth until both mixtures were being churned into the right consistency. Pouring, shaking, troweling the tops, and cleaning up took the rest of the day.

We left the shop tired, after about seven full hours, and the tops were still not finished. In the days that followed they were trowelled many more times over, then buffed and glazed. The final colors and textures on the tops are absolutely beautiful, and unlike any other surface you could choose.

Some of the benefits include:

• heat resistant(not heat proof)
• stain resistant(not stain proof)
• impact tolerant
• natural looking
• eco-friendly
• durable
• moldable
• available in an unlimited color palette
• many varied textures and finishing effects
• unlimited styling and design options

When approaching any kitchen design remodeling project today, I naturally offer my clients sustainable “green” design options throughout the process. Concrete is a natural offering in this category, it is a renewable material, it is durable and can be expected to last very long time, and it is a product that is manufactured in a closed environment with no harmful pollutants. Additionally, truly “green” concrete can be manufactured using silica fume and fly ash; these are byproducts of silicone metal manufacturing and the coal burning industry. Using these materials as a direct substitute for Portland cement makes use of a material that otherwise goes directly into landfills.

When I asked Bill what he thought the greatest misconception about concrete as a counter top surface was, he answered “Due to the relatively high cost per square foot there are many masons, contractors, and homeowners who think ‘hey, I can do this’- most often with poor or even disastrous results. When a concrete counter top is made poorly, the initial perception is that concrete stinks-they (consumers) blame the material, not the fabricator. This situation can give concrete a bad reputation since it is innately dependent on proper fabrication. High quality decorative concrete is worlds apart from ‘sidewalk’ concrete.”

My original question, are they worth the extra investment when remodeling your kitchen? My answer: YES, if you are in love with the look, they are worth it, I would definitely recommend saving up and spending the extra money to have them professionally fabricated and installed, after all, you don’t want a counter top that looks like a sidewalk, do you? If your idea is to personalize the top with family hand-prints, embedded embellishments, crystals, anything basically you can dream up, your fabricator will help you with that. This is a truly custom element to add to a kitchen or bathroom remodel.

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Aston is happy to answer questions and offer/receive feedback. Please contact her at 973.864.4221 or email at aston@thekitchendeziner.com.com. Please visit her company website at http://www.thekitchendeziner.com and visit blog at http://www.KitchenDesigntrends.blogspot.com. Thanks

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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aston_Smith

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Hey Readers! I’ve been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below…

How to Cut an Opening in Lap Siding Part 2 | DoItYourself.com

Glossary of Remodeling and Construction Terms Glossary of Remodeling and Construction Terms… read more … DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent home improvement and repair website. We welcome your comments and suggestions. All information is provided "AS IS." Website operating problems contact Webmaster . Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Copyright © 1995-2010 DoItYourself.com …

Do You Have A Tool Tote For Meetings? « Sandella Custom Homes …

If you're planning to build a new home or remodeling one then you'll want to be prepared for all of your meetings with architects, designers, contractors and others by having a tool tote. What you'll need to create your own “Tool Tote”: …

Paglione Home Remodeling,LLC Livonia Michigan Home Remodeling …

Kitchen,Bathroom,Ceramic Tile,Finish Basement,Hard Wood,And Laminate Wood Floor installer. Licensed and Insured. NARI member Home Remodeling / Residential Remodeling Company or Store.

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There are standard cutters available to cut the larger tiles. To cut the tiles mark them with a piece of chalk. Tile nippers are also available for small cuts, similar to the ones used to cut fittings around pipes. The edges should be smooth, sanding them with sand paper will help with that.

Installation of wall tiles is as easy as the installation of flooring. If installed correctly the wall tiles may be of long lasting beauty. Ceramic or porcelain makes an attractive back splash behind sinks and stoves, or encasing a bathroom or shower. It is very important to select the right tiles for the bathroom and kitchen walls, because all ceramic tiles do not absorb the same amount of water. So-called “non-vitreous” tiles are the ones that absorb the most water, and this type of tile should not be selected for installing in showers, tubs and sink countertops. “Semi-vitreous” tiles are rated for low absorption, and can be used for splash areas. In this case, porcelain tile, offers great durability and will have a long life in shower applications. Cement backer board is another kind of tiles made from a fiberglass mesh and Portland cement, which is useful against moist water. It is available in 1/2 and 5/8-inch thick sheets (similar to drywall), and is usually sold in 32 or 36-inch wide panels 5 or 8 feet long. It can be installed just like the ceramic tiles and an ordinary knife can cut them and you can snap it at the lines.

Ceramic tile options can be viewed by clicking on the text link tile design.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danyel_Tiefenbacher

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Ok so you might find the next few links interesting. These are from around the web, just random snippets that I’ve picked up in my reading, but I found some very cool information in them. You might too. Here goes…

Tax Tips: Discover why refi or a drop in your home value can slash …

tax deductions home improvements overlooked tax deductions home improvement tax deductions home repairs and tax deductions home improvements as tax deductions irs deductions for home repairs and remodeling how do i figure home tax for …

Rust On Cement Drive – DIY Chatroom – DIY Home Improvement Forum

I have rust on my cement drive, I tried CLR full strength, did not remove it, what other options do I have? Gary.

What To Do To Quickly Remodel Your Kitchen | Brain Top Off!

Remodeling a house can be very exciting, but it can be very stressful as well. It is exciting because you will be getting a beautiful new room or remodeled room. Living around a place that is a construction zone can be quite hard and …

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There are some specific items people need to consider when they are wishing to hire a local Portland drywall contractor. Hiring the right company for the job can make or break your home remodeling project you are wishing to do. The work you need completed is not going to be cheap and you want to make sure you are absolutely satisfied when (more…)

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With bad news bombarding us on a daily basis about the doom and gloom around every corner of the US economy, what is an investor to do in these difficult times? The year 2008 will be remembered as one of the worst years on record for the US economy and certainly the worst since the Great Depression. That being said, there is still a light at the end of the tunnel as they say and that tunnel just might lead to the very roof over our heads.

During the latter half of 2008, investors in the stock market saw six years of gains disappear as the economy crumbled and markets crashed around the globe.

o The Dow Jones Industrial average fell 33.8% for the year

o The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index fell 38.5% for 2008

It is hard nowadays to find any economist of note who believes the stock market will rebound in the first half of 2009. Noted money manager Gary Shilling, president of A. Gary Shilling & Co. is on record as predicting the S & P 500 will see a drop of more than 30% from its current level down to the 600 mark. Ouch!

Housing down but not Out

In terms of housing, the initial data suggests a story in the housing market much the same as that coming from Wall Street. Foreclosures are up, home prices are down, inventories in the most affected cities are at record levels and there appears to be little relief in sight for the battered and bruised housing market.

According to statistics released via the S & P Case-Shiller price index of housing prices in 20 major U.S. cities, housing prices dropped by a record 18% in 2008 down from 2007 levels. The index has posted losses for 27 months in a row with Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, and San Diego experiencing some of the largest drops.

A first glance at the data is enough to make even the most optimistic housing market watchers cringe and squirm. But dig a little deeper and one finds that most housing markets across the nation haven’t experienced the headlines grabbing drops in value that we read about seemingly everyday.

If one removes the hardest hit cities in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida, markets where speculation by investors was highest, the numbers are easier to digest. Markets such as Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, New York, and Boston saw a drop of 10% or less. Many more markets such as Dallas saw a drop in prices of less than 5%.

The incoming administration is expected to take big steps towards stabilizing the housing market and introducing legislation to reduce the large number of expected foreclosures still lurking in markets across the U.S. Assuming this is the case, what can one do to protect their home and what is often called most Americans single biggest asset they will own in their lifetimes?

Remodeling the Home a Safe Bet in 2009

Remodeling, improving, and upgrading one’s home might be the single best place to park your money in 2009 based on opinions from economists regarding their views on other investment sectors of the economy. In a paper published by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies titled “Housing Wealth effects and the Course of the US Economy”, author Eric Belsky clearly states that “housing is the cornerstone of household net worth”.

What Remodeling allows a homeowner to do with their home that owning a stock does not is the ability to make changes and improvements to the home that can and usually do increase the value of one’s investment for the long term. In fact, in 2008 owning stocks has been a drag on workers 401K’s and retirement nest eggs for virtually all participants in the stock market. At one point during 2008 88% of all of the stocks in the S & P 500 were trading at their 52 week lows for the year. The downside to the nature of stock investments is that shareholders have little input in to company decisions and can do nothing to increase a company’s share price nor your investment like you can with your home.

On the other hand, homeowners can have a profound and direct affect on increasing the value of their home by making smart and cost effective renovations to their home. As an example, since Remodeling magazine first introduced the minor kitchen remodel category in 2004 to their annual Cost vs. Value report, this category has consistently remained among the highest return on investment (ROI) projects. In fact, last year, the minor kitchen remodel had the highest ROI of any interior project.

Steve Khan, owner and founder of AnchorBayTile notes that his customers are undertaking small scale remodeling projects mostly with a focus on their Kitchens and Baths. Mr. Khan says “minor kitchen and bath renovations and upgrades have been a popular choice during the latter half of 2008″ and he believes the trend will continue on in to 2009 since many homeowners can perform the work themselves.

Consider cost effective remodeling and renovation projects in 2009 as a means of stabilizing and strengthening your nest egg and what is the largest and single most important investment for most American households. The beauty of improving your home is that nobody can ever take your work away from you (as long as you make your mortgage payment) and you have the benefit of enjoying those improvements every single day of your life.

AnchorBayTile.com is a full service online store offering all types of ceramic tile, glass tile, wood tile and metal tile for homeowners and commercial customers. The family-run company is committed to providing best-in-industry customer service to support their unique tile designs, shapes and colors. Their products are suitable for projects ranging from a basic residential remodel to a high level commercial design project. For more information, please visit their Web site at http://www.AnchorBayTile.com

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Khan

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If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

Remodeling Your Early 1800s Home | Home Improvement Ideas

You finally found your dream home, but it turns out that to get the right style and age and still have a home that is comfortable, remodeling is a necessity.

Garage Remodeling And Organization » Garage, Conversion, When …

If you can repair any type of home that only those who should be first on the list because it is often the most visible element of a road to the house. No wonder that garage remodeling is looking more and more specifically by owners. …

Laundry Hampers Help Keep Your Home Neat and Tidy | DirectBuy …

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 at 3:25 pm and is filed under Home Accessories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. …

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What are some Kitchen Supply stores in Cincinnati (like restaurants use)?

I'm trying to find some kitchen supply stores to get some things restaurants use, but my previous searches turned up bad results. So I'm looking for restaurant supplies, not home kitchen supplies. Any help?

Thank you.

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Ok so you might find the next few links (more…)

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I hope you’ve been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.

Free Alternative Energy Home Remodeling 4EverGreen13.com …

www.4EverGreen13.com (more…)

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