Concrete Countertop Cost
So just what do concrete countertops cost? It just depends on what is the final result you want. Let’s start by saying that they are not the cheapest countertop option available, nor the most expensive. On average, pricing for installed concrete countertops are very competitive with a good grade granite or quartz. So what factors affect concrete countertop pricing? Let’s find out.
Labor, by far, has the greatest influence on cost. Everything is done right here, at a local level, and it is very much an artisan process. It starts from templating (creating a pattern) from your existing cabinets to laying the template out on our casting tables and building the molds that take into account the location of sinks, faucets, cooktops, and the desired edge profile and height.
We then fill the molds with a special Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) mix and once it has cured, lightly sand and seal them. Each step requires meticulous attention to detail to produce a high quality piece that will last for years. Very little of this process can be automated or done in a factory style setting. Concrete countertop manufacturing by its very nature is a personalized, hands-on process which is why each project is truly unique.
Templating
Mold Build
Installed Concrete Countertop
It’s a common misconception that since we are making them out of concrete the material is cheap. That may have been the case in the good old days when concrete countertops used cement bag mixes you could buy at any home improvement store.
Today’s concrete countertops use GFRC that combines high strength cement with reinforcing fibers and additives that reduce the amount of water needed in the mix, creating a stronger, denser and more flexible concrete. This allows us to make our countertops thinner and lighter but still stronger than the old-style countertops. Of course, the tradeoff is cost. These more exotic materials are five to six times more expensive per pound than the traditional stuff.
High Strength Cement
Reinforcing Fibers
Water Reducing Additives
The majority of our clients are happy with what is included in our standard concrete countertop package which consists of straight, lightly eased (small – 1/8” radius) edges that are 1.5” tall (about 4 cm) and a color choice from our standard palette of over 10 colors. We seal all our countertops with a polyurethane that offers excellent stain resistance.
If you want a little more, we also offer upgrades that include increasing the edge height, changing the edge type to rounded, chipped stone, or bullnose, applying an epoxy sealer, and even polishing or applying a concrete stain to them; we can even go with a custom color. There are some colors that do cost a little more whether because the pigment we use to tint the countertops is very expensive (greens/blues) or they make the manufacturing process more involved – this is very much the case with white countertops. All these will bump the concrete countertop cost a little more depending on what upgrades you choose.
All in all, our concrete countertop prices are quite competitive with granite and other solid surface solutions. We offer a unique option for your kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas that stand out from all the rest.
If you want a quick ballpark idea of what your concrete countertop project would cost, just follow this link and access our online CONCRETE COUNTERTOP ESTIMATOR. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a quote.
