OK NON Valk...but Im excited

[Chrisj CMA]

I just finished my first kitchen for hire.  I did concrete countertops in a Florida Room.  This guy is making a bang up kitchen for parties in his Florida Room, and he wanted rugged countertops that could handle heavy use.......CONCRETE.  I had  a blast making this and as soon as the rest of the slow pokes get their parts done we can have the inagrial party!!!

[BigAl]

Good Job.

Love the grill and the mud type sink.

Who knew, concrete counter tops.

[Jess from VA]

Nice work. 

Nicer than my real kitchen too.  I especially like my countertop angled so the eggs roll right off on the floor.  And the slab is cracked, so if they didn't break (fat chance), they then roll under the fridge.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Nice work. 

Nicer than my real kitchen too.  I especially like my countertop angled so the eggs roll right off on the floor.  And the slab is cracked, so if they didn't break (fat chance), they then roll under the fridge.   

Too bad yer so far away.....I could make you some concrete 

[Earl in Pensacola]

Jeff--Sorry to say, but those pictures just don't your work justice!!  As you know, I've seen the real product and the finish you put of it makes it look more like the best marble or granite $$ can buy!!

[Chrisj CMA]

Jeff--Sorry to say, but those pictures just don't your work justice!!  As you know, I've seen the real product and the finish you put of it makes it look more like the best marble or granite $$ can buy!!

thanks....well, to get the whole thing in the shot you give up some detail

[Chrisj CMA]

Earl....this pic shows more detail of the finish even though its not as nice of a picture

[Daniel Meyer]

 

[JimmyG]

Love the work!  That's on my list of,"gotta try that".

[hubcapsc]

I'm imagining that stuff coming out of a pumper truck with special add-mixtures and
aggregate... how did you really mix it up?

-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

I'm imagining that stuff coming out of a pumper truck with special add-mixtures and
aggregate... how did you really mix it up?

-Mike

Mike I have a small 2.5 cu.ft. electric mixer.  All that is used is standard 5,000psi concrete, the color product and whatever custom inlays and aggrigate you want to add.  The shells you see are hand placed in the form before pouring.  Yes its a lot of work, then getting that big thing out of the form turning it over and grinding it smooth and shiney takes all day.

[hubcapsc]

That's some fine work, and I bet the hardest part is making it look good. 5000 lb
compressive-strength concrete must be almost as hard as South Carolina
red clay ...

I built a concrete stem-wall around 20 years (gasp) ago... I hope it will be
a shop one day, but now it just has a metal roof on it... it doesn't "look good",
but it is plumb and square...



-Mike

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks Mike, ya I have to use some expensive diamond impregnated grinding pads to make any progress on that stuff.  The upside is, I think youd have to try hard to break it, the down side is its a heavy beast.  That piece is around 350lb and it was a bear for me and my friend to haul op 4 steps and place it in its final resting place.  We didnt bother removing it once we had it right to use any silicone.....didnt think it was going anywhere

[JimmyG]

Will you describe your forms and material used to make the form and any release agent or anythig? Once your concrete is set up, do you grind it while it is still green? Do you have to mix a slurry or anything to fill tiny voids? Do you use wire reinforcement? Inquiring minds need to know. I love the look you created.

[Chrisj CMA]

Will you describe your forms and material used to make the form and any release agent or anythig? Once your concrete is set up, do you grind it while it is still green? Do you have to mix a slurry or anything to fill tiny voids? Do you use wire reinforcement? Inquiring minds need to know. I love the look you created.

Jimmy,

The forms (you can see in the picture) are melamine and the sides are cut to spec 2X4's with packing tape on the contacting surfaces.  All seams and cracks calked with silicone calking and a minimal amount of rebar (just in case) but I dont think the rebar is needed.  Yes there is an acrylic slurry that comes color-matched to the product I buy and you have to fill air holes before the final grind and polish.  Not sure what green is, but if you mean right after getting it out of the mold....yes, cures for 4 days and then grind it up seal wax and polish and its like glass.  Only one picture in the begining of the post actually showed the true finish, that was the one with the stainless cooker inset into it