Are Concrete Kitchens Worth It? 

Homeowners can decorate and make their properties more attractive, investing more while making their living experience better the more attractive their property is. Different kitchen materials have their own different benefits and appearances, however, concrete has all the desirable traits you would want for a kitchen top and is also very flexible in terms of design.

Although it is true that in terms of design, quartz, granite, and marble countertops are popular with designers, but concrete remains a desirable option on the periphery, offering flexibility and creative design potential that other materials simply cannot provide. Some homeowners, however, prefer a stand-out kitchen centerpiece. In such cases, a custom concrete countertop is an option that puts all the control in your hands.

What are the pros and cons of concrete countertops?

Pros

Naturally different materials have their own different pros and cons, the same goes with concrete. When it comes to concrete countertops, have many strong points. One of the biggest and most important parts of it is its ability to be shaped and formed to exactly match your kitchen shapes and dimensions while also applying a finishing precise to your liking. 

With other countertop materials, you are often limited to whatever colors and styles are available, but concrete offers you a wider range of options. Only ceramic tile comes close to offering a comparable range of choices. While concrete is not scratch-proof, it does resist scratches remarkably well, especially when compared to softer counter materials such as solid surfaces or laminate.

Concrete, too, can be customized by the addition of small items pressed into the top surface. Glass fragments, stones, shells, and even fiber-optic lights can be embedded. In the right house, concrete countertops can improve the house’s resale value since it is considered to be a premium material, on par with quartz or natural stone counters.

Unlike other luxury materials such as marble, concrete also lives at the other end of the spectrum. The same ingredients that give concrete the versatility that allows for sculpture-like products are also not that expensive. Crafty homeowners can make low-cost, DIY-concrete slabs to give their kitchens a modern look.

If we’re talking about the installation of slabs too, concrete is more simple, thus, it wouldn’t take as long as other materials, and professionals are practically guaranteed to install a good quality slab, whereas other pavings may take too long, some may also have questionable qualities too or may get easily damaged as installing a better quality slab may be difficult.

Cons

If you are conditioned to think of concrete as a utilitarian building material used for slabs and foundations, you might imagine that concrete countertops are cheap and easy to install. Nothing could be further from the truth. Concrete is a high-end material when used in kitchen countertops, and fabricating them requires the skill and experience of trained technicians.

Concrete counters are expensive, too. Once again, the idea that concrete is used for sidewalks and patios, thus it must be inexpensive, is false. Expect to pay $150/sq ft or more for full-service concrete countertop fabrication and installation.

Although concrete has a very low maintenance cost, however, if you are averse to regular maintenance and don’t have free time, then concrete may not be for you. Concrete does require annual resealing, at a minimum.

Are concrete countertops easy to maintain?

As long as your concrete is properly sealed, it should be as easy to clean as a laminated surface. As a general rule, use a pH-neutral cleaner and avoid the use of aggressive scrubbing pads or abrasive cleansers that can wear away the sealer. Although there are many different types of sealants, the best way to clean them is with a mild dish detergent and water mixture.  Using a soft cloth or sponge, you can easily wipe the countertop clean.

If the countertop has already been sealed initially with a good-quality sealer, ongoing maintenance requires only the application of a good water-based wax sealer every 9 to 12 months. Annual sealing will ensure the surface resists staining and will lessen the chances of the concrete countertop cracking over time. 

When it comes to the installment and maintenance of concrete, it is best left in the hands of a professional. You may be unable or unaware of how to deal with damaged concrete kitchen countertops, and in the end, may even damage it further.

Related: Design Ideas For A Concrete Kitchen