Polished Concrete Worktops: Snog, Marry , Avoid: and why?

[ToughButterCup]

9 hours ago, Onoff said:

The vids I've watch they cast the slab upside down in a shallow box with smooth faces. All internal corners are caulked to give radiussed edges. Mesh laid in halfway thru the pour.

 

Yes. Going skip wombling today on the way back from the gym -  for waste melamine surfaces ...

[Adrian Walker]

IMHO the only reason that you would want a concrete work top is that you can't afford any solid surface material, eg. corian granite, etc.

[Onoff]

19 minutes ago, Adrian Walker said:

IMHO the only reason that you would want a concrete work top is that you can't afford any solid surface material, eg. corian granite, etc.

 

Erm...a lot of it isn't a case of should you do something but can you do something just for the technical challenge and satisfaction. 

[SteamyTea]

I work in kitchens a lot, people spend way too much time and money on them.

Stainless steel is the professionals' material of choice.

 

Edited November 14, 2019 by SteamyTea

[Bitpipe]

We visited a build that had a polished concrete floor - really susceptible to oily stains - i guess regular sealing helps prevent this.

[Construction Channel]

2 hours ago, Adrian Walker said:

IMHO the only reason that you would want a concrete work top is that you can't afford any solid surface material, eg. corian granite, etc.

That's pretty much my reason

[Mr Punter]

I just took delivery of a stone resin shower tray.  I wonder if you could use a similar material and technique for a worktop?

[scottishjohn]

1 minute ago, Mr Punter said:

I just took delivery of a stone resin shower tray.  I wonder if you could use a similar material and technique for a worktop?

yes no problem --but you could just buy one 

[SteamyTea]

20 minutes ago, Mr Punter said:

I just took delivery of a stone resin shower tray.  I wonder if you could use a similar material and technique for a worktop?

What Corian, and similar, are.

For a few thousand I could cast you a phenolic one.

That would be sturdy, long lasting and fire resistant.

It would drop sulphuric acid for a few weeks, but that will eventually stop.

Not saying it would be beautiful mind.

Edited November 14, 2019 by SteamyTea

[Conor]

Read an article about self compacting/consolidating concrete (for my raft foundation) and it had a section on worktops. Said it was ideally suited due to it fully filling a form easily and not leaving bug holes. Also claimed that if smooth enough form was used, no polishing was needed.

 

https://www.concretenetwork.com/self-consolidating-concrete/

 

Obviously you'd have to come up with your own mix... Which might be a challenge!

Edited November 14, 2019 by Conor

[scottishjohn]

1 minute ago, Conor said:

Read an article about self compacting/consolidating concrete (for my raft foundation) and it had a section on worktops. Said it was ideally suited due to it fully filling a form easily and not leaving bug holes. Also claimed that if smooth enough form was used, no polishing was needed. Pictures looked pretty good. I'll try and find it in my history.

sounds like an old worktop as  a former then .

and some sort of vibrating device 

I have made balustrade posts using plastic ornamental plant pots , 2 to a finished post--as a mould -- needed vibrating to get perfect no air bubble finish 

 

 

[Conor]

6 minutes ago, scottishjohn said:

sounds like an old worktop as  a former then .

and some sort of vibrating device 

I have made balustrade posts using plastic ornamental plant pots , 2 to a finished post--as a mould -- needed vibrating to get perfect no air bubble finish 

 

 

That's the advantage of a self compacting concrete mix... No compaction or vibration required. Watch some of the videos, looks like lumpy water lol

[ToughButterCup]

4 hours ago, Adrian Walker said:

IMHO the only reason that you would want a concrete work top is that you can't afford any [...]

 

Got it in one @Adrian Walker

[Construction Channel]

Just waiting for the silicone to go off..... The big pour will commence shortly. 

 

The base ply has been sbr'd as I want it to stick to the mortar. The outside formwork had been silicone release sprayed because I want it to release..... 

 

Wish me luck ??

[SteamyTea]

Would look good cast in clear resin.

[Construction Channel]

Just now, SteamyTea said:

Would look good cast in clear resin.

Sand and cement is cheaper ?

 

But I'll always have resin as a backup it it all cracks up

[PeterW]

@Construction Channel is the plan to fill and level and allow to set then polish ..??

[Construction Channel]

2 minutes ago, PeterW said:

@Construction Channel is the plan to fill and level and allow to set then polish ..??

 

That's the plan. I thought about casting them upside down to get a better finish but I didn't like the idea of moving and jointing it. 

[Onoff]

24 minutes ago, Construction Channel said:

Sand and cement is cheaper ?

 

But I'll always have resin as a backup it it all cracks up

 

Sand? Sharp?

[Construction Channel]

7 minutes ago, Onoff said:

 

Sand? Sharp?

Yup. White cement, lime and sharp, same mix as my cills

[Construction Channel]

Well tip of the day is to buy more cement than you think you need. ? Only just had enough for the big section so the little one will be done another day

[Onoff]

?Can't wait for the video! 

[Onoff]

I think one main reason for doing them upside down is so you can do a silicone filet around the base and end up with a well consolidated, rounded front edge.

[ToughButterCup]

5 hours ago, Construction Channel said:

[...] but I didn't like the idea of moving and jointing it. 

 

Coward. ?  Where's your sense of advencha  man? 

Says I  to the only person who has actually flown around  in my kitchen ..... Remember that?

 

[Construction Channel]

26 minutes ago, AnonymousBosch said:

 

Coward. ?  Where's your sense of advencha  man? 

Says I  to the only person who has actually flown around  in my kitchen ..... Remember that?

 

I do. I thought about giving you a surprise visit weekend before last to see how you were getting on. That was until I realised Nottingham is a lot further away from you than I thought and I was only meant to be collecting a dishwasher in the work van. 

 

I'll take the coward comment, Faye's not as available to lift things anymore and I really haven't got time to do "prototypes" at the moment.