Choose The Perfect Concrete Worktop For Your Home

Are you looking for a durable, stylish, and practical worktop solution for your home? Consider investing in a beautiful concrete worktop! Learn about the advantages of concrete worktops, what to look for when selecting the perfect one, and how to find a trusted supplier in your area.

Benefits of Concrete Worktops

Concrete worktops are a popular choice due to their unique beauty, durability, and cost-effectiveness. They’re able to withstand high temperatures and are water resistant, making them extremely durable over time. They can easily be customized with colour and patterning to match any décor. In addition, they are cheaper than many other materials such as granite or marble and require little maintenance.

Here at Sustainable Kitchens, we love the look of concrete as a worktop material, nothing makes an island stand out more than an 80mm concrete worktop,  so we wanted to take some time to tell you about the pros and cons, the ins and outs and the ups and downs of this new kitchen material.

Concrete is incredibly flexible due to the way it is made; a shapeless mix is cast in a mould, producing a product that can be any shape and is totally unique; the texture, flecking, pitting and dappling will change with every worktop. After all, if you are going to have a bespoke kitchen why not have a bespoke worktop?

Concrete also comes in a variety of colours, I’m not talking bright pinks and greens but from bright whites through to the darkest blacks, there are a variety of tones available.

It comes in a variety of thicknesses from 30mm to over 100mm, making it great for creating different areas in a kitchen. A concrete worktop looks great on surrounding cabinetry but really comes into its own on an island. A thicker slab over an island really does make it all about the island, and add a real wow factor.

Likewise, it looks great alongside other worktop materials, particularly solid wood.

Concrete Worktop maintenance

In terms of maintenance, there is some effort needed on the owners’ part. Its performance as a worktop is compared most closely to natural stone or wood in terms of maintenance required. Many client’s biggest concerns are the porous nature of concrete, and this is the material’s biggest weakness.

Seals are applied to try and reduce the risk of liquids penetrating the surface, however, it is advised that all spills are mopped up ASAP. A wax is applied to take the wear and tear of everyday life, and reapplication of this wax is advised as required depending on use.

Regular wax polishing will help to avoid stains, it is the first defence against daily life for the concrete and so as this protection becomes worn down, naturally the concrete will become less resistant to stains.

Particularly troublesome to concrete worktops are acidic liquids, such as vinegar and lemon juice, and heat from pans or hot utensils. Both of these can damage the sealant and as stated before, if you damage the sealant you damage the concrete’s ability to protect itself.

Warm soapy water is all that is required to clean a concrete worktop, scrubbing with any abrasive sponges is not advised, as again it can damage the sealant. When many of our clients see our concrete worktop in our showroom and ask what material it is, to find out it is concrete catches them by surprise.

It is very versatile in its look and although is typically a hard, industrial material, it can be transformed to looking very soft and warm in many kitchens, through colour and light. One thing there is no doubting is it will be an eye-catching conversation starter in any home.

One thing to note is that although we assist our clients with sourcing the materials for worktops, we do not supply or sell worktops on their own. Suppliers of concrete worktops we are currently aware of include Lowinfo, Lazenby and microcement supplier Koubi.

*Please note that the information provided is advice only. We cannot help individuals with their queries unless they are undertaking a full kitchen project with us. We are not responsible for any damage incurred by following the advice*