What Do Concrete Counter Tops Look Like?

Concrete countertops are a warm, natural looking material. Chemical stains, coloring pigments, various aggregates and epoxy coatings can give concrete the look, texture, and feel of quarried stone such as marble, granite, and limestone.

What is the Surface texture like?

Amelia Concrete, Inc. offers three basic surface finishes:

Ground Surface: After the surface is worked with pigment-infused concrete, a diamond impregnated grinding disk zigzags across the slab, revealing multi-colored aggregates. This technique gives the surface a look similar to that of granite, but with unlimited color variations. While gently textured, the surface is smooth enough to roll a piecrust or write a letter.


Steel Trowel: The smooth, mostly monochromatic surface is notable for its obvious trowel marks and subtle variations of light and dark (think of an Italian plastered wall). This technique offers the most unique finish, much like an original painting. You can be assured that your hand-troweled countertop will be one of a kind.



Polished Surface: After the surface has been prepared with pigment-infused concrete, it is poured into the form and left to cure. The result is a polished slab with a finish like glass (that can be dulled if desired). We like to say that precast concrete countertops are analogous to copies of original artwork. They are just as beautiful and convey the same message, but lack such distinction.


Can you match my sample piece or color exact?

There is always some slight variation. A concrete countertop will exhibit subtle variations in color and texture, which most people feel contribute to its beauty. Each slab is hand poured and unique. However, we are continually matching to various color swatches to create the ideal decor.


What is the price per square foot?


While we wish we could easily answer this question and give you a range, there are simply to many variables involved in each project to quote by square foot. We take many things into consideration when quoting our jobs such as complexity of form (inlayed objects, integral sinks, knockouts, etc.), technique (poured-in-place vs. precast), logistics (travel time to job site, level of protection of job site, etc.), and size of job.

It is fair to say, however, that concrete is comparable to granite, if not more expensive. Custom concrete is regarded as an art, and we plan on doing our part to maintain such praise.

Who chooses concrete countertops?

Concrete comes into its own. Concrete is not a static material. If you seek a surface that will not evolve or acquire character over time, choose another material. Rather, concrete is what Amelia Concrete, Inc. calls "high affect." Handmade and tactile, it is influenced by its interaction with the craftsman and eventual user. For the many people who love concrete, the unpredictability is part of its attraction. Veining, texture and color vary, and regular use impacts a warm patina to the surface over time.

To determine whether concrete is right for you, think about whether you believe that:
you want something unique and personalized you you want something that looks natural and has character you appreciate high-quality, hand-crafted items granite is too shiny, too formal, too common synthetic solid surface materials look and feel like plastic you need a color or visual texture that's not available with any other countertop materials


How Do You Maintain The Surface?

As with Granite, Marble and most any natural surface, concrete is not impervious to stain. Common liquids like wine, vinegar, lemon or orange juice can etch the surface. In the event of such a spill, promptly wipe the area and sponge the area with water to prevent the acid from etching the sealer coat. However, we have tested sealed concrete with the above mentioned liquids, which resulted in no staining.

Can I cut on them?

Well first of all it is simply not a good idea to cut on any stone surface as it will severely damage your knives. Additionally, we do not recommend cutting on our surfaces as it can penetrate the sealers.