How to Mix Concrete for Making Countertops

Designers and homeowners are making concrete countertops, which adds unique beauty to any kitchen or bathroom. Concrete countertops work well on many surfaces, such as center islands, bars, vanities and cabinets. Once the countertops are finished using a variety of beautiful designs and color, they look similar to natural stone.

Instructions

1

Fill your wheelbarrow with some gravel, sand and cement, or use 2 quarts of cement and a 60-pound bag of concrete. For the majority of your slabs, a poly-fiber reinforced concrete works best.

2

Pack about 1 inch of regular concrete down around all edges. Add some reinforcing rods and diamond lath to the center, then finish up with a layer of regular concrete.

3

Blend everything together with your mason's hoe. Add water a little at a time while mixing continuously with your hoe until the ingredients combine and the consistency looks and feels right. The concrete works best when firm. It should be just moist enough to hold together. Test for firmness by rolling your mixture into a ball.

4

Add a variety of pigments to achieve the concrete color. The least expensive colors to make are black, brown, and red. Blues and greens are more expensive to make and not always easy to find.

5

Create your own colors by combining pigments to achieve your desired color. You may also opt to try a premixed color.