The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Increases Aesthetic Charm as well as Real Estate Investment for Homeowne

1. From top-dollar residences in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating property owners are demanding customized designs and also surfaces in their kitchen areas. Specifically, they are aiming to share their originality and distinct style preferences with the rapid expanding style material of option-- concrete. In fact, concrete counter tops have actually ended up being rather of a status sign for cooking areas, matching granite as well as other high-end countertop surface choices. Consumer News Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete highest for its "customization" as well as "exclusivity" amongst high-end kitchen area counter tops. As a custom-made item, the amount of time glass countertops near me and also workmanship called for to produce concrete kitchen counters puts them as one of the most labor-intensive as well as most expensive amongst leading kitchen counter products. Nevertheless, concrete counter tops are becoming much more available for those on a modest budget. The latest do-it-yourself (Do It Yourself) fad to mesmerize homeowners and contractors is constructing your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gotten popularity mainly as a result of Cheng's very popular book Concrete Countertops: Design, Kinds, as well as Completes for the New Kitchen as well as Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little monetary financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete are plentiful. THE SHOWSTOPPER Progressively, house owners are relocating away from the dull, manufactured appearance of standard kitchen counter surface areas and also choosing concrete for its earthy, ageless charm. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete kitchen counters are unlimited: one can tint, gloss, stamp and also discolor concrete or imbed individual things like rocks, seashells and fossils into the countertop's surface area, adding belief as well as personality. Practical attributes such as drainpipe boards, soap meals, as well as trivets can also be incorporated to fit the house owners' very own requirements as well as way of living. Concrete is slowly coming to be debunked as classically cold and also industrial. In contrary, this age-old product is warm and surprisingly tactile; individuals can not assist however touch their smooth, polished surface areas. Realty representative Happiness Rasmussen, that has just recently offered her mountain home-- a temporary investment building in Boat Springs, CO-- recounts her site visitors' experiences with concrete: "When I had open residences, visitors gravitated to the concrete kitchen counters-- many people around right here have never ever seen them". Happiness's 2,265 sq. ft. hill residence was custom build by her other half, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, head of state of Standard Special Custom-made Residences. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the house's kitchen area as well as three washrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete kitchen counters were brightened smooth, after that coupled with natural slate of differing shades-- like charcoal, rust and gold tones-- that develops the backsplashes in the kitchen area and bathrooms. As a layout accent, tiny rectangle-shaped slate ceramic tiles were contributed to the edge of the shower room sinks, which provided a distinct detail to the customized vanities. When Happiness as well as Ken made a decision to offer their residence, their financial investment in concrete counter tops proved its worth. "We had the ability to detail your house $20,000 over market value, and also had no worry marketing it," remarks Happiness, while going over the long checklist of upgrades throughout their home, including knotty pine strong doors, all-natural slate wall surface accents as well as wood floors. "The concrete countertops were quickly the most unique and excellent of all the coatings. I believe they were a big part in including value to the house. Around right here, all you see in homes are granite countertops-- as well as I actually believe homebuyers are obtaining fairly numb with granite."

2. " Concrete kitchen counters are an unique offering to property buyers who see the same surfaces made use of in residence after house they see," discusses Happiness, supplying her observation as an experienced real estate professional. "Having concrete counter tops almost offers you boasting rights-- you have something different from your neighbors." DAMAGING THE MOLD One more advantage of concrete is its versatility in either modern or traditional settings, particularly when combined with other products like varied steels, wood or stone. "Concrete adds many [possibilities] to stone, and also the mix with slate, which is widely preferred below, offers the hill homes a general warm, natural touch," states Happiness. Happiness and also Ken have actually considering that developed a much larger residence (4,000 sq. ft.) that offers large sights of the Boat Ski Hotel as well as is meant to function as a long-lasting financial investment for the couple. They've additionally increased their listing of personalized finishes, consisting of hand-troweled walls, sophisticated oil-rubbed bronze equipment, knotty ache doors that curve at the top, cupboards in an all-natural, knotty alder, and their preferred-- concrete cooking area countertops. Unlike in their previous residence, KJ and his specialty team poured charcoal-colored countertops using the pre- cast approach in the unfinished basement of the brand-new