The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Increases Visual Appeal and
The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Customization Boosts Aesthetic Appeal and Property Investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating property owners are requiring custom-made styles and finishes in their cooking areas. In particular, they are aiming to reveal their uniqueness and unique style choices with the fast growing design material of option concrete.
In reality, concrete countertops have actually become somewhat of a status sign for kitchen areas, rivaling granite and other high-end counter top surface area options. Consumer Reports Publication (August 2004) ranked concrete highest for its customization and exclusivity amongst high-end kitchen countertops.
As a custom-made product, the amount of time and workmanship needed to produce concrete countertops positions them as the most labor-intensive and priciest amongst leading counter top products.
However, concrete counter tops are becoming more accessible for those on a modest budget plan. The current diy (DO IT YOURSELF) trend to captivate house owners and builders is building your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gained popularity mainly due to Chengs very popular book Concrete Countertops: Style, Kinds, and Finishes for the New Kitchen Area and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete counter tops, yet the creative gains of working with concrete abound.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, house owners are moving away from the dull, manufactured look of traditional countertop surface areas and picking concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the options for customizing concrete counter tops are unlimited: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal objects like stones, seashells and fossils into the counter tops surface, including belief and character. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap meals, and trivets can also be integrated to fit the homeowners own requirements and lifestyle.
Concrete is slowly ending up being debunked as characteristically cold and commercial. In contrary, this olden material is warm and surprisingly tactile; individuals can not assist but touch their smooth, refined surfaces. Property agent Happiness Rasmussen, who has just recently offered her mountain home a short-term financial investment home in Steamboat Springs, CO states her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete counter tops many individuals around here have never seen them.
Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom construct by her hubby, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Houses. They developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes kitchen and three restrooms by using Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then paired with natural slate of varying colors like charcoal, rust and gold tones that forms the backsplashes in the cooking area and baths. As a design accent, little rectangle-shaped slate tiles were added to the rim of the restroom sinks, which provided a distinct detail to the custom vanities.
When Delight and Ken decided to offer their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its value. We were able to note your home $20,000 over market price, and had no problems offering it, comments Joy, while going over the long list of upgrades throughout their house, consisting of knotty pine strong doors, natural slate wall accents and wood floors. The concrete countertops were easily the most unique and impressive of all the surfaces. I think they were a big part in adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite counter tops and I really think property buyers are getting rather numb with granite.
Concrete countertops are an unique offering to property buyers who see the same finishes used in house after home they check out, describes Joy, providing her observation as an experienced realtor. Having concrete countertops almost provides you bragging rights you have something different from your neighbors.
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another benefit of concrete is its versatility in either modern or standard settings, specifically when coupled with other materials like diverse metals, wood or stone. Concrete adds a lot of [possibilities] to stone, and the mix with slate, which is hugely popular here, offers the mountain homes a total warm, natural touch, states Happiness.
Joy and Ken have considering that developed a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is suggested to function as a long-lasting financial investment for the couple. Theyve also broadened their list of custom-made finishes, including hand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their preferred concrete kitchen area countertops.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialized team poured charcoal-colored countertops utilizing the pre-cast technique in the unfinished basement of the brand-new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a variety of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of read these plumbing tips Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Turquoise. read these plumbing tips for winter After the surface area was ground and gently polished, the completed result was a remarkable blend of colors, By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible, says Happiness.
The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic stone look, matching its rugged country surroundings. An important drain board and trivets supplies function and included interest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, and a butcher block counter top at the cooking area island all resonate with the conventional heat and earthiness of the concrete counter tops.
Joy and Kens particular backgrounds in property and custom homebuilding, and as financial investment homebuyers, have actually assisted them realize that concrete countertops can add remarkable aesthetic and monetary worth to a home. Concretes personalization and show-stopping appeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a supporter of emotional visual appeals and developing homes that capture these feelings, as when it comes to Happiness and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: Individuals really desire differentiation, something individual, something custom-made and concrete can do that for them.