ConCrete in the KitChen Countertops & Sinks · concrete into any shape, color it to match virtually...

ConCrete in the KitChenCountertops & Sinks

http://www.concretenetwork.com/

“It’s just basically the natural look and feel of concrete that is so appealing to many. And the design aspect is limitless. You can manipulate it to do whatever you want – you can do things you just can’t do with other materials.”

—ShawnVanDrieSSche, Two Stones Design, Port Byron, Illinois

table of Contents

the Kitchen remodel:A Recipe for a Great Investment .................................1

Concrete Countertops: Versatile and Unique. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Color options:Concrete Offers Limitless Hues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Gaining the edge with ConcreteDetails, Inserts, Special Shapes .................................5

Make it one-of-a-Kind with Concrete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Concrete’s Perfect everywhere – Even for the Kitchen Sink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Kitchen islands:Concrete is Tops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

integrating Concrete into Your total Kitchen Design..............9

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

About the Concrete network ................................11 eight tips for hiring a Concrete Contractor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

read More online about Concrete Countertops at www.Concretenetwork.com

FRONT COVERPHOTOS (CLOCKWISE)

COURTESY OF:BUDDY RHODES STUDIOS,

GET REAL SURFACES, SONOMA

Find a Contractor in Your Local Area — www.ConcreteNetwork.com

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/countertops


http://www.concretenetwork.com/contractors

the Kitchen remodel:A Recipe for a Great Investment

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americansareremodelinglikeneverbe-fore.intermsofdollarsspent,themostpopular room in thehouse to remodelisthekitchen.

The kitchen is the hub of the house–theheartandsoul,servingavarietyoffunctions.it’sanareawherethefamilypreparesmealsandthehotspotwhereyourguestswillvisitandmingle.Kidssit at the island todo theirhomeworkandhangout.Youpayyourbillsatthecomputernook,islandorkitchentable.

Kitchens are easily the most importantroomof thehouse.anyrealestatepro-fessionalwilltellyouthatthekitchencanmakeorbreakasale.Soit’snowonderamericans want to make their kitchensasfunctionalandstylishaspossible.

Overall remodelingexpenditureshit$214billionin2001.Morethan4millionkitchenswereupgradedorremodeledtothetuneof$14billion.

remodelingyourkitchennotonlyprovidesyourfamilywithasourceofenjoyment,increasedfunctionality,anda signature sense of style, but it also is an investment–agoodremodelingjobwillreturnagoodchunkofthemoneyyouspendonit.

in fact,Remodeling Magazine, in its2002costvs.Valuereport, says the averageamerican will recover about 80

percent of the amount they put into their remodeling up-grades.insomepartsofthecountrytheyieldismorethan100percent.

“For individual owners, investing in their homes this way not only improves their comfort and safety, but also their ability to build wealth and achieve financial security.” — FrOMTherepOrT,

MeaSuringTheBeneFiTSOFreMODeling, by the Joint Center for Housing Studies

at Harvard University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEX STUDIOS



whenitcomestoremodelingthekitchen,oneofthemajorconsiderationsisthecountertop.

Thereareahandfulofcountertopmaterialsonthemarkettoday.Butmanyhomeownersfeelconfinedbytheharshlimitationsofmaterials likegranite orwant amorenatu-ral,customizedlookthatlaminatesandotherproductsdon’tprovide.

But there is an answer – many have discovered concretecountertops.what’stheappeal?

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Concrete Countertops:Versatile and Unique

concrete’s irresistible appeal can be attributed to fourthings:itsversatility,itslookofdistinction,itsnaturalquali-ties,andthedisplayofsuperiorcraftsmanship.

Versatility

Few materials are as versatile as concrete.You can moldconcreteintoanyshape,colorittomatchvirtuallyanyhue,andyoucanmakeitsmoothorrough.itsversatilitylendstoarangeofdesignstylesfromcontemporarytoclassic.

concrete countertops can be left looking natural tocomplement materials likewood, stone, andbrick.Or,concrete can be treated with chemical stains, coloringpigments, aggregates, and epoxy coatings that allow con-cretetomimicpopularmaterialslikemarble,granite,andlimestone.

“The best thing about concrete is the versatility of shapes and colors you can make. Concrete holds characteristics that can enhance any interior design and become a centerpiecein any home or office.”

—STeVeeYler, Eycon Surfacing,

Myersville, MarylandPHOTO COURTESY OF KALDARI

“Concrete is versatile, rugged, elegant and unique. We use it as our medium because it is an adaptable and natural material with a wonderful, silky feel ... We consider each finished product an original work in an unusual medium, created to fit your needs, aesthetically as well as functionally.”

—rOBBieharriSOn, Concrete Canvas,

Greenville, South Carolina



A Look of Distinction

concrete’screativepossibilitiesareendless.eachconcretear-tisanapproacheshisorhercraftpersonally,achiev-ing a distinct look by building their own forms,developing special casting techniques, and usingproprietarymaterialsandcoloringmethods.

Because each piece is usually made to order,customerscanbeapartofthecreativeprocess.

“We’re doing something different all the time. Each project is a prototype.”

—gerrYSanTOra,Soupcan Inc.,

Chicago, Illinois

Natural Qualities

while products like corian are popular, manyoptforconcretebecausethelookismorenatu-ral.Forsomepeople,concretehasmoretactileappealthangranite,marble,orceramictile.

“We have been told by many of our clients that the end product exceeded their original expectation.They often comment on the depth of color and how the finish is smooth to the touch.”

—craigSMiTh, DEX Studios, Macon, Georgia

Superior Craftsmanship

Mostconcreteartisansarepassionateabouttheirworkandtakegreatpainstoachievesuperiorresults.

To make sure clients are pleased with the finalproduct,manyartisanswillproducesamplesforcustom-erssotheycanevaluatethecolor,texture,andfinish.Thisgreat care and attention todetail cannot be duplicated inmass-producedproducts.Buteventhoughtheworkiscus-tom,qualitycontrolandconsistencyinthemanufacturingprocessarenotoverlooked.

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“We have created textures, edge treatments, embedded objects and even made terrazzo-style countertops. We custom make our products from drawings and make specialty molds. We make the designs and ideas of our clients come to life.”

—hannahBlacK,

Architectural Concrete Specialties,

Scottsdale, Arizona

PHOTO COURTESY OF COUNTERCAST DESIGNS, INC.



Color options:Concrete Offers Limitless Hues

Oneof themanybenefitsofconcrete is thewiderangeofcolorsandhuesavailable.isitcobaltblueyou’reafter?May-beaspicypumpkinordeepeggplant,anearthyterrazzoorrichjetblack?whateveryourpleasure,concretecanaccom-modate.

concrete countertop contractors offer their own uniquestandardandpremiumcolors.

Sampleswillalwaysbedifferent;eachcontractorhastheirownsecretrecipeforconstructingthecountertopsandem-ployingdifferenttypesandamountsofcementandaggre-gates.Therearedifferentbrandsofpigments, stains,andaggregate colors, so concrete countertops will always beunique.

colormatching is innowayanexactscience.Samplesofcustom colors or requests for matching a particular colorwill always be more expensive than samples of standardcolors.inmostcases,thepriceofsamplesisappliedagainstthecostoftheorder.

How To Get Samples

eachconcretecountertopcontractorhasstandardsamplesandofferscustomcolorsamples.

Standardcolorsamples(andremember,eachcontractor’ssam-pleswillbedifferent)runinthe$25-$50range.customcolorsamplesrunfrom$75to$150.

“We offer unlimited colors, textures and finishes ranging from the cool gray industrial and designer-sleek taupes to rustic multi-colored slabs ... Our latest new colors include ‘Electric Blue’ and ‘Think Pink.’” —STeVeDVOraK,

Spirit Ridge Concrete Creations

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PHOTO COURTESY OF GET REAL SURFACES

PHOTO COURTESY OF EYCON

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELD USA



anotheroneofthemanybenefitsofconcretecountertopsisthebroadchoiceinthetypesofedging.Manyconcretecon-tractorsofferaselectionofstandardedging,likethesesixbelowfromBuddyrhodesStudio.Manycontractorswillalsoworkwithyouinachievingacustomlook.

Gaining the edge with Concrete:Details, Inserts, Special Shapes

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Trivetsorstainlesssteelheatracks(topphoto)canalsobebuiltintoconcretecountertops.

inaddition,mostconcretecontractorscanmakel-shaped,V-shaped, and curved countertops. Buddy rhodes studiocreatedthiscurvedcountertop(bottomleftphoto).

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUDDY RHODES STUDIOS

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUPCAN INC.

“Many of our customers have challenged us to find ways to incorporate concrete in places where you’ve never seen it before. We’re continually working with our clients to deliver a functional and aesthetic result that truly exceeds expectations.”

—MichaelBuSTin, Meld USA,Raleigh, North Carolina

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELD USA



Make it one-of-a-Kind with Concrete

Becauseconcretecanbemolded intovirtuallyany formand shape and comes in an unlimited palette of colors,youcanhaveauniquecountertop-onethatnoneofyourneighbors will have.You can even custom-tint your con-crete countertops to match an existing color scheme. Butoneofthemostspecialattributesofconcreteistheabilitytoexpressyourindividualitythroughpersonalembellishmentslikeembeddedartifactsandpersonalmementosorspecialtreatments.

Buddyrhodes’signatureiscreatinga“veined”surfaceonhiscountertops.Theseresembletwo-tonedmarble,achievedthroughpressingtheconcreteintoaspecialmold,thenfill-ingtheveinswithdifferentcolors.hethengrindsthecon-cretedowntorevealtheaggregateandtheveins.

“Concrete is just getting stronger, lighter weight and the selection of colorants is phenomenal. We are going to see more and more concrete which will be available and affordable to everyone.”

—wanDaellerBecK,

Grotto Designs

JeffgirardofFormworksoftenworkswithhomeownerswhowantmetals,seashells,brokenbottles,andevenstaplesfrommovingboxesembeddedintotheircountertop.heevenhadauniqueprojectinwhichthehomeownerwantedoldbottle fragmentsexcavatedfromthehistorichome’sbackyardtotietherichpastwiththenewcountertop.

craigSmithofDeXStudiosspecializesinterrazzofinishes.hebringshiscountertopstolifebyintegratingcoloredglassandaggregates,andthenpolishingthesurfacedowntorevealthe color.Below,Soupcan inc. creates abeautiful leaf im-pressioninacountertop.

Michael Bustin of Meld uSa, is redefining the way thepublicthinksaboutandexperiencesconcretebycastingitsownarchitecturalmaterial-extremeconcrete™.utilizingaprovenmanufacturingprocessthatblendsstateoftheartconcretetechnologywithhands-onformingandfinishing,everyproductMeldmakesisengineeredtodeliveryearsof predictable performance and stunning visual appeal.Thecompanyisthenation’sexclusivemanufacturerofex-tremeconcrete™products,anarchitecturalmaterialthatismanufacturedfromamixtureofconcrete,andfusedwithcolor and textures. “we really embrace technology fromtheselectionofourrawmaterialsandadmixturestotheuseofcomputerizedsystems,”saysBustin.computersareusedtodesign,transferinformation,andcreatetheshapesoutofconcrete.

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Concrete’s Perfect everywhere – Even for the Kitchen Sinkas many homeowners and designers find that concretecountertopsareaperfectfitforachievingadistinctive-look-ingkitchen,thenextquestionthatfollowsiswhattypeofsinktoinstall.

Oneoption is toextend theconcrete to thesink.Becauseconcretecanbepouredtoshapeanyform,concretefitsthebillforanytypeofsinkimaginable,whetherit’sintegratedintothecountertoporfarmhouse-stylesink.

Somecompanies,likeSonomacastStone,offernumer-ousstylesofkitchenconcretesinks.

TheFarmSinkhasbecometherage.Theselargeanddeepsinkscanholdseveralofthelargestpotsandpansandstillhaveroomforapartyfullofdishes.

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withthechefSinkyougetallofthebeautyofahandcraft-edconcretesink,andyougetthecleverutilityofaslidingdrainboard.Thestainlessdrainboardslidesoverthesinktobecomealargestrainer.pasta,vegetablesandfruitscanberinsedandprepareddirectlyoverthesink.

andSonomacastStone’slatestofferingistheprepsink–asecondarysinkdedicatedtofoodpreparation.

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Kitchen islands:Concrete is Tops

ifyou’rereluctanttomaketheplungeandcommittoconcretecompletely,agreatwaytotryitoutisbyinstallingaconcretecountertopforyourisland.Or,createanewsmallislandwithaconcretetoptouseasadditionalprepandstoragespace.

Kitchenislandsaremorepopularthanever,servingasmulti-functional, aesthetically pleasing must-have fea-turesforagrowingnumberofhomeowners.

ThenationalKitchenandBathassociationsaysmorethanhalfofthekitchenscreatedtodayhaveislands.

With the different materials out there, there are many opportunities to use more than one.”

—anThOnYMcgillVreY,

Vice President of Marketing,

Valley Countertops Industries

alongwithsleekappliances,simplecabinetry,andplentyofcustomtouches,theislandisamongtherequirementsoftoday’sidealkitchen.

Oneofthegreatthingsaboutaconcreteislandisthatitblendswellwithothermaterials.Soyoucanselectcon-cretetexturesandtreatmentstocomplementyourexistingkitchenmaterials.

Designers and manufacturers are even touting more thanonecountertopsurfaceinthesamekitchen.

“We’re also encouraging the use of a variety of countertop materials in the same kitchen.

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integrating Concrete Into Your Total Kitchen Design

if you’re undergoing a total kitchen re-model, then it’s a perfect time to work inconcrete,whether it’sacountertopforyourprimaryworkspace,atopforaneworexist-ingisland,oraconcretesink.

Youcanselectconcretecolorsandtexturesthatwillblendwellwithnewappliances,new flooring, and can be the inspirationfornewwallcolorsandlightingfixtures.

Many companies that specialize in concretecountertopshavetheaddedadvantageofexperi-enceinkitchendesign.

Forexample,Soupcaninc.,beganasamill-workkitchenandbathcompany.Thecom-pany introduced concrete, which is nowthe mainstay of the business. This back-ground provides the benefit of peripheralkitchen and bath issues, like the electrical,plumbing,anddesignissuesrelatedtocoun-tertopsandsinks.

Other companies, like countercast Designsinc.,specializeinintegratingconcretecoun-tertopsintothetotaldesignofakitchen.

“Eighty percent of the work is in the mold-making and design process.

It really has very little to do with concrete.”—KarenSMiTh,

Countercast Designs,

Surrey, British Columbia

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Frequently Asked QuestionsHow are concrete countertops made?

everyconcretecountertopcontractorhashisorherownpro-prietary construction method. Some of the common points andissuesinclude:

•countertopsaresometimesmadeonsite,butmoreoftentheyareproducedinashop,whereconditionsarecontrolled.contractorsuse special casting tables and then keep the countertop in theirpossessionwhileitiscuringanduntilitcanbeadequatelysealed.These“pre-casters”saytheycanproducehigherqualityproductsandflattersurfaces,whicharetheneasiertoinstall.

•countertopsaremadeofcement,lightweightaggregates,andacombinationofadditives.

•additives such as fiber reinforcement, silica fume pozzolan, andacrylicareoftenused.

• Some type of reinforcement is used, usually structural steel,wire mesh, fiberglass, and/or fibers.Sometimesmore thanonetypeofreinforcementisused.

•Thecountertopsarecured.

•countertopsareoftenground.Forexample,Jeffgirard,ownerofFormworks,grindsoffthesurface“skin”withaseriesofpro-gressivelyfinediamondpolishingstones.Thisachievestwoim-portantobjectives–durabilityandbeauty.

• countertops are always sealed.The type of seal, method andnumberofcoatsofsealerisuniquetoeachconcretecontractor.

“The aspect of our tops that are the most attractive to people are that we hand finish all of our countertops in place giving them a truly unique and imperfect look.”

—paTricKM.rOgerS,Summit Professional Builders Inc.,

San Rafael, CA

How thick are concrete countertops?Thestandardslabthicknessis1.5inches.Two-inchslabsare

alsoquitecommon. it ispossible tomakea thickercountertop,andisusuallydoneforaestheticreasons.ifa6inchslabisde-sired,thebackandcenterarestill1.5inchesthickandthefront“grows”tothedesiredthickness.Soitstilllooks6inchesthick,butisonly6inchesthickinthefront.

How much do concrete countertops weigh?a 1.5 inch thick standard concrete countertop weighs about

18.75poundspersquarefoot.(graniteisapproximately18poundsper square foot.)Thecountertopweightcanbe less if lightweightconcreteisused.Butsomecountertopcontractorswillnotuselight-weightconcretebecauseithaslessstrength.

Standardcabinetrywillsupporttheconcreteslabsastheweightofthecountertopsisdistributedoveralargearea.

How much do concrete countertops cost?concretecountertopsareacustom-craftedmaterialforhigh-

enduse.Someconsumersthinkofconcreteasbeingacheaperalterna-

tive toother availablecountertop surfaces.Butwhenyou thinkaboutbuyingaconcretecountertop,youshoulddosobasedonitsbeauty,artistry,andcustomization.

The price of the concrete countertop is broken down intocountertopconstruction,shipping(ifrequired),andinstallation.

Standard1.5inchthickconcretecountertopsrangefrom$65to$125persquarefoot.

Theseitemsaddtothecost: –irregularorcurvedshapes –2inchthickconcrete –integraldrainboards –customedges –Backsplashes

What about shipping and installation?countertop contractors in almost all cases install their own

productintheirmarketarea,eliminatingshippingexpenses.Ship-pingmethodandcarrier,forthosefirmsthatdoship,variesbycon-tractor.Discussthiswiththecontractor.

installation, when done by the countertop contractors,runsinthe$40-$50perhour,perperson,range.

Otherinstallations,suchasthosewhenthecountertophasbeenshipped,shouldbedonebyacontractorexperiencedininstallingcountertops.ratesvarybyregion.Thecountertopsarrivetothesiteinacompletedstateandnomodificationsshouldbeneeded.

Most of the concrete countertop contractors provide detailedinstallationinstructions.requesttheseinstructionsandmakesureyourinstallerunderstandstheinstallationinstructionspriortothecountertopsarrivingonthejobsite.

Will my concrete countertop stain?concretecountertopshavesealersappliedforwaterandstainre-

sistance.(leftinitsnaturalstate,unsealed,concreteisporousandwillstain.)

Soupcan inc. makes their countertops more permeable—meaninglessstainresistant-byaddingwaterconditionerstotheircountertopmixformulation.Thisaffectsthecapillarystructureoftheconcreteitself.

10 Find a Contractor in Your Local Area — www.ConcreteNetwork.com


11

JeffgirardatFormworkshascreatedacountertopthatdoesn’tstain.hissealingsystemusesaheavy-duty industrial-gradesealerthatisfood-safe,colorlessandnon-yellowing.

he’sevenputthesealeruptoagruelingtest,slatheringtur-mericspiceandoil,ketchup,mustard,balsamicvinegar,cof-fee,andlemonjuicealloverthesample,lettingitsitformorethan 100 hours. The sealer did not stain. he’s also placed a450-degreepandirectlyonthesealerwithoutscorching,burn-ing,orbubbling.

How should I care for my concrete countertop?

•Don’tcutonconcretecountertops.itwon’thurttheconcrete,butitwilldamagethesealer,whichkeepsoutwaterandstains.

•alwaysusecuttingboardswhenchoppingandpreparingfoods.

•avoidplacinghotpansonconcretecountertops.concreteisveryheatresistant,but,again,theconcernisdamagingordis-coloringthesealer.

•consideraskingyourcontractortobuildintrivets(beforethecountertopisinstalled).Somewillbuildinsteel,brassorcop-per.Thesetypeoftrivetsnotonlycontributetothetotaldesignofyourcountertopandkitchen,butthey’refunctional,too.

•avoid abrasive soaps or cleansers. concreteworks Studio recom-mends a mild, non-abrasive, non-ammonia soap for daily cleaning.TheysuggestSimplegreen (dilutedas instructed)orDr.Bronner’snaturalsoap(fivepartswater,onepart soap).Soupcan, inc. recom-mendsaneutralphcleanserandwarmwater.Theysayyoushouldavoidusingabrasivepads.

•Followtheinstructionsprovidedbyyourconcretecontractor.

What else should I expect with a concrete countertop?likeanyothermaterial,concretehaspropertiesthatrequire

special care and attention. One of the biggest questions thatcomesupiswhetherconcretecountertopswilldevelopcracks.Theanswer:notalways,butconcretecountertopscandevelophairlinecracks.Thecrackstendtobenon-structuralandresultfromthenaturalshrinkageoftheconcrete.

Butmanyviewthisunpredictable,imperfectqualityasoneofthemanyassetsofconcrete.

eachconcretecountertopcontractorhashisorherownrein-forcementmethod.Forinstance,Soupcaninc.usesfiberreinforc-ingtechnology.Theybelievetheirproprietaryformulationdrasti-callyreducesthechancesforbothstructuralandhairlinecracking.The conventional wire mesh and rebar reinforcement acts onlyaftercrackinghasoccurred.

Other contractors have success using rebar, mesh, fiber rein-forcement,and/orothermethodsofreinforcement.

nomatterwhatreinforcingmethodisused,hairlinecracks,whicharenon-structural,maystilloccur.


About the Concrete networkThe Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com), lo-cated in Yucaipa, Calif., is the largest and most compre-hensive resource online for concrete information. Over 1 million people visit the site each month to read articles, get design ideas, and to search its extensive directory for a concrete contractor in their area.

Established in 1999, The Concrete Network’s purpose is to educate homeowners, contractors, builders, and designers on popular decorative techniques and appli-cations. With thousands of articles, photographs, and a comprehensive directory of concrete contractors, The Concrete Network is a repository of information about the industry’s products and services, including stamped concrete, stained concrete floors, concrete countertops, polished concrete, and much more.

The site excels at connecting buyers with local contractors in their area through its Find-A-Contractor service. The service provides visitors with a list of decorative concrete contractors throughout the U.S. and Canada, and is fully searchable by 23 types of decorative concrete work and 200 regional areas throughout North America. The direc-tory is organized by area and specialty, such as patios, pool decks, driveways, countertops, floors, stamped con-crete, and water features, among many others.

Site visitors can choose their local area and view concrete contractors and concrete products, obtain full contact infor-mation for the listed businesses, and contact them directly.

The Concrete Network was founded by Jim Peterson, a former Vice President of a major concrete company in Riverside, Calif. During the 1999 World of Concrete Trade Show in Las Vegas, Peterson had the idea to cre-ate an industry portal on the World Wide Web for all things related to concrete.


Eight Tips for Hiring a

Concrete Contractor

Use this guide to make sure you’re prepared when it comes to hiring a contractor. These 8 simple steps are your key to knowing what information you should look for, what ques-tions you should ask, and to understanding some vital do’s and don’ts during the process.

Your preparedness can make a difference in how smoothly your project gets installed. Print a copy of this diagram and refer to it through each step of your project. Before you know it, you’ll be en-joying your new concrete too!

12 Find a Contractor in Your Local Area — www.ConcreteNetwork.com



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ConCrete in the KitChen Countertops & Sinks · concrete into any shape, color it to match virtually...

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