DIY Concrete Countertops

The Process

After removing the old laminate, we installed 1/2 inch cement board as the base for our concrete board. Then we also installed the Z forms. These are easily cut with a miter saw and screwed into place. I did it 8 months pregnant! Next, we laid out the fiber reinforcement mesh. Then, covered our entire kitchen in plastic to prepare for pouring the concrete counters. For more details on installation, check out my Instagram highlights.

Supplies List:

Below is nearly everything we needed aside from the cement board and a couple tools. I provided measurements and a rough drawing of our kitchen layout to Z Counterform. Who then pulled together the list of supplies and appropriate quantities in our order.

The Farmhouse Sink

Perhaps the most impactful part of this project was updating the builder-grade drop in sink to a single basin Farmhouse sink. We used the Crosstown from Elkay (sponsored). This elevated the look of our kitchen and offered so much more functionality with how much usable space it offered. You can see how we formed our countertop molds around the sink for a custom undermount installation. The apron front even slipped right over the front of my cabinets so that I didn’t have to cut them.

Pouring was definitely the most labor intensive part of this project. We learned to trowel the top smooth and tap the edges to release air bubbles. The Z Counterform tutorials were especially helpful.

The Finish

After snapping off the edge forms to reveal a perfect square edge (video below), and then sanding the concrete countertops smooth (holy dust), I applied 3 coats of Z Aqua-Poxy to seal them. Because concrete is porous this allows our new counters to be protected and offers a glossy finish that is similar to traditional stone countertops. You can view more on this process over on Instagram.

3 Month Update of our DIY Concrete Countertops

Now that I’ve had my DIY concrete countertops for a few months and have experienced cooking, cleaning, and day to day use on them, I’m happy to report that we are still in love! The epoxy finish makes them incredibly easy to clean, liquids don’t penetrate the seal, and we have not had any chipping or stains. I have been mindful of not putting hot pans directly on them but otherwise they seem to provide a ton of durability for my family of 5 and I would absolutely do it all over again! As with any DIY there are some imperfections, which just gives our counters character as if they were a natural stone. This was such a budget friendly solution to updating our countertops, made easy by Z Counterform. It was a pretty big project but absolutely worth it. The verdict is… DO IT!