Facts & Questions

Who would want concrete countertops?

Concrete countertops are the most unique, personal countertop option because they are made from scratch for each client. To determine whether concrete is right for you, think about whether you believe that:

you want something unique and personalized.
you want something that looks natural and has character.
you appreciate high-quality, handcrafted items.
you think granite is too shiny, too formal, too common.
you think synthetic solid-surface materials look and feel like plastic.
you need a color or visual texture that’s not available with other countertop materials.

If so, concrete countertops may be right for you.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of concrete compared to other countertop materials?

Advantages:

Custom: Concrete’s biggest advantage is that it is completely custom. Your countertop will be unique to you and highly personalized.
Versatile: Concrete is extremely versatile. It can enhance any style, from French country to contemporary, from arts and crafts to industrial, from traditional to modern. The possibilities are endless.
Practical: Zenstoneworks’s proprietary sealer provides a surface that is extremely stain resistant and low maintenance. Common food items will not stain it. The sealer does not degrade, and therefore does not need to be reapplied every year like many other sealers. The sealer also exhibits great heat resistance. You can put hot pots on the countertop without trivets.
Lead Time: Zenstoneworks’s can template, process, and install your concrete with a two-week turnaround.
Variation: Concrete is an artisanal process made up of heterogeneous ingredients. Subtle variations in color, shade, texture, and overall appearance add character and depth. Concrete is handmade and hand-finished, exhibiting natural beauty rather than plastic perfection.

Disadvantages:

Staining: Concrete countertops actually behave similarly to granite in this regard. Granite countertops are also porous and have to be sealed and maintained. Most people don’t realize this, because granite is usually too dark and patterned to show stains. Food, acids, and oil will not stain your countertop if wiped up. If left on for a longer period of time, they will cause only a light spot whose appearance can be minimized with a touch-up kit.
Scratching: While the sealer is very durable, it is possible to scratch it. For example: In kitchens, you should use cutting boards on concrete countertops.

How much do they cost?

Custom concrete is competitive with granite, ranging from $70 to over $100 per square foot, and is more affordable than products such as Caesarstone, Silestone, soapstone, and similar solid-surface products. We are happy to work with you and your designer to give you an estimate on your project, and we can help you with options to fit your budget.

Where can I use concrete in my home?

Zenstoneworks makes concrete countertops for kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace mantles, tables, desks, and anywhere else countertops are required.
Concrete countertops can be straight, curved, notched, multi-level, etc. Unlike granite, which would drastically increase in cost for curved shapes, creating curved concrete shapes simply involves some extra complexity and labor in forming.
Concrete can also be used in vertical applications such as backsplashes, shower surrounds, and fireplace surrounds. For vertical applications, concrete is generally one-inch thick.
Maximum slab length for standard-depth countertops is about 10 feet. This extended length is longer than most solid-surface products, reducing the number of seams. Seams are located around sinks and cooktops, or wherever required for structural reasons. Zenstoneworks will work with you to design seam placement that is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. Seams are typically 1/16" wide, similar to tile grout lines. However, it is important to realize that concrete countertops are handmade and hand-processed; they are not machine cut, so tolerances for seams are more generous than with granite. Seam appearance is minimized by using color-matched acrylic caulk.
Integral and vessel sinks are possible. See the section on sinks for more information.
Concrete countertops can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Zenstoneworks also casts sills, thresholds, corner shelves, and other pieces for custom shower designs.

What colors are available?

Any color! Zenstoneworks has a wide spectrum of proprietary custom colors. We also color match to any Benjamin Moore color swatch. Any color can be produced in a solid, speckled, or variegated pattern, and further customized with embedded stone, glass, or other objects.

How much color variation can occur?

Concrete is a natural, handmade material. Many factors, such as humidity, sand lot, and cement lot, can affect the final appearance of the concrete. All of our color formulas record the type of sand, type of cement, and exact measurements of pigments to 1/10th of a gram, and we use specially developed software to calculate mix design. Zenstoneworks specializes in custom color development. We will cast a 12"x12" sample tile for client approval prior to casting. It is important to understand a whole countertop will not appear as uniform. The same situation occurs with other natural materials such as granite.

What edges are available?

Edge choices depend on the availability of appropriate trim moulding. Zenstoneworks offers a catalog of over 20 different edge profiles, from raw split rock facing to Victorian crown mouldings. Edging may be placed on top or bottom of the countertop.

What kind of sinks can be used withconcrete countertops?

Zenstoneworks’s concrete countertops can accommodate all types of sinks, including drop-in, undermount, and apron front. The minimum lip of concrete around all sides of sinks is three inches. Concrete can also accommodate drop-in cooktops. The minimum lip of concrete in the front of a cooktop is three inches; we recommend three inches for the back also, but two inches will suffice.

Zenstoneworks can make integral concrete sinks of almost any shape (see our portfolio). Bathroom vanities are an excellent application of integral concrete sinks. We do not recommend integral concrete kitchen sinks for engineering reasons. Kitchen sinks are deep and have angles that would put large stresses on the concrete and have high potential for cracking. Also, the size of kitchen sinks generally dictates a very thick concrete bottom that would be a problem with standard plumbing and cabinetry.

Concrete vessel sinks are also possible, and concrete’s versatility means the sink can be any color and shape.

What about backsplashes?

Backsplashes are cast and finished separately and deck mounted after the countertops are installed. Backsplashes are nominally one-inch thick and can be from three inches high to full height. Outlet openings are cast in, not cut on site.

Will concrete countertops stain?

Zenstoneworks’s concrete countertops are sealed to prevent staining. We use a high-performance sealer that is exceptionally durable and provides excellent resistance to incidental contact with staining agents, such as red wine, lemon juice, and olive oil. Complete care instructions are includedin your Owner’s Guide. Touch-up of any marks that do occur is simple and easy.

Will they scratch?

While the sealer is durable, it can scratch if cut with a knife or subjected to heavy, sharp objects dragged across the surface. Cutting on the concrete may compromise the integrity of the sealer and allow stains to permeate the concrete matrix. Cutting on the concrete will also ruin knives, requiring a professional resharpening to reshape the damaged edge. Remember: Concrete is made with stone, the same thing used to sharpen knives (and will therefore dull them just as easily). If you do scratch a countertop, the sealer can be easily repaired.

Can I put hot pots on the countertops?

While concrete can tolerate high heat, the sealer is not designed for extended periods of heat exposure. Repeated exposure to heat can cause the sealer to show micro-cracks. We recommend the use of trivets and pot holders. We can also embed trivets into the concrete next to your cooktop.

How are concrete countertops made?

Zenstoneworks precasts all concrete in our controlled shop environment. In the structural engineering community, it is well known that precast concrete is superior to cast in place concrete, mainly because tighter quality control can be exercised. Curing, which is a critical step that is commonly misunderstood, can be closely monitored. Moving the process to a shop allows greater customization as well.

Are there any special structural considerations?

Typically, no special considerations are necessary for standard kitchen or bathroom vanity countertops. Cantilevered slabs, bar tops on knee walls, and similar situations sometimes require brackets or other structural supports for the countertops.

Do you offer a warranty?

Yes. Zenstoneworks warrantees the structural integrity of the concrete for one year after installation. The countertops will of course last a lot longer than a year, but if any problems were to occur, they would occur in the first year. We subject the concrete to much larger stresses while handling it than clients ever could once it is installed. In addition, Zenstoneworks provides each client with an owner’s guide and a direct phone number for support from Owner Lenny Cushing.