Hello,

I am not sure if this is the right spot for this or not. If not where should i post it?

I am wanting to try my hand at another concrete top. My last attempt was using quickcrete 5000. My issue with the last attempt was that the edges really were very ruff with alot of exposed aggregate.

my process in building it was to use melamine and caulk the edges to give it a slight rounding look which it did, aside from them being so ruff. I vibrated the entire top with a sander to try and settle the concrete. Recently on this old house i saw they built some and they did not vibrate at all in fact there process was different then what i have read

How do i get my edges to be smooth?

Thanks.

 

Never tried to make a counter top, but I have used a grinder to remove an inch or two in spots and I've always been impressed with the color of the stones when polished. Somewhere many years ago I saw them use selected stones and add them to the top and just push them into the mix until flush. Then, when they put the grinder to it they they ground off the tops of those stones.

Today they sell diamond faced grinders and they do a fantastic job. I would think there are books on this so you won't have to reinvent the wheel. Delaware river rock comes to mind as a very colored collection of stones.

Take pictures.
Bud

 

I can't imagine a good result without vibration, as you build concrete countertops upside down and need to vibrate it into all the spaces in the forums or you end up with voids in your finished product.

 

See that is what i thought too. When i watched it, the gentleman sprayed a first layer over the bottom. Then, i believe, he spread the rest by hand i mean his hand. I will have to watch again, but the technique was different then I would have ever thought it would have been done.

I was wondering too if maybe the reason i was seeing aggregate on my edges was that the quickcrete 5000 just had larger pieces of sand in it. I know there is concrete that says it is specially for counter tops so didn't know if there was a difference or not besides price?

 

I saw that episode...and it seems like he sprayed the sides a bit and only did 1" lifts at a time? He also filled the center with styrofoam at the 2"(?) level to reduce weight but not strength. He also used the fiber additive which may be included in the counter specific mix.

You are right...not what I've seen on other shows where they demonstrated the technique...no vibration at all...but those didn't use bare hands to place it in the forms either.

 

Here is the ATOH episode that is mentioned: Concrete Counters, Plumbing Connections | Ask TOH Episodes | Ask This Old House TV | This Old House

You need to use the concrete mix that is designed for counter tops. Big orange sells it.