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Tulsa OK 74145
Phone: 918-301-4737
Happy Friday Friends! I hope you have exciting plans for this weekend, maybe you’re even hoping to get a project in! If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your house, Tim and I have a great suggestion for you today!
It’s no secret that Tim and I are concrete lovers. Sidenote- Our next DIY Concrete Class in coming up on August 11th. You can find more information here if you’re interested. Anyway, Tim and I have been using concrete products for a long time. Many of those products have come from a company called ARDEX, which just recently became a blog sponsor of ours! Yay!
ARDEX has a number of products, most of which are centered around concrete flooring and refinishing. However, if you like to think out of the box and be a little more creative, there is so much more you can do with AREDEX’s amazing products! We figured if the ARDEX overlays were meant to withstand the wear and tear that floors receive, it could certainly hold up for a countertop installation. And when we were creating a plan for Heather’s bar area, it seemed like the perfect place to use ARDEX’s Feather Finish product.
As you can see in the photos below, there were 2 countertops in Heather’s bar area: wood, laminate, and a wood/marble combo.
Here’s the great thing about ARDEX- you can apply it over the top of almost any surface. You just have to make sure to prepare the surface correctly. Any smooth finish will need to be roughed up to provide a surface that the ARDEX can grip onto. You also want to make sure the surface you are covering is structurally sound. If there are cracks in the surface, this indicates that movement is occurring and your concrete may crack if the problem is not addressed before hand.
For this particular project, we sanded the wood and marble surfaces and opted to remove the laminate layer from the main countertop. When we removed the laminate, particleboard was revealed underneath. Because of its rough texture the particleboard provided a great surface for us to overlay onto. Tim lightly sanded to remove any remaining adhesive.
Here are the materials you will need:
– ARDEX Feather Finish
– a bucket for mixing
– A drill attachment mixer (or you can mix by hand with a small trowel
– a drywall “knife”
– a drywall mud tray (if desired, not essential)
– a trowel (not pictured below)
First, mix up the concrete by simply adding water to the Feather Finish product. Add water and continue to stir until you get to a thin pancake batter consistency. Next you will want to allow the mixture to “flash set.” That means once it is mixed, allow the product to sit for 5 minutes, then stir again for a minute or two. This helps the product to stay workable for longer.
Now you can apply the concrete to your roughed up countertop. Simply trowel it on in sweeping strokes. You will do a couple of coats, so don’t try to put too much on in the first coat.
Use a drywall knife when you are up against a wall, in a corner, or doing edges. It is easier to control in these areas than the trowel.
Edges and curves can be tricky. Tim and I have found the best way to cover them is to trowel on what you can for the first coat, but on the second and possibly third coat, let your mixture dry just a bit to almost a clay like consistency and then use you fingers to “sculpt” your edge. You can also use a plastic bag to help smooth a round over edge.
I really like the artisan look of hand troweled concrete so I like to see the trowel marks in the surface. However, if you prefer a smooth surface, you can achieve that look with more sanding.
You may find that some product makes it’s way up onto the wall surrounding your surface as the photo below shows.
To remove this simply wrap a small putty knife in a towel (to give you a strong edge) and wipe along the surface to give you that nice clean edge!
Once you are happy with the coverage of the product (usually 3 coats) and have completed your last sanding you’ll have countertops that look something like this. . .
If you would like to stain the countertops, you can do 2 coats of the Feather Finish product and then 2 coats of ARDEX’s SD-M product. The Feather Finish will not accept stain evenly, but the SD-M will.
Now it’s time for sealing. The process is super simple. You simply wipe the product on with a sponge, allow to dry, and repeat a number of times. We used this concrete sealer (below), but where ever you buy your ARDEX should supply a product that works the same way.
And here’s how the countertops will look when you’re finished. . .
You can find your local ARDEX distributor right here!
Now, this process is doable, but there are some things that you just learn better with hands-on experience. To get some of the that experience and individual instruction, you can attend our next concrete class on August 11th! Click here to learn more!!
*Disclaimer- We choose to do projects that we believe will enhance homes and be lasting. However, sometimes our applications are not specifically suggested by Ardex. If you are concerned with warranty policies, please refer to the ARDEX Feather Finish technical data sheet for instructions and warranty information. ARDEX only guarantees recommended and approved applications outlined in the ARDEX Feather Finish technical data sheet. For more information, visit www.ardexamericas.com.
What a great transformation! Looks beautiful. Megan
Love it! 🙂
Wow! This is awesome! So glad to have an option for concrete counters that doesn’t require pouring (and supporting!!) a big, poured rectangle!
I’m thinking I HAVE to do this in my kids’ bathroom! Thanks for the step by step. Love that you can do it right on top of the surface like that!
Looks awesome! Have you had any issues with it cracking since it’s a thin surface? I could see a can or hard object fall on it and cracking the concrete since it’s pretty thin. The existing surface would have to be very secure with little give.
that is awesome! I have a countertop that needs this! did you use stain on this one? I like the color variation I’m seeing on yours and wondering how you achieved that? also – my countertop is a piece of wood that has never been attached. can I remove it to do this technique and then set it back on the cupboard or would it best to nail it down first?
thanks so much – i can’t wait to hear from you!
I used to work in the stone countertop industry, and have been wanting concrete countertops for a long time. Do the counters with this finish still have the heat resistant and stain resistant properties? I just wanted to make sure it is still as durable as regular concrete. Thank you for the step by step instructions, they are BEAUTIFUL! How much did this cost?
Jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
http://www.warfieldfamily.com
Thanks Megan!
Thanks Jaime! ARDEX is AWESOME!!! 🙂
Hey Staci! Yes, ARDEX is a wonderful option to avoid the heaviness of poured concrete but get a very similar look! 🙂
Kim, you have to send us a photo when you do! Just make sure the surface you are overlaying on is sturdy and not cracking before you start to apply the ARDEX! 🙂
Thanks Nate! The ARDEX will only crack if the surface you apply it to is experiencing movement. Basically your foundation needs to be secure or Ardex isn’t the best option. As far as chipping, you’d be very surprised at how durable the surface is. This product was made for floors in commercial spaces, so it can withstand a lot of wear and tear.
Hey Jill! We did not use stain on this countertop. The color variation you see is due to the trowel marks we created when applying the product. But you can stain ARDEX. The stain should be available wherever you buy your ARDEX. As long as your piece of wood is nice and thick (so it won’t bend when you’re installing it) It would be easier to take the piece of wood off and apply the ARDEX and then attach it, but you could absolutely do it either way! 🙂
Hey Jessica! The sealer you apply to the countertops will keep the surface from staining. You know it’s time to reapply the sealer when you get water on the surface and it immediately gets dark. As far as heat, it should be fine. I wouldn’t place a pan directly from the oven on top of the surface though just to be sure. We’d love to see pictures if you take the project on! 🙂
Thanks for the response!
How thick do you apply each layer? And would you recommend uninstalling the sink (or any other cutouts) first and reinstalling it after the Ardex is dry? Does it end up raising the sink?
LOVE THIS!!! Just in time, too, because we were about to buy boring countertops! I love the color you used. It looks like it has beige in it, but it’s the gray Ardex product, right? I want to be sure I buy the right one. Any chance they look grayer in person than they do in the pictures? Thank you!
Also (sorry for so many questions!) what size bag did you use for this kitchen? I wish I lived in OK so I could come to your class. Thanks for the help!
I am going to attempt this as an alternative to buying new countertops, my concern is the sealer, I want something that will hold up to acid or oil stains but I am not able to obtain what you used above nor did my Ardex distributor offer anything. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Do you know if it is possible to have the concrete color in white?
Can you put this over 4×4 grouted tile?
Can you do this process over Formica counter tops?
Oh I was wondering that too!
Can you put this on top of painted concrete floors?
Thin layers are best and yes it is easier to uninstall the sink than to go around it. The ARDEX won’t raise the sink much (less than 1/4 of an inch.
Hi Lili! I’m pretty sure the bag only comes in one size and we only used one bag for this application. The photos are a good representation of the true color. There is a some browny beige areas (due to our troweling technique). We did not use stain on this particular countertop, but there are a lot of stain colors available for the product if that’s the look you want. Just remember to use the SD-M product if you are wanting to stain it.
Hey Autumn, you can buy the sealer here- http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/concrete-cement-masonry/concrete-sealer-repair/concrete-sealer/gst-international-satin-seal-concrete-sealer/p-1762085.htm
Yes, you just really have to scuff up the surface so that the ARDEX has something to adhere to. And remember, it’s not a good idea to do this if your tile is cracking. If you apply ARDEX to a cracked surface, it will eventually crack as well.
Yes, you just really have to scuff up the surface so that the ARDEX has something to adhere to. We’d love to see a photo if you take it on! 🙂
Yes, you just really have to scuff up the surface so that the ARDEX has something to adhere to. If the paint is chipping or peeling, it is a good idea to try and use a paint remover of some sort rather than go over the top of it. We’d love to see a photo if you take it on! 🙂
Lets see how that thin concrete finish holds up in a year…
This product has been designed to overlay commercial flooring. I have used it for a couple of years and haven’t had any adhesion issues. As far as staining goes, it is like any other porous surface (traditional concrete, granite, marble, and other natural stones) and it is only good as the sealer you put on it. You should have any problems if you clean up spills in a somewhat timely manner and maintain your sealer coat. I like this sealer because it is really easy to sponge on a new coat of sealer with a sponge and clean up with water.
Sorry that you have had an experience with concrete that has made you skeptical, but ARDEX really is a great product.
ARDEX does offer a white product. I can’t remember if it is available in the Feather Finish or the SD-M product. I haven’t ever used it or seen it applied, but I have heard of contractors needing to use it to achieve certain colors.
Thank you! Also it seems Home Depot doesn’t have a good sense of what to use to sand the Ardex product, do I need a certain grit or sander? Ia appreciate your help, we’re in process of taking the laminate off this week, so hopefully this project will be finished sometime soon
Hey Autumn- You don’t need a special sandpaper for the ARDEX. Anything at Home Depot or Lowe’s should work. As far as grit goes, to smooth out your first coat you could use 80 grit, but for the final coat (as long as it is already fairly smooth) I suggest 220. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
What a wonderful idea! Approximately how much did these two surfaces cost to do with everything needed? I went to ARDEX’s website but couldn’t find any prices.
Hi there! This is such a great solution to my ugly tie countertops! My question is, can I add concrete pigment to the feather finish product? I can’t get the sdm where I live (I have to buy the feather finish at amazon!) but I want beige countertops. It was recommended that I use a powdered pigment…is that compatible with this project? Thanks!
If you could contact us directly from the Contact tab at the top of the page, I think we should be able to find a solution for you.
If I remember correctly I used a little more than one bag of ARDEX Feather Finish and one bag of ARDEX SD-M. The Feahter Finish bag says it will cover 33 sqft at 1/8″ thickness and 16 soft at 1/4″. I generally don’t let my coats get that thick so I think those estimates are a little low. The SD-M bag says it can cover 80 to 100 soft in two coats. The place I buy sells the feather finish for about $18 a bag and $24 or $25 for a bag of SD-M. Depending on the size of your countertops you couldn’t out for less than $100.
How much additional weight does this process add to the counter top? I have concerns about the foundation of my current countertop and am not sure how to “shore up” the countertop before using ARDEX.
Awesome! Thanks so much! Can’t wait to give this a shot when we move into our new home at the end of the month….. where very ugly countertops await us in the kitchen. 🙂
I used around two bags of product on this entire project. Each bag weighs 10 lbs each, so no more than 20 lbs total spread over about 50 soft. It really isn’t much at all. As long as the counter is currently stable, I wouldn’t worry about the additional weight of this product.
Absoultely LOVE this! I have an ugly island countertop and really want to redo it, and LOVE this option! Does it come in a different color or can you do a stain? I really want countertops like this, but I like the acid stain to them or a colored stain.
taking off laminate is possibly the worst job in history!
Yes it is possible. The base coat, ARDEX Feather Finish, does not accept the stain evenly so you will need to add multiple layers of ARDEX SD-M. I believe you can color that with either method, acid stain or a water based stain, but you should check with your local distributor.
It can be. It all depends on the adhesive that was used. Try using a torch to heat the adhesive. Be careful not to light anything else on fire, but we have had good luck with this method.
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Thank you!
is ardex available in canada?
How long did this take from start to finish?