The worth of concrete counter tops customization increases aesthetic appeal and
The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Visual Appeal and
The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Visual Appeal and Property Financial investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating homeowners are demanding customized styles and surfaces in their kitchen areas. In particular, they are seeking to express their individuality and distinct design choices with the quick growing style product of option concrete.
In reality, concrete countertops have become somewhat of a status sign for kitchen areas, measuring up to granite and other high-end countertop surface area choices. Consumer Reports Magazine (August 2004) ranked concrete greatest for its modification and exclusivity amongst high-end kitchen area countertops.
As a customized product, the amount of time and workmanship required to produce concrete countertops puts them as the most labor-intensive and priciest among leading countertop products.
However, concrete counter tops are ending up being more available for those on a modest budget. The most recent do-it-yourself (DIY) trend to captivate property owners and contractors is building your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gotten popularity largely due to Chengs very popular book Concrete Countertops: Design, Kinds, and Ends Up for the New Kitchen Area and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains emergency plumbing service of dealing with concrete abound.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, homeowners are moving far from the monotonous, manufactured appearance of standard counter top surfaces and picking concrete for its earthy, classic appeal. Plus, the options for individualizing concrete countertops are limitless: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed personal things like stones, seashells and fossils into the countertops surface area, adding sentiment and character. Practical functions such as drain boards, soap dishes, and trivets can likewise be integrated to match the homeowners own requirements and lifestyle.
Concrete is gradually ending up being debunked as typically cold and commercial. In contrary, this olden material is warm and surprisingly tactile; people can not help however touch their smooth, polished surfaces. Real estate representative Delight Rasmussen, who has just recently offered her mountain home a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO states her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops many people around here have actually never ever seen them.
Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was custom-made develop by her spouse, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Unique Custom Houses. They built pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes kitchen area and three bathrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete counter tops were polished smooth, then coupled with natural slate of differing colors like charcoal, rust and gold tones that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a style accent, little rectangle-shaped slate tiles were added to the rim of the restroom sinks, which offered a distinct information to the customized vanities.
When Delight and Ken decided to sell their house, their investment in concrete counter tops proved its value. We had the ability to note the house $20,000 over market value, and had no problems selling it, comments Delight, while talking about the long list of upgrades throughout their house, consisting of knotty pine strong doors, natural slate wall accents and wood floorings. The concrete counter tops were easily the affordable plumbing company most distinct and remarkable of all the surfaces. I think they were a substantial part in including value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite countertops and I really think property buyers are getting quite numb with granite.
Concrete countertops are a distinct offering to property buyers who see the very same surfaces utilized in home after house they check out, discusses Delight, offering her observation as a seasoned realtor. Having concrete countertops almost gives you boasting rights you have something various from your next-door neighbors.
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another advantage of concrete is its versatility in either modern-day or traditional settings, specifically when combined with other materials like varied metals, wood or stone. Concrete adds so many [possibilities] to stone, and the combination with slate, which is extremely popular here, offers the mountain homes a total warm, natural touch, states Delight.
Joy and Ken have given that developed a much bigger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is implied to serve as a long-term financial investment for the couple. Theyve likewise expanded their list of customized finishes, including hand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favorite concrete cooking area counter tops.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialized crew poured charcoal-colored counter tops utilizing the pre-cast technique in the incomplete basement of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled a variety of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Blue-green. After the surface area was ground and gently polished, the completed result was an outstanding mix of colors, Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible, says Delight.
The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic stone appearance, matching its rugged nation environments. An important drain board and trivets offers function and included interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall accents, and a butcher block counter top at the kitchen area island all resonate with the conventional heat and earthiness of the concrete counter tops.
Joy and Kens respective backgrounds in real estate and customized homebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have helped them recognize that concrete countertops can include incredible aesthetic and financial value to a home. Concretes customization and show-stopping appeal is like no other counter top surface area. Cheng is a proponent of psychological aesthetics and developing homes that record these feelings, as in the case of Pleasure and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: People truly desire differentiation, something individual, something customized and concrete can do that for them.
