So, which bag of Quikrete should you bring home? If you have any experience with home improvement, you need no convincing about the strengths of concrete as a building material. It will let you set your posts pronto and finish the project faster. BEST FOR BUILDING CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS: Quikrete Countertop Mix. We also put two air nails in each corner to ensure there are no gaps. An outdoor paradise is even more inviting when you can deck it out with outdoor kitchens, fire pits, benches, hot tubs, and other elements—though the extra weight of these sorts of furnishings could benefit from a concrete patio will add up. The special blend of cement, sand, and gravel can be poured directly into a posthole and then topped with water—no mixing required. With concrete mixes from Quikrete—a company that has nearly 80 years in the business—building a breathtaking outdoor space is as simple as adding the right amount of water to the mix, pouring the prepared concrete, then letting it cure. Traditional Concrete Countertop Mix If you use a traditional sand, gravel, water mix you will have a high porosity low strength concrete (3000 psi compressive strength) concrete countertop. Next we need to create the sides of our form. Minimal concrete shrinkage along with vibration during curing will guarantee smooth countertops without unsightly dimples or voids. Now its time to pour the rest of the form you do not needs to sift through the mix for this part. With constant use ketchup, wine, blueberries and many other products will stain the counter. We are wet sanding top prevent scratches in the surface and also eliminate dust. Now pour the edges and adjutant again with your fingers. Whether they frame the lawn, flower beds, trees, or a footpath, concrete lawn borders help define and showcase your home’s most enchanting outdoor features. Ahead, we break down exactly which concrete product you should buy for five popular outdoor DIYs, and why, so your concrete creations will stand the test of time. To ensure an easy pour and a smooth, impact-resistant surface for either outdoor or indoor meals, look for a concrete mix with additives that boost flowability and give the concrete high compressive strength, such as Quikrete Countertop Mix. The styrofoam should be flush with the top of the mold. The ideal concrete for a new patio that won’t chip, crack, or spall anytime soon under all of the pressures of entertaining (literal and figurative) needs high-compressive strength like Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix. You’ll want to wet sand lightly with 200 then 400 grit diamond sanding discs. Now we need to put our form together by screwing the sides to the base. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. We chose this over reg concrete because its much less porous and therefore much less stain resistant and is 3 times stronger which allows us to pour a thinner slab. Use your fingers to agitate and shake the mix to release any air bubbles. I used Flat out countertop mix from Butterfeild. Share it with us! The Dos and Don’ts of Setting a Fence Post, 12 Fast-Growing Shrubs to Plant This Fall, The Most Affordable Ways to Fence in a Yard, 12 Tips and Tricks We Learned from Professional Movers. For our concrete kitchen countertop, we used Butterfield Colour mix, with Surecrete Concrete Countertop Sealer. There are many brands on the market your best to contact your local supplier and see which brand they stock. https://www.surecretedesign.com/product/concrete-c... Pikachu Bedside Table - a Diy Furniture Project Inspired by Pokemon. After you apply the caulking you need to shape it right away be fore it gets too sticky or dry. The countertop will set within 18 hours of pouring, but within a month it will reach an impressive compressive strength of 6,000 psi to stand the test of time. A concrete that strong can even handle vehicle traffic, so you can be sure entertaining family and friends on your backyard patio will be no problem. I’m Heidi. This type of countertop will be supportable to staining, cracking and will need to be poured thicker to maintain strength ( at least 1.5″ thick). Those are gorgeous! Pour on the slurry and massage in to the concrete with your fingers.then with a trowel, gently remove any excess slurry. Did you make this project? There are various ways to mix concrete that will effect porosity and strength. Quikrete 5000 has aggregate the size of pea gravel. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. And don’t forget to pre-drill your holes to prevent splitting. By Manasa Reddigari. Follow this video tutorial on building a concrete lawn border to add character and definition to your yard today. These tend to be far more durable. This countertop mix is glassfiber reinforced, polymer modified, self consolidating, and holds a compressive strength of 11,000 psi. If your using traditional concrete mix 1 part portland cement, 2 parts sand, 2 parts pea gravel or 1/4 ” crush washed gravel. If your after a flat look with limited aggregate exposed. This mix doesn’t use water so it eliminates the air pockets left behind when water evaporates from the traditional concrete mix mentioned above. The first thing we need is a sheet of 3/4 “ melamine to make our forms. In order to lighten the weight of the slab a little but, we going to use a Styrofoam spacer that is 3/4 of a. That’s where Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix comes in. Quikrete countertop mix has much smaller aggregate that is the size of sand. It should be similar to the consistency of oatmeal. One recommendation I would give when looking for a good sealer is make use it is a two part sealer. Let mold sit for 48 hours with traditional mix or as little as 3 hrs with polymer modified mix. Meanwhile, the mix’s low water-to-cement ratio yields a high-strength, hard-wearing concrete. Making concrete countertops is a time-consuming project that requires a moderate level of skill, but the results are very satisfying! If your using traditional concrete mix you will need to make it a minimum of 1.5″ thick. Use a high quality sealer specifically designed for counter tops. This is by far the cheapest way to make your own countertop at just .50 cents a square ft for materials and it may look great for a year or two. You may also need a diamond cup grinding wheel to remove any heavy deposits of concrete on the back side of the countertop pour. Now before we start pouring, it is extremely important that you’re working on a perfectly level surface. This is probably the most important step. Using foam as filler is such a good idea too. On my page, you will find DIY projects; from woodworking, to concrete work. Traditional Concrete Countertop MixIf you use a traditional sand, gravel, water mix you will have a high porosity low strength concrete (3000 psi compressive strength) concrete countertop. To do this you will needs to sift out the stones and fiberglass from your concrete powder. Next were going to screw down the foam to prevent it from floating when we pour the edges. Its super-plasticizer additive yields an ultra-flowable concrete so it’s easy to fill the form and get a smooth finish without much work. Host a backyard barbecue, plate up poolside hors d’oeuvres, or pour your guests a cold one—you can do it all and more with a concrete countertop! We need to make sure there is no dust or residue on the form. Since the base of the form is exactly the size of our countertop, the sides need to be attached to the outside, not on top. Take a peek at the video tutorial to see for yourself how quick and easy it is to set your own posts with Quikrete. Sleek and attractive as granite or marble but a fraction of the cost, concrete is durable, economical, and DIY-friendly, perfect for constructing outdoor features, patios, and even furniture and decorative pieces. First I vacuumed it and then I cleaned it with paint thinner (you could also use acetone or dish soap). Quikrete Crack-Resistant Concrete Mix is a great option. So do some research online and see what else you can find. We didn’t want much aggregate showing so we did a very light sand. I used Surecrete concrete countertop sealer but there are many other good products out there. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Scoop, shovel or pour the concrete into the countertop form. I've got horrible speckled brown countertops and concrete might be a good solution for replacing :D, About: Hi! Inch thick so we only need to pour the mix 3/4 of an inch thick. In this DIY concrete countertop tutorial, I'm going to walk you though the process of creating the form, pouring, and polishing your very own. The original Quikrete recognizable by its iconic yellow bag reaches an impressive compressive strength of 4,000 psi within a month, which is more than enough for any indoor or outdoor concrete project. If your looking for a high shine finish you’ll want to wet sand starting with 200 grit , then 400, 800 and finally 1000 grit diamond sanding discs. The countertop mix has a plasticizer additive which makes it so you need less water to get a flowable mix. Even better? Are you replacing a fence, mailbox, or lamppost, or installing a swing set or basketball hoop for the kids? Stop dreaming about that private outdoor oasis and start building it with concrete!