The Worth of Concrete Countertops: Customization Increases Visual Appeal and
The Value of Concrete Countertops: Modification Boosts Aesthetic Appeal and Property Investment for Homeowners
From top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Location to stretching mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies, discriminating house owners are demanding customized designs and finishes in their kitchen areas. In particular, they are wanting to reveal their individuality and distinct style choices with the fast growing design material of option concrete.
In fact, concrete counter tops have become rather of a status symbol for kitchen areas, rivaling granite and other high-end countertop surface choices. Consumer Reports Publication (August 2004) ranked concrete greatest for its modification and exclusivity among high-end kitchen area countertops.
As a custom-made item, the quantity of time and craftsmanship required to produce concrete countertops places them as the most labor-intensive and most expensive amongst leading counter top materials.
However, concrete countertops are becoming more available for those on a modest spending plan. The latest diy (DO IT YOURSELF) trend to captivate house owners and home builders is developing your own concrete countertop. This phenomenon has gotten appeal largely due to Chengs best-selling book Concrete Countertops: Style, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen Area and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According to Cheng, there is little financial investment in making concrete countertops, yet the creative gains of dealing with concrete abound.
THE SHOWSTOPPER
Increasingly, house owners are moving far from the tedious, manufactured look of conventional countertop surfaces and selecting concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the alternatives for customizing concrete counter tops are endless: one can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed individual objects like stones, seashells and fossils into the countertops surface area, adding belief and character. Functional functions such as drain boards, soap meals, and trivets can likewise be integrated to fit the house owners own requirements and lifestyle.
Concrete is gradually ending up being demystified as typically cold and industrial. In contrary, this olden material is warm and surprisingly tactile; individuals can not assist but touch their smooth, polished surfaces. Realty representative Pleasure Rasmussen, who has actually recently sold her mountain home a short-term investment property in Steamboat Springs, CO recounts her visitors experiences with concrete: When I had open houses, visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops lots of people around here have actually never seen them.
Joys 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was customized develop by her husband, Ken Otterman, together with KJ Otterman, president of Classic Unique Custom-made Houses. They developed pour-in-place concrete counters for the homes kitchen and 3 bathrooms by utilizing Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-colored concrete countertops were polished smooth, then coupled with natural slate of varying colors like charcoal, rust and gold tones that forms the backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a design accent, little rectangle-shaped slate tiles were added to the rim of the bathroom sinks, which offered an unique detail to the custom vanities.
When Happiness and Ken decided to offer their house, their investment in concrete countertops proved its value. We had the ability to list the house $20,000 over market value, and had no problems offering it, comments Pleasure, while going over the long list of upgrades throughout their home, including knotty pine strong doors, natural slate wall accents and wood floorings. The concrete countertops were easily the most distinct and impressive of all the finishes. I think they were a substantial part in adding value to the home. Around here, all you see in homes are granite counter tops and I actually believe homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite.
Concrete countertops are an unique offering to homebuyers who see the exact same finishes used in home after house they check out, discusses Joy, using her observation as an experienced realtor. Having concrete countertops almost provides you boasting rights you have something different from your neighbors.
BREAKING THE MOLD
Another benefit of concrete is its versatility in either contemporary or standard settings, especially when paired with other products like diverse metals, wood or stone. Concrete includes so many [possibilities] to stone, and the mix with slate, which is extremely popular here, offers the mountain homes an overall warm, natural touch, says Joy.
Joy and Ken have actually considering that built a much bigger home (4,000 sq. ft.) that provides expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort and is indicated to work as a long-lasting financial investment for the couple. Theyve likewise broadened 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 kitchen counter tops.
Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty crew poured charcoal-colored counter tops using the pre-cast method https://cpeonline.ucdavis.edu/eportfolios/633/home/common-plumbing-issues-in-a-house in the unfinished basement of the new home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprayed a range of semi-precious stones in the mold consisting of Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and Blue-green. After the surface was ground and gently polished, the completed outcome was a remarkable blend of colors, Without a doubt, the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible, says Pleasure.
The L-shaped concrete counter top has a rough, rustic stone appearance, complementing its rugged country environments. An important drain board and trivets provides function and included interest to the concrete counter top. Natural slate backsplashes, unique wall accents, and a butcher block countertop at the kitchen area island all resonate with the standard warmth and earthiness of the concrete countertops.
Joy and Kens respective backgrounds in realty and custom homebuilding, and as investment property buyers, have assisted them understand that concrete countertops can include significant visual and financial value to a home. Concretes customization and show-stopping appeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a proponent of emotional visual appeals and developing homes that record these emotions, as in the case of Delight and Ken Otterman. Cheng concludes: Individuals really want distinction, something personal, something custom and concrete can do that for them.