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The Value Of Concrete Countertops
By Fu-Tung Cheng, Fri Dec 9th
The Value of Concrete Countertops Customization IncreasesAesthetic Appeal and Real Estate Investment for Homeowners STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO--From top-dollar homes in the SanFrancisco Bay Area to sprawling mountain homes in the ColoradoRockies, discriminating homeowners are demanding custom designsand finishes in their kitchens. In particular, they are lookingto express their individuality and distinct design preferencesin their kitchens with the fast-growing design material ofchoice--concrete. In fact, concrete countertops have become somewhat of a statussymbol for kitchens, rivaling granite and other high-endoptions. Consumer Reports magazine (August 2004) ranked concretehighest for its "customization" and "exclusivity" among high-endkitchen countertops. As a custom product, the amount of time andcraftsmanship required to produce concrete countertops placesthem as the most labor-intensive and priciest among leadingcountertop materials. "We never quote by the square foot likegranite," says designer and residential concrete expert, Fu-TungCheng of Cheng Design and Cheng Concrete Exchange. "We sellconcrete countertops by the piece, valued for artistry,pedigree, and craftsmanship--not for size."
However, concrete countertops are becoming more accessible forthose on a modest budget. The latest custom, do-it-yourself(DIY) project to captivate homeowners and builders is buildingyour own concrete countertop. This DIY phenomenon has gainedpopularity largely due to Cheng's best-selling book ConcreteCountertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen andBath (Taunton Press, 2002). "There's little monetary investment yet large creative gainsusing concrete as a medium," says Cheng, who has been makingconcrete countertops for nearly 20 years and is regarded as thepremier concrete countertop designer in the industry. THE SHOWSTOPPER Increasingly, homeowners are moving away from the monotonous,manufactured look of traditional countertop surfaces andchoosing concrete for its earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, theoptions for personalizing concrete countertops are endless: ado-it-yourselfer can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete.Homeowners can imbed personal objects like stones, seashells andfossils into the countertop's surface, adding sentiment andcharacter. Functional features such as drain boards, soapdishes, and trivets can also be incorporated to suit homeowners'own needs and lifestyle. With the help of Cheng's books and theemergence of contractors around the country learning to buildcountertops, concrete is becoming demystified ascharacteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, concrete iswarm and surprisingly tactile; people cannot help but touchtheir smooth, polished surfaces. "When I had open houses,visitors gravitated to the concrete countertops--many peoplearound here have never seen them," said real estate agent JoyRasmussen of her recently sold home, a short-term investmentproperty in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. KJ Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Homes (based inSteamboat Springs, Colorado), and Ken Otterman, Joy's husband,custom built the 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home. They exclusivelyused Concrete Countertops as their guide and Cheng's NeoMixconcrete countertop products to build pour-in-place concretecounters for the home's kitchen and three baths. TheSand-colored (from the NeoMix color palette) concretecountertops were polished smooth then paired with natural slateof varying colors, like charcoal, rust and gold tones, thatfunction as backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a designaccent, small rectangular slate tiles were added to the rim ofthe bathroom sinks which provided a unique detail to the customvanities. "We were able to list the house $20,000 over market value, andhad no problems selling it," comments Joy, while discussing herinvestment home's long list of upgrades throughout the space,including knotty pine solid doors, natural slate wall accents,hardwood floors and wood trim. "The concrete countertops wereeasily the most unique and impressive of all the finishes. Ibelieve they were a huge part in adding value to the home.Around here, all you see in homes are granite countertops--and Ireally think homebuyers are getting quite numb with granite." "Concrete countertops are a unique offering to homebuyers whosee the same finishes used in house after house they visit,"explains Joy, offering her observation as a seasoned realtor."Having concrete countertops almost gives you braggingrights--you have something different from your neighbors."
BUILDING BUSINESS KJ Otterman and his team of skilled residential builders quicklybecame adept to the aesthetic potential and versatility ofconcrete, and now offer concrete countertops as a custom optionfor their residential projects. According to KJ, builders in theSteamboat Springs area, a top destination resort town, have towork harder to differentiate their projects from the competitionsince everyone is competing for the same high-end customer. The creativity and versatility of concrete has opened a newmarket for the KJ and his staff. They are confident that addingcustom concrete will grow their business and are forming aseparate concrete company that will specialize in buildingconcrete countertops, custom floors, driveways, patios anddecks. Cheng's follow-up book, Concrete at Home (Taunton Press,2005) was a source of inspiration for them to get their concretebusiness jumpstarted. The book offers illustrations of detailedconcrete flooring inside and outside of the home among otherconcrete applications like water features, fireplaces and walls.To solidify their business plans, KJ and his team plan
to attendCheng's Advanced Countertop Design Training in Berkeley, CA.Part of the training will offer them essential information ondeveloping and growing their concrete business.
BREAKING THE MOLD Another advantage of concrete is its adaptability in eithermodern or traditional settings especially when coupled withother materials like varied metals, wood or stone. "Concreteadds so many [possibilities] to stone, and the combination withslate, which is hugely popular here, gives the mountain homes anoverall warm, natural touch," says Joy. Joy and Ken have since built a much larger home (4,000 sq. ft.)that offers expansive views of the Steamboat Ski Resort thatwill serve as a long-term investment for the couple. They'vealso expanded their list of custom finishes, includinghand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze hardware, knottypine doors that arch at the top, cabinets in a natural, knottyalder, and their favorite--concrete kitchen countertops. Unlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty crew pouredcharcoal-colored countertops using the pre-cast method in theunfinished basement of the new home. Before pouring theconcrete, they sprinkled an array of semi-precious stones in themold including Leopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl andTurquoise. After the surface was ground and lightly polished,the finished result was an impressive blend of colors, "By far,the Mother-of-Pearl was the most incredible," says Joy. The L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic stoneappearance, complementing its rugged country surroundings. Anintegral drain board and trivets provides function and addedinterest to the concrete countertop. Natural slate backsplashes,distinct wall accents, and a butcher block countertop at thekitchen island all resonate with the traditional warmth andearthiness of the concrete countertops. Joy and Ken's respective backgrounds in real estate and customhomebuilding, and as investment homebuyers, have helped themrealize that concrete countertops can add tremendous aestheticand financial value to a home. Concrete's customization and"show-stopping" appeal is like no other countertop surface.Cheng is a proponent of emotional aesthetics and building homesthat capture these emotions, as in the case of Joy and KenOtterman. Cheng concludes: "People really want differentiation,something personal, something custom," says Cheng. "And concretecan do that for them." For more information about concrete countertops please visit:http://www.concreteexchange.com/
About the author:Fu-Tung Cheng, the founder of the Concrete Exchange, is aninternationally known designer and author, who has pioneered thecraft of making concrete countertops. Fu-Tung Cheng's first book, Concrete Countertops: Designs,Forms, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press,2002) has become a national bestseller. His much-anticipated second book, Concrete at Home: InnovativeForms and Finishes for Floors, Countertops,
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