Pouring Concrete Countertops

The first step in pouring concrete countertops is to read the instructions on the product label to know the water:cement ratios.

Mix the contents of one bag with water in a bucket using a drill and mixing paddle. Be sure to mix thoroughly. Use cold water which prolongs the set time and gives you more time to work.

Dump the concrete onto the plywood base and move it into place with a hand float. Then use a straight board to strike off or level it out. Smooth it out with the hand float. You can use a palm sander and hold it to the handle of the float as you move it around. The vibration pushes the aggregates down and brings the cream to the surface.

Run a palm sander along the face form to smooth out the front edge of the concrete.

Place 3/8 inch rebar along the front and back of the sink cutout. Make sure it's at least an inch below the surface of the concrete. Also place small pieces of rebar in any inside corners of the countertop.

To round off the front edge, use a concrete edging tool. At this point the countertop should be all poured. Double check to make sure the concrete is level and the faces have been vibrated sufficiently.

If you are doing backsplashes, place 1/2 inch rebar that runs the length of the backsplash as you pour. Vibrate down both sides of the form. If you want the top of the backsplash to have a rounded edge, the run the edging tool down one side.