How to Transform Your Bathroom with Concrete Countertops (Part3)
Once you have exposed the desired amount of aggregate and continue polishing the next step in finishing the concrete countertop is to apply a penetrating sealer followed by a wax. The sealer and wax bring out the true luster in the polished concrete.
The penetrating sealer must be applied while the concrete is damp. All sealers are different in
the application process so check the manufacturers recommended application schedule. However, the sealer that we chose to use must begin with a 50% mixture continuously wetting the concrete and slowly increasing the strength of the sealer to 100%. Once this is complete it is recommended to let the top set for a minimum of 36 hours so the sealer can dry completely. Once dry two coats of wax can be applied to achieve maximum protection. The wax can also be applied periodically to help keep it stain resistant.
Now that all of the work is complete on the concrete top, it is time to install it. It has been only two weeks since the concrete was poured and it is still not reached it's maximum strength. So when carrying the top be careful not to flex or carry the top flat. Once the concrete top is set in place it must be shimmed and caulked to reduce any movement or unneeded stress on the concrete.
With the top installation complete, we can now proceed with the installation of the new faucets and sinks we purchased to replace our old countertop. This concrete countertop was laid out with vessel sinks in mind. So the only hole in the top is a 2" hole for the faucet and another 2" hole for the sink drain. Our sinks are solid hammered copper vessel sinks and single handled faucets made taller especially for vessel sinks. This has made a huge impact already as the bathroom has been reinvigorated!!
With the old top removed and the plate glass mirror down, we must begin prep work on the walls where the mastic from the mirror has damaged some of the drywall. Once the repairs are made to the drywall the framed mirrors can be installed and the splash around the concrete countertop can be installed.
BEFORE AFTER!
