Today we’re going to discuss marble and concrete countertops. In this video, we’re going to compare how they are made, their physical properties, price, performance and environmental impact.
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:35 How marble is made
3:25 How concrete is made
5:40 Physical properties
7:55 Price
8:09 Sponsorship
8:54 Environmental Impact
9:38 Conclusion
Let’s start with marble countertops. Large blocks of marble are cut out of the earth and transported to a factory. They are covered with a fiber mesh and glue to strengthen the block and make it safer for cutting. The block is cut with a gangsaw machine into thinner slabs. Then they are polished with large industrial sanders. Straight cuts are made with a wet saw. Irregular shapes and curves are cuit with a water-jet. CNC machines carve out intricate edge profiles like an arc-shaped ogee edge and a straight ogee edge.
Now let’s discuss how concrete countertops are made. The main ingredient of concrete is Portland cement. Limestone, sand and clay are quarried and crushed into small rocks. It is combined with iron ore and fly ash. The ingredients are the source of calcium, silica, alumina and iron. They are ground, mixed and fed into a steel rotary kiln heated to 2700F or 1500C. As the material moves through the kiln, certain elements are driven off in the form of gasses. The remaining elements unite to form a new substance called clinker.
Once the mortar mix has cured, the countertop is polished to remove the rough finish and add an attractive sheen. Because concrete is porous, the countertops must be sealed with a food-safe sealer.
Concrete or mortar countertops can either be precast in a factory, polished and brought to your site like these products by Dex industries or they can be cast in place. There are dozens of KZitem tutorials by DIYers with step by step instructions. Cast in place a messier process, but it ensures that you have a perfect fit and seamless design.
Marble countertops are thinner, around 3 cm or one and a quarter inches. It weighs approximately 18 lbs per sqft. A standard 1.5” thick concrete countertop weighs approximately 23 lbs per sqft.
Marble countertops are usually lighter colored and are perceived to be higher quality and add more value to a home. Concrete countertops are usually a darker gray color and have a rough, industrial appearance. Unfortunately, they aren’t valued as much.
To test their porosity, I poured some red wine on both the marble and concrete samples and let it sit for 2 full hours. After wiping it off, I could still see a permanent red stain on the marble piece while the concrete piece looked good as new. Wine is acidic so it ate away the top sealant and left it feeling rough and scratched. The professionally sealed concrete piece wasn’t etched at all. Marble is a porous surface, which makes it highly susceptible to stains. It requires frequent resealing every 6 months.
Marble countertops can be honed, leathered or polished which adds a gloss sheen to the surface. Concrete countertops can have a low-luster finish or an ultra smooth polished surface. Concrete is also more customizable. You can add stones, colored glass or metal shavings as aggregate.
Comparing their environmental impact is very tricky. If your marble countertops are locally sourced, their carbon footprint will be smaller. Also, if you take care of them and regularly seal them, they can last you a lifetime. The production of Portland cement is very energy intensive, but you can use waste materials as aggregates in concrete countertops. Absolute Concrete Works in Seattle uses a glass fiber reinforced concrete mix to make countertops, fireplace surrounds, sinks and more. Because of its high strength, they can pour ¾” inch thick countertops rather than 1.5” or 2” thick slabs. They also use 50% less portland cement than regular concrete.
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SOURCES:
• Marble Countertop Manu... Fulei Stone
• How to Pigment Concret... Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products
• How to temper chocolat... Callebaut Chocolate
• How Cement is Made Lafarge Exshaw Cement Plant
• How to Build Custom Co... This Old House
• How To DIY Faux Marble... Rachel Ray Show
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#countertop #marble #concrete #diy #remodel #kitchen
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