The Value Of Concrete Countertops -- Customization Increases Aesthetic Appeal And Real Estate Investment For Homeowners

top-dollar homes in the San Francisco Bay Area toinvestment in concrete countertops proved its value.
sprawling mountain homes in the Colorado Rockies,“We were able to list the house $20,000 over
discriminating homeowners are demanding custommarket value, and had no problems selling it,”
designs and finishes in their kitchens. In particular, theycomments Joy, while discussing the long list of
are looking to express their individuality and distinctupgrades throughout their house, including knotty pine
design preferences with the fast-growing designsolid doors, natural slate wall accents and hardwood
material of choice — concrete.floors. “The concrete countertops were easily
In fact, concrete countertops have become somewhatthe most unique and impressive of all the finishes. I
of a status symbol for kitchens, rivaling granite andbelieve they were a huge part in adding value to the
other high-end countertop surface options. Consumerhome. Around here, all you see in homes are granite
Reports Magazine (August 2004) ranked concretecountertops —and I really think homebuyers are
highest for its “customization” andgetting quite numb with granite.”
“exclusivity” among high-end kitchen“Concrete countertops are a unique offering to
countertops.homebuyers who see the same finishes used in house
As a custom product, the amount of time andafter house they visit,” explains Joy, offering her
craftsmanship required to produce concreteobservation as a seasoned realtor. “Having
countertops places them as the most labor-intensiveconcrete countertops almost gives you bragging rights
and priciest among leading countertop materials.— you have something different from your
However, concrete countertops are becoming moreneighbors.”
accessible for those on a modest budget. The latestBREAKING THE MOLD
do-it-yourself (DIY) trend to captivate homeownersAnother advantage of concrete is its adaptability in
and builders is building your own concrete countertop.either modern or traditional settings, especially when
This phenomenon has gained popularity largely due tocoupled with other materials like varied metals, wood
Cheng’s best-selling book Concreteor stone. “Concrete adds so many [possibilities]
Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes for the Newto stone, and the combination with slate, which is
Kitchen and Bath (Taunton Press, 2002). According tohugely popular here, gives the mountain homes an
Cheng, there is little monetary investment in makingoverall warm, natural touch,” says Joy.
concrete countertops, yet the creative gains ofJoy and Ken have since built a much larger home
working with concrete are plentiful.(4,000 sq. ft.) that offers expansive views of the
THE SHOWSTOPPERSteamboat Ski Resort and is meant to serve as a
Increasingly, homeowners are moving away from thelong-term investment for the couple. They’ve
monotonous, manufactured look of traditionalalso expanded their list of custom finishes, including
countertop surfaces and choosing concrete for itshand-troweled walls, elegant oil-rubbed bronze
earthy, timeless appeal. Plus, the options forhardware, knotty pine doors that arch at the top,
personalizing concrete countertops are endless: onecabinets in a natural, knotty alder, and their favorite
can color, polish, stamp and stain concrete or imbed— concrete kitchen countertops.
personal objects like stones, seashells and fossils intoUnlike in their previous home, KJ and his specialty crew
the countertop’s surface, adding sentiment andpoured charcoal-colored countertops using the
character. Functional features such as drain boards,pre-cast method in the unfinished basement of the
soap dishes, and trivets can also be incorporated tonew home. Before pouring the concrete, they sprinkled
suit the homeowners’ own needs and lifestyle.an array of semi-precious stones in the mold including
Concrete is slowly becoming demystified asLeopardskin, Moonstone, Mother-of-Pearl and
characteristically cold and industrial. In contrary, thisTurquoise. After the surface was ground and lightly
age-old material is warm and surprisingly tactile; peoplepolished, the finished result was an impressive blend of
cannot help but touch their smooth, polished surfaces.colors, “By far, the Mother-of-Pearl was the
Real estate agent Joy Rasmussen, who has recentlymost incredible,” says Joy.
sold her mountain home — a short-termThe L-shaped concrete countertop has a rough, rustic
investment property in Steamboat Springs, COstone appearance, complementing its rugged country
— recounts her visitors’ experiences withsurroundings. An integral drain board and trivets
concrete: “When I had open houses, visitorsprovides function and added interest to the concrete
gravitated to the concrete countertops — manycountertop. Natural slate backsplashes, distinct wall
people around here have never seen them”.accents, and a butcher block countertop at the kitchen
Joy’s 2,265 sq. ft. mountain home was customisland all resonate with the traditional warmth and
build by her husband, Ken Otterman, along with KJearthiness of the concrete countertops.
Otterman, president of Classic Special Custom Homes.Joy and Ken’s respective backgrounds in real
They built pour-in-place concrete counters for theestate and custom homebuilding, and as investment
home’s kitchen and three bathrooms by usinghomebuyers, have helped them realize that concrete
Concrete Countertops as their guide. The sand-coloredcountertops can add tremendous aesthetic and
concrete countertops were polished smooth, thenfinancial value to a home. Concrete’s
paired with natural slate of varying colors — likecustomization and “show-stopping”
charcoal, rust and gold tones — that forms theappeal is like no other countertop surface. Cheng is a
backsplashes in the kitchen and baths. As a designproponent of emotional aesthetics and building homes
accent, small rectangular slate tiles were added tothethat capture these emotions, as in the case of Joy and
rim of the bathroom sinks, which provided a uniqueKen Otterman. Cheng concludes: “People really
detail to the custom vanities.want differentiation, something personal, something
When Joy and Ken decided to sell their house, theircustom – and concrete can do that for them.