Concrete makes for a very durable, easily customized, long-lasting kitchen countertop - IF properly sealed and maintained!

Table of Contents:

• What are Kitchen Concrete Countertops?
• What are the Advantages to Concrete Countertops?
• What are the Disadvantages to Concrete Countertops?
• What are the DO’s and DON’Ts to Concrete Countertops?
• How to Clean Concrete Countertops
• How to Seal and Protect Concrete Countertops
• Additional Stone, Ceramic and Porcelain Tile & Grout Information
• Videos on Caring for Stone and Concrete Surfaces
• Stone Care, Cleaning, Maintenance and Sealing Products

What are Kitchen Concrete Countertops?

Concrete counter-tops are counters that usually have a colored concrete surface, frequently used in lieu of marble or granite materials. The countertop is normally polished once it’s been installed cured to remove the rough finish and add an attractive sheen. Then, the countertops must be sealed with a food-safe sealer such as StoneTech™ Impregnator Pro™ or StoneTech BulletProof™ Water-Based Advanced-Generation Penetrating Sealer.

What Are the Advantages to Concrete Kitchen Countertops?

• Concrete countertops are the perfect application for any kitchen.
• Concrete countertops is super customizable.
• Concrete doesn’t easily scratch.
• Concrete is impervious to heat.
• Easily customized by adding dyes and materials such as glass fragments, stones, shells and even fiber-optic lights embedded in the countertop.
• The surface is easy to clean and maintain, if regular sealing is done.
• Concrete has a very long life-span.

What Are the Disadvantages to Concrete Kitchen Countertops?

• Bare concrete is porous and vulnerable to staining and chemical attack. Liquids will tend to soak into the surface, carrying stains into the concrete itself.
• Acidic substances like vinegar and lemon juice will etch the surface.
• Concrete countertops can develop hairline cracks.

DO’s and DON’Ts for Concrete Countertops:

• DO clean up spills, especially of oils and acids, immediately to minimize damage.
• DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
• DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch the countertop’s surface.
• DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
• DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector.
• DO use StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ Sealer to protect the stone.
• DON’T wait to clean up spills.
• DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
• DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
• DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
• DON’T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.
• DON’T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for sealed concrete.

Cleaning & Maintaining Concrete Kitchen Countertops:

• For daily cleaning and to keep the sealer refreshed, use Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector.
• Removal of oily stains is easily accomplished with StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover.

Sealing & Protecting Concrete Kitchen Countertops:

• Because concrete is very porous, concrete countertops should always be sealed to protect them from food stains and water absorption.
• The best way to prevent stains is to treat the surface with a protective impregnating sealer such as BulletProof™ or Impregnator Pro™. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away.
• Penetrating sealers are liquids that are applied to bare concrete, soak in, and then once wiped off and dried, are usually nearly invisible. They often don’t affect the appearance of dry, bare concrete. Impregnating sealers work by increasing the surface tension to cause beading and repelling of oil-based and water-based spills.
• Even sealed concrete will show spills like olive oil, red wine, juice or coffee and water marks.
• If the concrete you want to seal has been sealed and waxed before, remove the wax with mineral spirits. Use a fresh rag and wipe down the surface and edges of the countertop with water until the whole countertop darkens.
• Reseal every one to three years.
• If there are any oily stains already on the counter-top, use Oil Stain Remover to remove those before sealing.
• For heavy duty cleaning, use Klenz-All™ heavy duty alkaline cleaner and degreaser prior to sealing. Do not use after sealing because it is powerful enough to possibly remove some of the sealer.