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Concrete countertops confer a variety of advantages to homeowners, including the ability to customize their look to suit personal tastes. You can create a minimalist look by using wet concrete alone or concrete mix with other materials, such as ceramic, cement paste, seashells, or glass, to create a unique design with invisible seams perfectly suited to your kitchen. This material endures the years and use with ease, aging gracefully and developing its own character over time. Also, when properly sealed and finished, concrete mixes resist water and stains and offer fuss-free care and maintenance.
The process of finishing concrete countertops is essential to maximizing these benefits. Whether you aim for a natural matte look or a sleek, polished surface, understanding the right finishing techniques ensures long-term durability and visual appeal. This guide walks you through the steps to properly prepare, seal, and maintain your countertops using high-quality, food-safe products from Real Milk Paint Co.
Choosing the Right Concrete Countertop Finish
It’s up to you to decide the color and design style you want for finishing concrete countertops. The versatility of the material lets you add color mixtures to the medium to achieve elegant veined and marbled effects or mimic the look of wood by using woodgrain form liners. You can trowel down the surface while it’s wet to get a rough stone-like appearance or smooth it out for a polished design.
Additionally, consider customizing your countertop by embedding decorative elements such as crushed glass, colored stones, or metal shavings for a unique aesthetic. If you prefer a high-end industrial look, exposed aggregate finishes can enhance the natural beauty of concrete. These design choices allow your countertop to complement a variety of kitchen styles, from modern to rustic.
For a natural look, consider covering the surface with one of Real Milk Paint colors, which are non-toxic, food-safe, and VOC-free, that complement or contrast with other hues in your living space. Additionally, you can leave the edges bare or use molding to highlight your design, helping your project better blend with other fixtures and furnishings in your kitchen.
If you’re aiming for something especially distinctive, farmhouse concrete countertops can beautifully enhance a rustic kitchen aesthetic, while blue concrete countertops offer a bold, modern statement.
Prepping Concrete Countertops for Finishing
Once you pour your concrete countertops just how you want them and allow them to dry for a few days, you prepare them for finishing by removing any boards or forms that kept the original mold in place. Next, you should do a little hand sanding or hard dry grinding, depending on whether you want a rough or smooth countertop.
Sanding for a Smooth or Textured Finish
Proper curing is essential before any finishing steps begin. Allow the concrete to cure for at least 5 to 10 days to prevent cracks and ensure optimal hardness. Rapid curing can lead to shrinkage, which affects the integrity of the countertop.
While you can sand them down by hand, it speeds up the process to use a rotary sander or wet polisher. Be sure to choose sandpaper or diamond pads designed for the style you select:
- 200-400 grit: Best for a light texture.
- 800-1500 grit: Achieves a polished, smooth surface.
- 3000+ grit: Provides a high-gloss, almost glass-like finish.
Cleaning Concrete Countertops Before Finishing
After you’ve sanded the surface, you’re ready to clean the surface. To do this, either mix 2 tablespoons of our Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner with water or mix ¼ to ½ cup of vinegar into a gallon of water to offset the concrete’s alkalinity. Wipe down the entire surface with the mixture, making sure to reach every nook and cranny.
If there are stubborn stains or dust residues from sanding, use a microfiber cloth and gently buff the surface before applying sealant. Once dry, check for any areas where water beads up—this could indicate improper cleaning, requiring a second wipe-down.
Applying Color to Your Concrete Countertop
Adding color to your concrete countertop is a great way to enhance its aesthetic. Whether using Real Milk Paint’s Arabian Night for a deep, inky black finish or a lighter, earthy tone, applying the paint properly is key.
Steps for Applying Paint or Stain:
- Apply a thin base coat and allow it to dry.
- Layer 1-2 additional coats for even coverage.
- Let each coat fully dry before sealing to prevent uneven absorption.
(Optional) Buff the painted surface with a fine buffing pad to create a smooth finish.
Sealing for Long-Lasting Protection
Once your countertop is prepped and colored (if desired), the next step is applying a protective finish. This enhances resistance to moisture, stains, and wear while preserving the natural aesthetic.
For more details on choosing the right sealer for concrete countertops, explore our in-depth guide.
Keeping Your Countertop in Top Condition
Routine care is essential to maintain the look and durability of your concrete countertop. Over time, natural wear and exposure to moisture can impact the surface, but a few key practices help preserve its strength and finish.
By following these simple steps, you can extend the lifespan of your countertops without the need for frequent refinishing. With periodic care, your surface will continue to look beautiful and function effectively for years to come.
Enhancing Your Kitchen with Concrete Countertops
Concrete countertops offer long-term cost-effectiveness, eco-friendly benefits, and high customizability. Unlike granite or marble, they can be refinished multiple times to match evolving kitchen trends. Whether you prefer a modern, polished look or a more textured, industrial-style finish, Real Milk Paint’s non-toxic finishing products help you achieve the perfect countertop.
Start your project today with Real Milk Paint!
I applied this black wax over dark tung oil on a concrete countertop. It helped even out the coloring and gave a smooth finish with some sheen. It helped to darken the color to a rich dark brown. It took 3 days to fully dry. I covered approximately 30 sq. ft., using very little from my 8 oz. jar. I like that it’s permanent but easy to re-apply if needed. Very happy with results.
Absolutely loved the finish and smell of this product and will be using it. Sort of lemony. What we love about the milk paint product and the oils is that it is not toxin and we are putting this on 2200 sq.ft of concrete on our first floor farmhouse. Epoxy would have been horrible which is what others were pointing us too. A good friend pointed me in the Milk paint direction-So thankful!!
I used Half & Half on my hard maple bathroom floor 4 years ago and it still looks like the day I finished it. I like how you can feel the wood instead of the plastic-like coating of polyurethane. Also, it is not slippery when wet because of the exposed wood texture. I also used a mixture of Half & Half and tung oil on my vintage concrete sink and am satisfied with the results. The sink no longer soaks up moisture, acting like a humidifier.
I purchased tung oil to use on my new concrete kitchen countertops and I love it. I chose pure tung oil for the safety of the product. It was very easy to use and I love the way my counter looks. Thanks for making great products.
The material is gorgeous, like honey butter, with a neutral wholesome smell. It is easy to rub in, and makes the color of our concrete countertops darker and richer. Lemon did get through it and the acid dulled the surface, so I would say it is not a “tough” sealer.
I mixed equal parts of citrus solvent and dark tung oil. To reseal my concrete kitchen counters. That I originally did 4 years ago with straight dark tung oil. I love this product! It is the only food-grade sealer for concrete counters.
I bought and rebought this product over the last seven years, absolutely love it!!! I recommend it to everyone. I use it for all of my wood projects even my concrete countertops, it’s the best!
Very happy with the dark tung oil finish on my concrete countertops. The 30-day cure time was tough but worth it. I finished off with two coats of your carnauba wax to increase sheen. Your customer service was great when I called with the many questions I had.
I decided to give it a go and I am very happy with the results. It darkens the counter but not too much and I have left water on it for a couple of hours and it never soaked in. So far hot pans have not affected the finish. What else could I ask for.
Very happy with my purchase. Using on concrete. Love that it is natural, food safe, etc. Easy to work with.
