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Message
"Concrete" Counter Tops w/Mortar Mix
Posted on 6/3/19 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 6/3/19 at 2:25 pm
I have been looking at doing a coffee table with a concrete counter top. Most of the videos I have seen have used Portland Cement, some sort of metal structural support, took 2-4 days to dry, and had a lengthy sanding/polishing process.
I stumbled across THIS video today where he was using mortar mix instead of Portland cement. It seems like a no-brainer to go with the mortar mix method. Is there something I am missing? Has anyone done any small projects like this before?
I stumbled across THIS video today where he was using mortar mix instead of Portland cement. It seems like a no-brainer to go with the mortar mix method. Is there something I am missing? Has anyone done any small projects like this before?
This post was edited on 6/3/19 at 2:30 pm
6
Posted on 6/3/19 at 2:36 pm to Drunken Crawfish
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/7/25 at 8:45 pm
Posted on 6/3/19 at 3:16 pm to Drunken Crawfish
I've done a coffee table similar to the one in the video. I ended up going with wire mesh and 5000 quikrete. I saw at Home Depot they actually had a mix specifically meant for countertops ( Quikrete Countertop Mix). Next time I'm going to try that out even though it is a quite a bit more expensive.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 3:20 pm to Drunken Crawfish
I saw that video a few weeks ago too. Was gonna do it myself. Seemed like a no brainer.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 3:26 pm to Neauxla
I also really like the tile grout that he added for a texture. I guess I'll give it a try. Looks like it'll be another $130 home depot run this afternoon 
Posted on 6/3/19 at 3:33 pm to Drunken Crawfish
I would think mortar mix would be far more susceptible to cracking from pressure than concrete mix or the countertop mix.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 3:39 pm to HubbaBubba
quote:
I would think mortar mix would be far more susceptible to cracking from pressure than concrete mix or the countertop mix.
It said that it was rated at like 6500 psi.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 6:28 pm to Drunken Crawfish
I thought about doing this for my outdoor patio countertops but with all the cutouts and surface space I really didn’t want to screw it up. I got a few quotes for someone to do it and oh boy was it expensive. More expensive than granite.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 6:44 pm to X82ndTiger
Labor jack up the price?
Posted on 6/3/19 at 6:56 pm to Possumslayer
Can’t say I remember for sure. I think I remember the labor being what/what between the concrete and granite but the concrete was way more.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 9:00 pm to Drunken Crawfish
I did concrete counters outside around my cooking pit. I used tinted portland cement (kind of a tan color) , light aggregate (expanded clay if I remember correctly, and fiber mesh additive for additional strength. If you get the correct wet sanding pads the polishing is really not bad at all. I used 4 different diamond polishing pads I bought off the internet. Think I paid about $28-$30 or so for 4 pairs of polishing pads.
To answer your question directly... mortar is not the same as portland. Mortar is used to hold stuff together and is not as strong as portland. Really not even close. Don't let anyone tell you differently. However, this isn't a kitchen so you could go with mortar. If you had a problem later it is a coffee table and you could redo it. A problem in the kitchen later is an entirely different set of problems.
To answer your question directly... mortar is not the same as portland. Mortar is used to hold stuff together and is not as strong as portland. Really not even close. Don't let anyone tell you differently. However, this isn't a kitchen so you could go with mortar. If you had a problem later it is a coffee table and you could redo it. A problem in the kitchen later is an entirely different set of problems.
Posted on 6/3/19 at 10:03 pm to Tridentds
Well Portland cement is normally a component to mortar and is typically called Portland cement mortar. Portland cement, sand and water is what is used for brick laying. Mortar is weaker than the brick or block which give the ability for movement without damaging the “building blocks” this is why you end up tuckpointing after years.
Lime mortar uses mason lime instead of Portland cement and is a bit softer and more flexible and is commonly used for old historic buildings as brick mortar and skimcoat plaster repairs.
Most mortar mixes are add water only. It includes the sand aggregate and sometimes mason lime. This eliminates the need for bags of cement, bags of lime and a sand pile.
The quikcrete countertop mix is high strength with added plasticizers which make it flow easy with minimal water, I think it cures out to 6 or 7000 psi. I’ve never used it but have seen it used and everyone liked the application.
Lime mortar uses mason lime instead of Portland cement and is a bit softer and more flexible and is commonly used for old historic buildings as brick mortar and skimcoat plaster repairs.
Most mortar mixes are add water only. It includes the sand aggregate and sometimes mason lime. This eliminates the need for bags of cement, bags of lime and a sand pile.
The quikcrete countertop mix is high strength with added plasticizers which make it flow easy with minimal water, I think it cures out to 6 or 7000 psi. I’ve never used it but have seen it used and everyone liked the application.
Posted on 6/4/19 at 12:44 am to redstickrun
quote:
I saw at Home Depot they actually had a mix specifically meant for countertops ( Quikrete Countertop Mix). Next time I'm going to try that out even though it is a quite a bit more expensive.
Get that stuff and pouch of RapidSet Flow Control. I made a solid concrete topper for a brick double mailbox column last year and the flow control made it very smooth and increases compressive strength.
Posted on 6/4/19 at 9:25 am to Clames
That's what the guy in the video used w/ the grout mix
Posted on 6/4/19 at 9:44 am to Clames
I've considered several times making concrete counter tops for the back porch prep area but never pulled the trigger. The video above makes it seem so easy.
There are always complications. Does anyone know where the complications are?
There are always complications. Does anyone know where the complications are?
Posted on 6/4/19 at 10:01 am to TBoy
I feel like making the countertops is easy and cheap enough. The expensive/tricky part is making the cabinet the countertop sits on. Met vs wood framing? wood sides? stucco sides? brick/stone sides?
Posted on 6/4/19 at 12:45 pm to Neauxla
Just to warn you, if you've never bought a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 Melamine (what he uses for the mold) ...It weighs about as much as your concrete counter top.
This post was edited on 6/4/19 at 12:46 pm
Posted on 6/4/19 at 1:35 pm to TBoy
quote:
Does anyone know where the complications are?
It's heavy as frick
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