Concrete Countertops Cover Worn, Existing Tile in Kitchen=20 Makeover

From It's Beauty-Faux in Murrieta, CA

By Khara Dizmon, Concrete Network Managing Editor

Ugly, outdated ceramic tile countertops can be an eyesore for=20 homeowners. And the thought of tearing out, replacing, and = creating chaos=20 in the kitchen is usually what prevents most homeowners from = getting a=20 fresh new look in their homes. But creating a mess or spending a = fortune=20 are no longer the only two options for renovating tired, worn = countertops.=20 Meet Catherine Clark of It's Beauty-Faux in Murrieta, Calif., an = expert=20 faux painter and decorative concrete artisan who specializes in=20 resurfacing and rejuvenating existing surfaces.

Recently, Catherine refurbished a home's kitchen countertops = using=20 concrete. The existing countertops were covered with four-inch = tiles.=20 "They were a horrible blue/gray color," says Catherine. The entire = kitchen=20 needed some updates, including the oak cabinets. "We repainted the = existing oak cabinets with a new faux finish. We also did a bar = and=20 fireplace in the home. The entire job took only 9 days with no = tear-out,=20 no mess," she says.

"Resurfacing the countertops was the biggest challenge," = recalls=20 Catherine. "It took several layers of concrete to level out over = the grout=20 of the existing tile." Using Concrete Solutions Resurfacing Mix, = Catherine=20 hand-applied the concrete in a very thin layer over the = countertops.=20 Without having to break out the existing tile, the concrete was = smoothed=20 right over the surface. "You have to have a good hand with the = trowel to=20 get a smooth surface," she says. "The corners of the tile edges = were the=20 most difficult." The vertical angle and continuous surface gave = the end=20 cap of the countertop a nice look. "It appears to be a big block = of=20 concrete now," says Catherine.

The color for the countertops was integrally added to the = resurfacing=20 mix. For the center island, Catherine resurfaced with concrete, = then=20 rubbed a cream wall treatment called Lusterstone, which adds a = sparkling=20 look to the surface. "The client wanted the island to be a bit = darker in=20 color than the rest of the countertops, so we also set it off with = a bit=20 of sparkle," she says. "We sealed everything with a countertop = epoxy."

In the backsplash, Catherine used Skimstone bonder. "We used a = total of=20 four layers of Skimstone, and let it set for one day," she says. = "Then we=20 colored it using Oystershell, and then Yellowstone and Mocha = topped with=20 Oystershell again. The combination after trowelling looks like = eggplant.=20 We used =C2=BC-inch tape to mask off the diamond-shaped pattern in = the=20 backsplash," she explains. "We applied the base color first, then = masked=20 off the diamond shapes," she says. "Then we applied the other two = colors.=20 This helped give the illusion of the mortar or grout joints in = tile."

The appliqu=C3=A9s were embedded in the concrete on the = backsplash. "The=20 Skimstone was too thin to hold real iron pieces, so we used light = wood=20 appliqu=C3=A9s from Home Depot. We painted them with pewter and a = bronze color.=20 They came out looking like real iron," says Catherine. "Using wood = pieces=20 is just one of the ways we can create these insets," she says. = "Other=20 times we create them out of plaster of paris."

The appliqu=C3=A9s were attached to the backsplash before the = concrete was=20 dry. "We pressed them into the concrete," says Catherine, "then = used a=20 little Gorilla glue, and then just before the concrete set, we = pushed them=20 into the Skimstone."

3D"Site

Catherine Clark owns It's Beauty-Faux, a faux finish and design = studio=20 located in Murrieta, Calif. In addition to faux painting, she also = provides decorative concrete services for overlaying tile = counters, acid=20 staining concrete floors, creating "concrete carpets," and other = types of=20 custom work including murals, signs and company logos on=20 surfaces.

It's Beauty-Faux
(951) 639-3253
http://www.itsbeautyfaux.com/

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