Hi Team, I'm building an outdoor kitchen and planning to build concrete countertops. Youtube videos shows many options which are bit overwhelming. Can you please suggest concrete mixes I can use? Trying to achieve a smooth finish. Thanks legends!
Hello @indi
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your question about what concrete mix to use for a concrete benchtop.
The trick for a flawless finish on your concrete benchtop is to prepare the mold properly. If you are using SpecRite Formply F17 1800 x 1200 x 17mm Plywood, make sure that it is level by having enough support at the bottom. This is on the condition that the cement benchtop will be turned over with the bottom being the finished top. I suggest using silicone for the corners and finished off with a Paint Partner 4 Piece Silicone Scraper Set, specifically chip number 2 with the rounded edge.
I recommend using Dingo 20kg Hi-Strength Concrete as it's designed to have a high surface finish. Before putting the concrete in, it is necessary to line the inside of the mold with WD-40 Specialist 300g Lawn & Garden Water Protective Silicone. This will allow you to strip the Formply off once the concrete has cured. I recommend covering the concrete benchtop in a tarp to slow down the drying process. Remember to spray your benchtop with water so that it will not dry too fast.
Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to the start of your concrete benchtop project.
Here is a handy step-by-step guide: D.I.Y. wood and concrete kitchen island
Let me tag our experienced member @ProjectPete for his recommendations.
If you need further advice and information, please let us know.
Eric
Many thanks Eric! I'll surely update you on the progress.
Cheers
Indi
Keep us updated, @indi, and let us know if you get stuck. We can't wait to see your finished results.
Mitchell
HI Eric,
We are also wanting to make a concrete dining table - We have called our local bunnings store and it seems the Dingo Hi-Strength Concrete has been discontinued - Is there anything else you can recommend?
Thanks!
Kelsey
Hi Kelsey (@Kelseyfarmer95)
Dingo 20kg Hi Strength Concrete is still available and features on the Bunnings website, but perhaps your local store does not stock it. If you can let us know your closest Bunnings store, I can check to see where it is available.
Another option to consider is a structural grout. Don't let the "grout" fool you; this is a high-strength product designed to be formed into slabs. You'd use it for areas under high stress, like a slab that a bricked chimney sits upon. Just be sure to pick one that is suitable for the thickness of your tabletop. Dunlop 20kg Construction Grout is suitable for up to 100mm thickness.
I thought I would also point out, as it's not mentioned above, that it is essential to include reinforcement mesh in your slab to prevent cracking.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Mitchell,
Our local store is Ellenbrook, 6069 or Midland - I have called both and given item numbers and they said its been discontinued.
I can't seem to see that is available from any store in WA - If you could check, that would be appreciated!
Hi @Kelseyfarmer95
It's fantastic that you've decided to give this project a go. I've spoken to the stores at Ellenbrook and Midland and I suggest looking up Concrete 40 and concrete 24 their item numbers are 0760334 and 0760449. These are high-strength concrete products and should be good enough to make a concrete benchtop. Make sure to read the drying times on the bags before you purchase either one.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Hiya Mitchell
How about using that floor levelling concrete mix and steel gutter guard as reinforcement?
Thanks
Glenn
Hi @snowgoose62
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's fabulous to have you join us, and thank you for sharing your question about making a concrete bench top.
It will be a bit tricky on the timing of the pour, but yes, you can use the self-levelling compound for your benchtop. However, I suggest using rebar instead of gutter guard as the latter is too soft and will not support the weight of the benchtop. Are you planning on building your own concrete benchtop? If you are, please make sure to post an update, I'm sure our members will be keen to see how you build it.
Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a dust mask when mixing and pouring the cement.
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Thanks Eric,1. Could you unpack what you mean about the timing of the pour?2. I plan to create benches in-situ for our bbq kitchen under patio. I may have wrongly assumed that the self-leveling floor stuff would leave a better finish, as its probably got smaller grains that normal cement/concrete mixes, thoughts?3. And you mentioned in another post that grout is a good option also, what is the main differences here betweeen grout, floor level mix nad concrete mixes?4. Thanks for info on the reo, I did see others using a fibraglass plastic roll for reo, so assumed that steel gutter guard or vermin guard on cups to hold up could be an ecomical way of providing strength?5. What thickness would you recommend? I was thinking 50mm at the edges in 100mm and 30mm for the rest?6. Yes I do all my own work, so i'll take a series of happy snaps on a timeline and share once done 🙂Thanks again Eric, any direction on the above is most welcome, I spend near every Sat at my local O'connor bunnings buying stuff for projects, so your good advice is welcome, cheers!Glenn
If for example you are using Dingo 20kg Self-Levelling Cement and you wish to put on a thicker application, it must be applied in layers with each layer being no more than 25mm thick. The recommended drying time for this particular product will be indicated at the back of the bag.
The self-levelling cement does have a finer finish and you can even achieve a better finish by sanding the surface of the cement once it has fully cured. Another option is Construction/Structural grout, it has high compressive and flexural strengths. However, it will need to be properly levelled using a tool.
I propose reducing the thickness to perhaps 50mm so that the benchtop is not so heavy. But I'll leave that choice up to you. My best advice is to make sure that your timber frame case for your benchtop is very well planned.
Thanks Eric, yes was thinking 50mm at edges and 30mm in the rest. How about these for reo?https://www.bunnings.com.au/strol-0-5m-surepave-plastic-pavers_p3452192
The super pave plastic is more for structural support for pebble driveways. I recommend the Whites 1800 x 1050 x 5mm Light Duty Reo Mesh in combination with Whites 25 - 40mm Plastic Reinforcing Bar Chair - 20 Pack. The Bar chair keeps the reo in the middle of the concrete slab providing support in the middle.
Thanks Eric, one more and then I'll leave yu alone. The concrete mix, there seeems a big difference in price i.e.https://www.bunnings.com.au/dunlop-20kg-construction-grout_p6650143 = 31.40 per 20kg
https://www.bunnings.com.au/westbuild-20kg-40mpa-concrete40-high-strength-dry-mix-concrete_p0760334 = 9.61 per 20kg
https://www.bunnings.com.au/westbuild-20kg-general-purpose-concrete_p0760042 = 6.40 per 20kg
Given I need approx 800kg, thats 40 bags, I'm leaning towards the last one for obvious reasons, thoughts?
ThanksGlenn
The difference in price reflects the properties of the concrete @snowgoose62. The cheapest also has the lowest strength and is unsuitable for structural applications. If you were to use it, you'd need to ensure the edges are well supported, and a significant amount of reo mesh is used. If a heavy or hard object strikes any exposed corner, you can expect it to crack. Also, any sharp edges will damage easily and crumble.
You can see the construction grout has a hardness of 65MPa, the high-strength concrete 40MPa and the general purpose concrete around 25MPa. When building items like benchtops, it's important to remember that concrete has significant compressive resistance, but the only thing stopping your bench from cracking and collapsing is the reinforcement throughout it. Say you had a 50mm thick concrete slab supported 600mm apart. If you were to strike it with a heavy blow in the middle, it would crack. If you run substantial reinforcement through, it likely won't crack. The higher the MPa of the concrete, the better chances you have of the bench not cracking.
If your budget allows it, I would suggest that you at least go for the high-strength concrete.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Thanks, Mitchell, gotcha, the bench is for an l shaped bbq outoor kitchen. I want 50mm at the sides, but I think 30mm in the centre will suffice, so I may use another chunk of form panel to take up that 20mm in the middle. Yes, I will go with the stronger stuff, good advice there, cheers!
I just made a concrete tabletop using this concrete: https://www.bunnings.com.au/easy-mix-20kg-55mpa-super-strength-concrete_p0760460 really happy with how it turned out. I made it 40mm thick.
I used the 5mm reomesh https://www.bunnings.com.au/jack-1800-x-1050-x-5mm-light-duty-reo-mesh_p1060321 and made the form using melamine https://www.bunnings.com.au/2400-x-1200mm-16mm-melamine-particleboard-white-matt_p0097412
Awesome work @markw. It looks great.
I would encourage you to hit the Start a discussion button and share as much detail as you can about your project. If you've got some in-progress shots, members would love to see them too! I'm sure the community will be really inspired by what you have created.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. I trust you'll get lots of help and inspiration in return for your contributions.
Jason
Hello @markw
Thank you so much for sharing your concrete benchtop project. Let me tag @snowgoose62 to make them aware of your materials list. That benchtop looks absolutely amazing, is the slab free floating with no timber support underneath? What is the size of the concrete benchtop? Do you have any photos of the melamine frame before you poured concrete into it?
Any other details you can share about the benchtop creation would be very much appreciated.
I created a discussion with extra photos and details here: https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Outdoor/Concrete-tabletop-project/td-p/146382
Getting ready for the mortar pour
Hello @snowgoose62
Thank you so much for the update on your concrete benchtop project. Before you start, I suggest having a quick read of this discussion - Concrete tabletop project by @markw. It has some very good suggestions on making sure that your concrete benchtop is free of trapped bubbles.
Please keep us updated with your progress, we look forward to seeing the concrete poured in.
This is almost identical to what im currently working on. Looks great.
How many bags of concrete did this end up using?
Hello @Bryce8
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us.
Let me tag @snowgoose62 to make them aware of your question.
I also suggest having a look at this discussion - Concrete tabletop project by @markw. It's an amazing example of how you can build a concrete tabletop independent of bottom timber support.
Please make sure to post an update, I'm sure our members will be keen to see what your tabletop looks like.
Hello!!
We are also trying to make a concrete benchtop for our bbq area. We have started forming the top but then we got stuck as we could not find an off white concrete mix. The concrete pigment that we want to use in the mix requires an off white mix. Does anyone knows what products we could use?
Hello @virginia1985
Due to the nature of your project, I can only suggest using Easy Mix 20kg 55MPa Super Strength Concrete. This is very strong concrete and will not easily break or crack. However, it only comes in a grey colour, you could try to lighten its finish by using Dulux Avista Oxide 1kg White Cement Colouring.
Please note that it might be necessary to use more than one bag to affect the grey colour of the concrete. Technically there are light coloured mortars, but they are geared more towards brick laying and rendering.
Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.
Hi @virginia1985 I helped a mate of mine some time back on a similar project for his kitchen bench top. We sourced a colour pigment additive from this company in NSW. Then we honed the top to an ultra smooth finish and applied an epoxy coating. I wasn't part of that final process to recommend sorry.
regards, Nailbag
Evening @virginia1985
That will be a nice bench when you have finished it 🙂 I will have to bow out of offering suggestions as I have never gone down the path of colouring the concrete mix. I do like @Nailbag's suggestions especially since he has worked with it. And with @EricL's suggestion I like as well but would run a test of a bag of concrete with some of the colour first for a paver or two to see how the colour will turn out.
Dave
Hi @virginia1985,
I just wanted to also extend a very warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. We trust you'll get plenty of help and inspiration from other community members and our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts.
We kicked off our search for Australia and New Zealand's best D.I.Y. projects today. We'd love you to hit the Share a project button when your work is complete - I'm sure it would inspire a lot of people. You're off to a fantastic start.
Thank you all for your support. I also thought that we could probably just make our own concrete mix with 1 part Ivory Cement 2 parts white sand and 3 parts aggregate + additive . Do you think this could works? Or should I add any other products, like concrete hardener?
