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Decorative Add-ins

In addition to integral color, a popular way to customize concrete countertops is to add decorative aggregates, semi-precious stones, fragments of colored glass, metal shavings, and other embellishments to the fresh concrete. These bits of bling are revealed upon grinding and polishing of the countertop surface, much like the technique used for exposing the aggregate in terrazzo floors. Girard says you can embed just about anything in concrete, except porous or absorptive materials such as wood. He puts the material in the bottom of the form and pours the concrete over it. Once the concrete has cured, he strips away the form and flips over the slab to grind and expose the embedded material.

Decorative add-ins: These photos show metal shavings salvaged form the floor of a machine shop and then embedded in the concrete. Concrete Countertop Institute in Raleigh, NC

Buying tip: Some suppliers of concrete countertop materials sell specially selected decorative aggregates in small quantities (typically 1-pound bags) for convenient addition to countertop mixes. All are suitable for exposure by grinding. If you plan to use larger embedments, Girard offers this tip: The larger the embedment, the thinner it should be to prevent weakening of the concrete and the potential for stress cracking.

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