The Concrete Network
Concrete Contractors, Photos and Ideas
Find a Contractor
Decorative Concrete Contractors in:
Browse Decorative Concrete Contractors
LOGO
The Concrete Source - Countertops

   A Monthly Newsletter about Concrete Countertops                                April  2009                           
Quick Links
Q&A: How to Test a Countertop Sealer
Q: I've tried several different sealers on my concrete countertops, with mixed results. How do I go about testing a sealer to determine how it will perform under everyday use?

Sealer testing
 
A: As you've already discovered, the only way to verify that a countertop sealer does what you expect it to do is to test it first. Jeff Girard of The Concrete Countertop Institute offers this easy procedure for testing sealers for stain and etch resistance under real-world conditions.

Video: Polishing Concrete Countertops
Wet polishing video
Concrete countertop veteran Fu-Tung Cheng demonstrates how  to grind down and polish countertop surfaces with a wet polisher. This essential tool is very effective for exposing aggregate, glass, stones, and inlays in countertops and for producing surfaces that are as smooth granite.

Share Your Ideas!
 
Do you have questions about decorative concrete countertops that we can help you answer? Is there a specific topic you'd like The Concrete Source to cover in the future? We want to hear your ideas.

Please fill out this quick Concrete Network survey.



Sign Up for The Concrete Network's Free Newsletters
 
  Join Our Mailing List!
New Countertop Sealer Cures
In Seconds

Hi  ,
 
When your clients are eagerly awaiting  installation of their fabulous new concrete countertops, you want to do everything possible to speed up production. But one of the final steps--applying the sealer and waiting for it to cure--often grinds your progress to a halt, sometimes for as long as several days. Learn how some countertop contractors are eliminating these delays by using a new sealer called Counter-UV. This unique formulation cures almost instantly upon exposure to a special ultraviolet light. Another plus: The sealer is highly stain resistant.

 Jim Peterson,
The Concrete Network

How Counter-UV works
Counter-UV applicationCounter-UV from Surface 519 is one of the only concrete countertop sealers available that lets you complete final finishing and polishing immediately after application. You simply roll it on, let it soak in, and then zap it with the UV light when you're ready, giving you complete control over curing time. "Photo-initiators" in the sealer react with the wave length emitted by the UV light to trigger the nearly instant cure. The sealer also develops an extremely hard, stain-resistant surface that you can sand or polish to whatever sheen you desire, from a natural matte finish to a high gloss.

See a video showing how to apply Counter-UV.

Project Profile: Fast-curing sealer cuts days off production times
GlassAfter experimenting with Counter-UV for only a few months, Mark Celebuski of Pinnacle Cast Concrete now uses it for all of his countertop projects, including this large kitchen island. He applied the sealer with a roller, and then waited about 20 minutes for it to penetrate before curing the finish with the UV light. After sanding the sealer with a grinder, he delivered the kitchen island to the client the same day. "We can now promise customers a two-week turnaround on countertops, from templating to installation," says Celebuski.

Read more about this project.

Find Suppliers of Concrete Sealers Whether you're after a fast-curing countertop sealer or another type of finish, we can help you find a local supplier that offers a product for your needs. 

Visit: Concrete Sealers
Or: