Research Decorative Concrete
Interior Floors: Concrete Floors; Staining Concrete; Concrete Overlays; Basement Floors; Concrete Polishing; Concrete Dyes; Stenciling Interior Floors; Radiant Floor Heating; Garage Floor Coatings
Interior Concrete: Concrete Countertops; Concrete Fireplace Surrounds; Concrete Furniture; Sinks and Vessels
Outdoor Concrete: Concrete Patios; Stamped Concrete; Stained Concrete; Concrete Driveways; Concrete Pool Decks; Countertops & Kitchens; Outdoor Living; Concrete Walkways; Concrete Resurfacing; Colored Concrete; Pavers
Repair & Maintenance: Foundation Repair; Concrete Crack Repair; Foundation Waterproofing; Basement Wall Repair; Crack Repair in Floors & Slabs; Cleaning & Maintenance
Building with Concrete: Concrete Homes; Concrete Basements; Decorative Concrete; Pervious Concrete; Green Building
Local Concrete Sites: California; Florida; Illinois; New York; Ohio; Pennsylvania; Texas; Washington; View Other States

Cast in Place Countertops Versus Granite or Tile

While concrete is not the only option for outdoor kitchen countertops, it is a favorite for a variety of reasons.

	Granite	Tile	Concrete
Fewer grout lines Concrete counters do not have the many grout lines that tile counters are plagued with. The lack of grout lines makes concrete counters easier to seal and keep clean than tile.	No	Yes	No
Endless edge details There are many Styrofoam forms that are inexpensive and easy to use to create a wide variety of different concrete countertop edge details. Granite edge details get expensive when thicker than 1 inch.	No	No	Yes
Cast in any shape Concrete can be cast in any shape and practically any size.	No	No	Yes
Weather resistant Concrete countertops can be formulated to withstand freezing better than granite.	Good	Good	Excellent
Color choices Coloring options with concrete are nearly endless with integral color, staining, or both.	Yes	Yes	Unlimited
Accepts embeds Concrete countertops can be personalized with unique embedded items such as pebbles, recycled glass and seashells.	No	No	Yes