Whether you're remodeling your current kitchen or building your dream one from the ground up, you may be putting quite a bit of thought into your material choices -- particularly when it comes to your counters. These counters are often the workhorse of your kitchen, and to get the most out of your new kitchen you'll want your counter to be durable, attractive, and resistant to burns, stains, and knife marks. While granite, marble, and quartz counter tops each fit this bill, there is one alternative you may not have considered: concrete. Read on to learn more about concrete counters and how you can decide whether such a counter would work well in your home.

What are the advantages of concrete counters?

If your first mental image at the phrase "concrete counters" is of a rough and light gray surface, think again -- these counter tops are available in nearly every color under the sun, and can be polished and sealed to closely resemble granite or quartz counters.

One of the primary advantages to a concrete counter is the customization ability. Unlike other types of counters, which must be cut from a slab to fit your specific counter or cabinet space, concrete counters can be poured to create any size and shape of surface without resulting in a visible seam. Because this concrete mix is custom-made, you can also have your choice of color and texture. And unlike other types of counter material, which can be ultra-trendy one year and dated the next, concrete counters have a high-end timelessness that should help add permanent value to your home.

How do you know whether these counters would work well in your home?

Although concrete counters provide many advantages over other types of counters, one potential disadvantage is the weight of these counter tops. If you're replacing granite or quartz with concrete, you may not need to worry, as these materials are all similar in weight. However, if you're replacing laminate, wood, or a more lightweight material, you may want to engage the services of a contractor to ensure that you have adequate support beams beneath the proposed counter area, as well as adequate support for the cabinets or other counter base as well. Nothing can ruin your remodeling plans like placing a heavy concrete counter onto an inadequately-reinforced cabinet and watching both collapse.

As long as there is adequate infrastructure in your cabinets and home to support the extra weight of these counters, there are relatively few additional requirements for the installation of concrete counters. If you're looking for an attractive and durable counter replacement option, concrete may be one of your top choices.

To learn more about counter tops, contact a company like Granite Plus Inc.