Marble vs Concrete Countertops | Everything you need to know!
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- Today we’re going to discuss marble and concrete countertops. In this video, we’re going to compare how they are made, their physical properties, price, performance and environmental impact.
Link to my Patreon page: / belinda_carr
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:35 How marble is made
3:25 How concrete is made
5:40 Physical properties
7:55 Price
8:09 Sponsorship
8:54 Environmental Impact
9:38 Conclusion
Let’s start with marble countertops. Large blocks of marble are cut out of the earth and transported to a factory. They are covered with a fiber mesh and glue to strengthen the block and make it safer for cutting. The block is cut with a gangsaw machine into thinner slabs. Then they are polished with large industrial sanders. Straight cuts are made with a wet saw. Irregular shapes and curves are cuit with a water-jet. CNC machines carve out intricate edge profiles like an arc-shaped ogee edge and a straight ogee edge.
Now let’s discuss how concrete countertops are made. The main ingredient of concrete is Portland cement. Limestone, sand and clay are quarried and crushed into small rocks. It is combined with iron ore and fly ash. The ingredients are the source of calcium, silica, alumina and iron. They are ground, mixed and fed into a steel rotary kiln heated to 2700F or 1500C. As the material moves through the kiln, certain elements are driven off in the form of gasses. The remaining elements unite to form a new substance called clinker.
Once the mortar mix has cured, the countertop is polished to remove the rough finish and add an attractive sheen. Because concrete is porous, the countertops must be sealed with a food-safe sealer.
Concrete or mortar countertops can either be precast in a factory, polished and brought to your site like these products by Dex industries or they can be cast in place. There are dozens of CZcams tutorials by DIYers with step by step instructions. Cast in place a messier process, but it ensures that you have a perfect fit and seamless design.
Marble countertops are thinner, around 3 cm or one and a quarter inches. It weighs approximately 18 lbs per sqft. A standard 1.5” thick concrete countertop weighs approximately 23 lbs per sqft.
Marble countertops are usually lighter colored and are perceived to be higher quality and add more value to a home. Concrete countertops are usually a darker gray color and have a rough, industrial appearance. Unfortunately, they aren’t valued as much.
To test their porosity, I poured some red wine on both the marble and concrete samples and let it sit for 2 full hours. After wiping it off, I could still see a permanent red stain on the marble piece while the concrete piece looked good as new. Wine is acidic so it ate away the top sealant and left it feeling rough and scratched. The professionally sealed concrete piece wasn’t etched at all. Marble is a porous surface, which makes it highly susceptible to stains. It requires frequent resealing every 6 months.
Marble countertops can be honed, leathered or polished which adds a gloss sheen to the surface. Concrete countertops can have a low-luster finish or an ultra smooth polished surface. Concrete is also more customizable. You can add stones, colored glass or metal shavings as aggregate.
Comparing their environmental impact is very tricky. If your marble countertops are locally sourced, their carbon footprint will be smaller. Also, if you take care of them and regularly seal them, they can last you a lifetime. The production of Portland cement is very energy intensive, but you can use waste materials as aggregates in concrete countertops. Absolute Concrete Works in Seattle uses a glass fiber reinforced concrete mix to make countertops, fireplace surrounds, sinks and more. Because of its high strength, they can pour ¾” inch thick countertops rather than 1.5” or 2” thick slabs. They also use 50% less portland cement than regular concrete.
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SOURCES:
• Marble Countertop Manu... Fulei Stone
• How to Pigment Concret... Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products
• How to temper chocolat... Callebaut Chocolate
• How Cement is Made Lafarge Exshaw Cement Plant
• How to Build Custom Co... This Old House
• How To DIY Faux Marble... Rachel Ray Show
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Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/stm-fluffy
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Disclaimer: This video was created for educational/informational purposes and qualifies as Fair Use. If you are the creator or own the footage featured in this video and have reservations please notify me via CZcams comments or email and I will accommodate you
#countertop #marble #concrete #diy #remodel #kitchen - Věda a technologie
I watch many 'builder' videos and your series are hands down, the most informative and logically presented.
Thanks, Victor!!
You and Matt are my go to for building science and understanding the minutia of materials and techniques.
Why can't all content creators be this clear and concise?
I swear just hearing you explain the difference I feel more at ease.
Excellent video as always. I do particularly like concrete countertops due to their design possibilities, casting in features like drain channels and a sink basin.
You should do a video on wooden countertops in comparison with those two.
A tile vs butcher block video is coming soon! The 2 easiest DIY countertops.
@@BelindaCarr thanks im looking forward to it!
@@BelindaCarr tile?! Don't get me started on tile countertops! 😆😆😆 Ever since my folks bought an old condo in Florida that had tile countertops I have hated it. Every time anything spilled you had to wipe in four different directions multiple times to get stuff cleaned up it was ridiculous! Worst of all no matter what kind of tile it is you still have everyone's enemy and the Ugly Siamese twin of every beautiful tile which is... Grout! I do love butch3rnlock but it also requires maintenance to keep sanitary. If I ever get around to re-re-modeling our own kitchen I think I will have a very large cutting board made for the island that can be removed outside to clean every so often. Right now I have to settle for the little one that drops in the ruvatti sink.🤷🏻♂️ Hard to cut up a homemade pizza on that.
Very informative as always. Thanks!
I think concrete really makes a lot of sense if you're going the DIY route. Being able to pour in place as a single worker, and having significantly less cost per sq foot than you quoted in your video, doing it yourself that is, makes it really appealing in the right setting. DIY cost of concrete not counting your time, is more in the range of $12-20 dollars per sq foot.
I love concrete. If I could, I would consume it for taste and nutrition.
I wish my pets were made of concrete. That would be cool to pet while talking to my mom.. who btw probably has a heart made of very hard concrete.
@@Blake4625kHz I actually have a fleshlight made of concrete. Just need to watch the aggregate size.
Your videos are Educative, informative and precise. Love your channel ❤️❤️❤️
Very crisp and clear! Great work 👏🏾 👍🏾 👌🏾
Another excellent video. I had no idea marble was porous. Good to know.
Another great vid. Concise, informative, and thorough. Thanks again.
Hi Belinda, just a follow up question on the concerns you mentioned about epoxy (fumes, exothermic reaction, etc) at the end of the video. These are typically concerning during the application process but I’m wondering if there’s any harm once the epoxy layer has already dried and the counter top is ready to use
Thank you for this! I am glad CZcams recommended me to this.
Thank you for another truly informative video!
love your videos. keep it up!
Been waiting for this one!
Thank you , always like your videos.
Truly nice videos, Thank you.
hi Belinda, love your videos. Would be interested if you covered also artificial stones like Technistone or Corian
Very informative, thanks
This seems pretty comprehensive. I like.
Hey Belinda so I actually install commercial epoxy countertops and floors and the products I use have low vocs or no vocs and the exothermic reaction is minimal not causing damage to surrounding areas or other surfaces. My products usually go on at about 1/8 of an inch thick and then I top coat so the whole process puts 3/16 of a layer on their countertop which adds incredible durability and high resistance to heat and impact you could literally put a pan that you have just taken off the stove onto an epoxy countertop and it won't hurt it likewise you could also use it as a cutting board with little to no damage and the best part after High traffic use you can buff it out and it'll look just like new
Sounds like an advert..
I live is a wealthy town outside NYC and nearly every kitchen in town has white marble throughout. We do not because of the staining issue. The marble does look beautiful until the wine stains happen. I mostly see concrete used at bars and restaurants. As you said it’s a more industrial look, which can be nice too. Not in my house but maybe a second home it would work. What I like about the concrete is it’s something I could do myself since I am pretty handy. Great video, thanks again
Great info
Your videos are so great
Thanks, Christopher!
WOW . Lot of information on your videos. Looking for Epoxy flooring and other best options.
Pigment and Dye is a Very interesting topic.
I made my own concrete countertops. Poured in place. Then polished with a wet stone polisher. The polisher and pads cost about 350. The countertop cost about 20 dollars.
We hand polished our concrete countertops with oil and a knife sharpening stone. It worked great!
I never thought about marble that much but learning about its origin and properties has piqued my interest. It seems like it would be a nice option in certain cases.
Great video and very helpful. I was wondering about the colorization of the concrete countertops. You said in the video that the color will be dark grey. But you had some very vibrant colors as samples in your video. My question is is choosing a vibrate color with the color last over time? And if so does it require a lot of maintenance? Thank you again for a very interesting video.
You are amazing!
I found your channel about a month ago great content hoping you will do a show on the pros an cons of straw bail homes
I've never understood marble countertops. I actually use my kitchen for cooking, and know from some Geology classes that marble is a "soft" rock. It only has a mohs hardness around 3. Metal (knives, mixing bowls, silverware, etc) is usually around 5 meaning anything metal in the kitchen against the marble countertop will scratch it. Marble topped tables in low traffic areas (like side tables) is fine since it won't see nearly the usage as the kitchen counter (unless you don't cook and the kitchen is just an expensive show-piece)...
Hi Belinda! Can you do a review about soapstone and address some of its heat retention properties? Ty!
The translucence of marble is not paralleled by anything except maybe onyx. It has this Natural Glow around the edges that is unique. When we do bathrooms we do entire shower stalls in one centimeter thick, yes that's right, just 10 mm thick slabs. We use the same slabs as the backsplashes so as to save countertop space but then we use 3 cm for all horizontal slabs like window Ledges the tops of knee walls, or vanity tops. The beauty of marble simply can't be matched by fake products like quartz. I am also glad that you pointed out the much lower carbon footprint when something is not shipped across oceans and there are beautiful marbles here in the US and we actually have an agreement where we pick them up directly from the quarries.
Now on to concrete; poured-in-place concrete is the medium of CZcams hacks. Professionals always fabricate off-site and then bring to your house because you simply can't polish concrete the way it needs to be polished if they want that sort of finish inside of a house because of all the water that is used. If you do not want polished you can still have absolutely glass slick countertops and that is done by using special forms and special processes and different layers of cementation as product to build up the countertop from the top up (as it is done in a form upside down) when the form is removed you are left with something that is as hard as concrete but can be add light as bright white to any color you wish and can have inclusions or things placed into the mold, things like gears or pieces of Gears or even shell or through the entire Matrix you can use recycled glass and oyster shell and there are companies that make a composite mix of recycled glass, aggregate, cement, seashell and resin and those can be commercially purchased in slabs. The best concrete tops can also be made in a about a thickness of 12 mm. This is done by using AR fiber and fiberglass quarter inch scrim embedded in The Matrix on the bottom ( or midele layer) and as for the thickness of the edge you can simply build up the thickness as you create the top when you are hand placing the material in the form.
Now, let's talk about fake stuff like epoxy or even making fake marble out of concrete both can be done and I have seen both that were fairly convincing but they were done by absolute artists under the perfect conditions in settings made to do that type of work. The typical person usually makes what looks like a shiny piece of plastic with lines in it and usually it gets torn out by the next person who sees it or buys the place. I see many times where people will try to epoxy over concrete countertops where someone did a bad countertop out of concrete and then somebody else does a bad countertop on top of it with epoxy and in the end somebody else, a professional, has to come in and remove all of it! It can be done well though, We had an artist make some panels for us to match a slab that we could not get thin enough to do the shower panels with a thin slab like we wanted and although the owner knew, everyone else that looked at it did not and when they were told they did not believe that it was not Natural Stone like the vanity and the other slab work in that bathroom. The bottom line is whether you are having marble or concrete or epoxy it pays to just hire somebody as DIY projects usually look like DIY projects.✌😁
Great insights! I agree with you, Daniel.
Nice and informant video. For the stain test, I'm wondering if that was more a test of the sealant than of the material. A marble countertop might have a different sealant than the tile.
This is very interesting. I really like your videos. Could you talk about the possibility of the "counter tops" used in science labs?
I am now interested in a deep delft blue concrete/cement spiral staircase and railing. It just seems like it would be a good idea.
Great video, do you plan to move up in tiers for comparison? Would love to see Quartzite vs Porcelain, and then the synthetics like Corian.
Love this video!
I was wondering though...I am in love with Cementall but am unable to get it where I live. Do you have any idea how I would be able to mix something to create similar properties? I love the fact that it's so incredibly fast setting and really like the extremely high MPa it produces!
Thank you.
It would be awesome if you could do a video on solutions for restoring home foundations. 😁
Splendid video, I love the "facts" you share w/o opinion. I personally despise marble countertops & marble floors such as I have in the powder room). For floors, we considered having the existing concrete grooved to look like tile but eventually went with ceramic tile. I consider marble to be great for surfaces that are seen but not often used (such as a powder room countertop). The rough marble in the master bath just looks unfinished - I know it is rough, so it is not slick as a snotty doorknob, but the look is - YUCK. For countertops in a kitchen, I would not even consider anything but granite. In my experience, it is impervious to heat, stains, etc.
March 2023 excellent and very informative
Love hexagonal tiles
I mix marble powder into my concrete mix, an excellent combination!
Hi Belinda..... kindly, help me with the formula ratio and all the raw materials needed in making concrete counter top.
Hi Belinda, How safe is Epoxy resin for countertop surfaces? The red wine test was great.btw
Nevermind, haha I needed to wait for the end of the video
Not only are marble and granite quarried from the Hill Country near Marble Falls, but some of the marble is actually mined for its calcium carbonate. The J. M. Huber facility in Marble Falls pulverizes the marble into fine powder which is then shipped out in rail cars. Powdered calcium carbonate is used in various industries, including the pharmaceutical industry, and is a key ingredient in antacid tablets.
Its also used in fake tops and is found with ATH, VE resin, and pigments in cultured marble.
Powdered marble is also used on some chewing gums to keep the gum non-stick between manufacturing and consuming. One of the bug gum manufacturers has (or at least had back in the 80's) a marble mine somewhere north of Baltimore MD.
Which would you recommend for a home built in the Caribbean on the sea coast? Concrete or marble?
Wok of the stove red hot. Which surface should I place the pan on
This begs the question as to what is the better material for benchtops etc? Are you familiar with Corian and if so, do you have any opinion on it?
Corian is not as popular in the kitchen builder space. It has a lot of the same properties and aesthetics you see in laminate (feels like plastic, scratches easily, doesn't resist heat) but costs the same as quartz or porcelain.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Thankyou.
Those viewed(veiled ed.)busts are amazing ! What are they?
Veiled Lady by Raddaelo Monti, 1860!
@@BelindaCarr Thank you for that and all the good work you do. Also I appreciate the use of black box red …… for science.
You say, "Marble stays naturally cool [and that] concrete countertops don't have this feature." (@6:00) Given concrete and marble have similar thermal mass, it must be that marble has a higher thermal conductivity. As you know, however, many types of concrete have varying properties.
For comparison purposes how does granite compare?
Would you consider doing butcher block counters vs stainless steel counters?
👍👍👏
I hope you'll take a look at wooden countertops.
Lady
You are a consummate Professional
dunno why you made this video but its been kind of intersting
The customization of concrete is so good and cheap.. its why I almost went with it for my parents house remodel.. but instead went with granite because the project is dragging on and we just needed someone to put in a counter top...
I don't think I go with marble for any reason... even though it has some nice properties.. it being easy to stain and not looking good good for it would bug me.. I want a surface that will be improved with wear and tear.. or not show it should I wear it..
Marble has been used for centuries in European villas in their kitchen counters. Do they look worn in? Yes, they have been used for hundreds of years by hundreds of kitchen staff. Do they still look beautiful? Also yes. The soft luminosity of marble can't be replicated by any other material. Stains and a lifetime of cooking will give a patina. Why people prize metal patinas and turn down marble patina is beyond my understanding. And yes, I have marble countertops that have some staining and etching. And I love it!
I wish you would have included reference to white portland cement. Like, how is it made to be white? Is it actually portland cement or something else?
Shhhh... dont let out the secret!
I was really liking that terrazzo countertop with white cement!
And with white you can add enough pigment to get almost any value of any color.
Be careful with the fiber reinforcement though if you're grinding away to expose the aggregate like that.
@@jimurrata6785 You only have to be careful about the fiber if: 1) you didnt use a facecoat which is a different layer than the main body or 2) failed to use the right fibers which can be removed after grinding and polishing.
@@danielbuckner2167 Terrazzo is _by definition_ ground or polished to beneath the surface.
I never considered trying to pick or pull the fiber out of the finished surface.
Thanks
@@jimurrata6785 I am familiar with Terrazzo. It is not a term used by Professionals in the countertop industry but the definition does not preclude countertops either. Trying to pull out fibers off of the surface if you have fibers making it through to your face coat isn't the way to remove them.
Next one - Porcelain countertop!
I can't recommend soapstone countertops highly enough.
Does she have a video on that?
How is marble sealed?
I have my concrete countertop products down to $6.00-$10.00 per square foot
I def prefer the marble countertops...whats the point in using something cheap looking if it isn't cheap?
You forgot Greece. Parthenon is made from marble and Greece produces marble since ever.
Marble requires a lot of care
Every concrete countertop thinner than 75 mm (3") that know about has developed cracks over time, That may be part of why sidewalks are 100 mm thick.
And all sidewalks have cracks. I was advised against concrete countertops. There's a reason most builders use stone, quartz or porcelain.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q I have poured 2 concrete countertops that are 3 inches thick, and years/decades later, they/re crack-free.
are Marbles made from marble ? at this price between Marble or concrete , i choose Granite
Not necessarily. Could be glass, stone or plastic.
The problem with concrete is not just the energy expended to make it, it's also that cement production produces more greenhouse gases than automobiles--those gases driven out of the limestone.
There is a white concrete to
Wow imagine taking design advice from Rachel Rae XD
As a chef, it has to be marble for the reasons you mentioned, Greek white marble please, you missed Greece 🇬🇷 out from your list.
You're absolutely stunning
I love concrete countertops and floors.
I'm lazy, careless, and financially prudent. I also like my living space to look fashionable.
Concrete can really take a beating, is affordable, and it isn't "trendy" like marble (aka in 10 years I won't have surfaces that are extremely dated)
Corrian >
Wait, wait, wait... did you seal that marble before that test? Seems unfair to use sealed concrete and unsealed concrete!
She said it was sealed, but the acid in the liquid ate through. 6:46
@@eklectiktoni How was it sealed? I would not trust an off-the-shelf product from a box store to be properly sealed. DEX is a company specializing in cementacious producys and gave a sample so I am sure that sample was well treated. I imagine their sealing process is partially a densifier to harden the surface to get a smoogh polish and reduce porisity and then a silane based sealer applied. I wonder how that marble would perform with such sealing precautions.🤷🏻♂️
Stainless Steel countertop is the way to go. No sealing, no burning, no chipping or cracking. Can withstand heat. Nothing matches it.
The question isn't What is Dolomite but Who! 😂
If you want to be slave to you kitchen, than install marble vs concrete countertop.
"Marble stays naturally cool" - Wait what? Is that true? Thermodynamically... what's going on there?
Marble is a nightmare and I don’t understand why they put it in bathrooms and kitchens. You can’t even get it wet without it etching and then it looks horrible.
Both of these products are bad for the environment but good for personal vanity.
So what would you prefer for a "green" countertop?
@@danielbuckner2167 Let's see what Belinda comes up with...
@@milesobrien2694 Well she mentioned in a response the likelihood of an hi pcoming video on tile vs wood but Im not sure those would be the candidates. I think concrete-ish products could come close if the portland was removed and different crystalline growth additives were used that employed similar chemistry. The next best would probably be everyone's least favorite and one that I still like for the super low cost and ease of installation... laminate. I know many high density fiberboards have supplemented the formaldehyde but I dont know if all medium density manufacturers or countertop manufacturers have. If so it would seem green.
@Mon Cherii I think he is referring to how people have to have the nicest things or keep up with Trends... But actually there is a little bit of a double entendre there, isn't there?
@Mon Cherii I understand longevity because of the cost of replacement but of course people typically change their countertops because they want to, not because they need to. Some products have too much of a longevity and are around far longer than their intended purpose. Having a sunset on a product at least gives you an idea of how long you can expect it to last but also an amount of time before it can decompose and break down into its base components which is probably better for the environment. We have taken out formica from the 1950s that still looked good! Well... It wasn't nice to look at but it was in good shape. We have also sold Granite right off the back of one of the trucks after removing it from someone's house. I love it when that happens so we can recycle something in the purest way possible --- just reusing it. Our shop has stone countertops on some of the work benches not because we are bougie but simply because we hate to throw things out and you can't give away Baltic brown or desert tan or Uba tuba Stone these days. Pick something you like and take care of it and it will probably last as long as you do.
Correct ur knowledge regards. Don’t be biased
Epoxy peel-off fast and is really bad for our health.
Both should never be used
You do good videos, but you could drop the environmental impact comments as far as I'm concerned. They aren't quantitative so are meaningless. Also, people work with epoxy all the time. Fearmongering about exothermic reactions that can melt plastic is over-the-top!
Extra-specific chocolate and ice cream kitchens notwithstanding, none of these surfaces have ANY place in a kitchen. I cook A LOT. The last thing I need is an expensive, delicate, needy surface to toss my heavy kitchen gear or worry about damaging or breaking the counter. I clean surfaces regularly, scrubbing or using vinegar to clean grease. I (or anyone that actually COOKS in their kitchen) NEED a stainless steel or cheap (disposable) formica surface to do work in the kitchen. 40 years from now, when this silly trend is treated as macrame in the 1970s is treated today, the grave marker industry will have a huge amount of cheap substrate from all these silly kitchens.
Your videos make me wish I had married a little bit higher up the ladder.
Again Belinda you have lumped all epoxies into one category. As an educated professional I know that you know the difference is in paints because of what is in them or the differences in grades of Steel because what is in them and you just talked about the differences in concrete because what is in it so I find it surprising that you have not done the research to see the vast differences in epoxies because of what is in them. Certain epoxies you can mix up an entire gallon of and then put your face in the top of the bucket and breathe in and you could smell it but it wouldn't cause any breathing issues other than being able to smell it. Some epoxies are very toxic in what they off gas but there are those that are completely safe to use indoors. Now I would also agree to ventilate any workspace because even standing particles can be dangerous but certainly not all epoxies are the same.
I agree, but I can't dive into the different types of epoxy in a 10 minute video on countertops.
Not being mean--- if you didnt do such great research and in depth videos I would have come expect such fine work. 😁😛
@@BelindaCarr its true but the types marketed for both countertops and flooring have almost no smell and once cured zero off gassing. I know you had a bad experience with that bathtub epoxy and urethane epoxies are awful and terribly unhealthy and definitely require a respirator, full face if available. I just dont want to slander them all or in other words throw out the baby with the bathwater... errr,...bathtub epoxy!
Both are terrible options for counters, in my opinion.
Exactly! They're porous. Just look at marble tables on the used market. They're all stained and chipped. Just get laminate! Laminate is so underrated because it's inexpensive.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Or use quartz.
@@jc2604 Yeah sure. But my point was that laminate is less of a pain in the butt for a fraction of the price. And manufacturers are improving laminate aesthetics lately.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q OR SOAPSTONE. I love soapstone. Looks so much warmer and more rustic than more standard modern countertop materials. No need to seal it at all, doesn't really stain, is heat resistant (used in freaking welding for marking things), doesn't crack, is soft to the touch, etc. Only con is really it's softness, it is really easily marred. But I find it less likely for me to cut into my countertop, even by accident, than spill stuff. And the softness almost eliminates cracking so the softness is a bonus in some respects.
Why U didn’t mention Pakistan 😪👎🏻