August 7, 2018

DIY Concrete counters for an outdoor kitchen

In this tutorial, we'll walk through the process of how to make DIY concrete counter tops for an outdoor kitchen. You'll learn how to measure for countertops, how to build the molds, how to pour concrete, how to seal, and how to install.

These DIY concrete countertops are made using Quikrete 5000 (the best concrete mix for outdoor countertop), which is a pre-mixed bag of concrete you can find at many stores in the United States for around $6 per bag. The total cost of the DIY concrete counters was about $197 (not including tools). Making your own DIY concrete countertops is very rewarding. You will have great looking and durable concrete counters for years, and your friends will think they are awesome!

Can these DIY concrete counters be made for indoor kitchens as well?

Absolutely! Concrete counters are durable both indoors or out. This DIY tutorial about how to make concrete kitchen countertops for an outdoor kitchen can be used to build all types of concrete counters, bars, tables, desks, and other flat surfaces.

Tool list to build DIY concrete countertop

Miter Saw
Circular Saw
Table Saw
Jigsaw
Orbital Sander
Drill / Impact Drill
Bolt cutter
Tape Measure
Cake fondant tool ( For applying silicone )
Hot glue gun ( if building templates )
Straight edge ruler
Carpenters square
Rubber mallet
Silicone gun
Vacuum
Utility knife
Level
Pencil
Spray bottle with water
Rubbing alcohol
Rags
Drillbits
Utility Knife

Safety gear

Respirator
Rubber gloves
Protective eyeglasses
Hearing protection

Supplies

Melamine ( particle board with a white coating ) $32 each (1 or 2 4×8 sheets) $64.00
Quikrete 5000 ( I used 7 and a half bags for this project ) $6 each – $42.00
4×8 sheet of steel reinforcement $8.00
1 5/8 inch drywall screws $6.00
Tuff Duck concrete sealer $25.00
Concrete countertop wax $14.00
100% Silicone ( Black ) $6.00
Razor blade $2.00
1/4 inch Plywood: To cut strips for optional templating $18

Steps: How to Make DIY Concrete Counters for an outdoor kitchen

Measure and build template

Determine the layout for your counters. Measure the spaces to determine the size for each slab. Rip 2 inch wide strips of 1/4 inch thick plywood on a table saw to make the templating pieces. The template will help you layout the design. It also helps ensure the layout is done correctly and transferred to the mold without errors. Label the sides (front, back, left right) and any key features.

how to measure for concrete counters

Build concrete counter molds

Transfer the measurements and double check everything with the template. The counters are made using the reverse casting technique. This means the concrete will be poured into the mold and the concrete against the bottom of the mold will be super smooth because it forms against the melamine. This will be the actual top of your concrete counter once it is removed from the mold. Therefore, you will need to build the molds in a mirror like fashion. concrete counter template

Cut the base piece of each mold using a circular saw or a table saw.

how to make concrete counters

Use a table saw to cut the sidewall strips for the concrete counter mold. The concrete counters in today's example are 2 inches thick. The side strips need to be cut 3/4 of an inch wider to accommodate for the base piece of the mold you'll screw it to. I cut the strips to 2 3/4 inches in width.

strips for concrete counters

Layout the side strips. Measure and mark where to make each cut. Use a miter saw to cut the strips down in length.

making a concrete counter mold

Attach the side strips to the base piece using 1 5/8 inch drywall screws. Pre-drill and then insert the screw. Hold the drill as level as possible. Make sure to press down firmly on the base piece and side strip while attaching. This will make sure they are flush against the work surface.

concrete counters made easy

Add reinforcement

Use square mesh for the reinforcement. It is commonly found in 4×8 sheets at the hardware store. Cut the metal with a bolt cutter. Leave a one inch gap between the reinforcement and the sidewall. If the mold is 20 inches by 20 inches, you'll want to cut the mesh 18 inches by 18 inches.

how to build concrete counters

Seal the mold

Seal the mold using black 100% silicone. Run a bead around the entire perimeter and up the sidewalls. Have plenty of paper towels around to clean up the nozzle when needed.

silicone for concrete counters

Use a cake fondant tool to create a rounded edge. Pull the tool along the crease and then up the corner. It will create 3 separate channels in the silicone as seen below. Dip the tool in water to smooth out the caulk and go over a couple times to clean things up if needed.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Allow the caulk at least a few hours to dry. Next, use a razor blade to remove the two side channels of the silicone. Once removed, you will have the center rounded channel.

cake fondant tool for concrete counters

Clean up any residue or excess caulk using a rag and rubbing alcohol.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Mix and pour concrete!

Mix the concrete according to the manufacturers instructions. I used Quikrete 5000, which is about $6 per bag at the hardware store. Use a plastic mixing tub and mason hoe to mix up the concrete. I like to mix it to an oatmeal like consistency.

Mixing quikrete 5000 for concrete counters

Transfer the concrete to the mold using a bucket.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Spread the concrete around the mold. Fill the mold a little over half full with concrete.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Vibrate the sides of the concrete using a rubber mallet or by holding a tool against the sidewalls that vibrates. I also like to lift the table up and down quickly. This helps get the air bubbles out of the concrete. It is very important to vibrate the concrete so you don't have too many air pockets and pinholes in the concrete.

vibrating concrete counters

Add the reinforcement to the mold once you've finished vibrating the concrete.

reinforcement for concrete counters

Screed the concrete to level it. Fill low spots with additional concrete. Put any excess concrete back in the bucket.

screeding concrete counters

Trowel the concrete to smooth it out.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Level the work surface that the concrete will cure on. Give the concrete a few hours to set up. Once it begins to get firm, you can do another round of troweling. This will help give it a nice smooth finish on the underside.

how to hard trowel concrete counters

Let the concrete cure

Here is what the concrete will look like once it has been troweled the last time. I like to hard trowel the concrete so the underside is super smooth. Allow the concrete to cure at least 48 hours before de-molding. Temperature, humidity, the mix used, and other variables will vary the time the concrete needs to sit. Please refer to the manufacturers instructions for more information on cure times.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

De-mold the concrete

Remove the sidewalls from the concrete. Use a flat screwdriver or chisel if you need to pry the sidewalls a little. Make sure to only pry against the wood, and not against concrete.

removing concrete counter from the mold

Lightly sand the bottom edges of the concrete to remove crisp edges. Let the concrete continue to cure.how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

When ready, prepare to flip the concrete. Place towels where the concrete will rest during the flip. Foam or wood blocks work well to flip the concrete onto. Space the the foam or blocks evenly.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Remove the top of the mold. Let the concrete continue to dry. Hydrate the concrete by spraying it with a light mist of water.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Sand concrete

Use an orbital sander with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth the concrete. Sand the top and sides. Then rotate the concrete upside down and sand the underside with 120 grit paper. Don't spend a whole lot of time on the underside since it won't be seen. I'd recommend sanding the underside of the overhang area since people will run their fingers under them. This gives it a professional feel. If you are interested in wet polishing your countertops or learning how to add a sink, check out my indoor kitchen counter post and video here.

Seal the underside at this time. This way we don't have to flip it back over later. Once sealed with 2 coats, flip the slabs right side up.

how to sand concrete counters

Fill voids with slurry

Create a slurry mixture by combining portland cement with acrylic fortifier. You can add a little water as well. Mix to a toothpaste like consistency.

how to make concrete slurry

Rub the slurry into voids and pinholes using your hands and a plastic putty knife. Remove excess slurry once applied.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Sand the countertops to remove additional excess slurry. You can repeat the slurry filling / sanding process an additional time or two if needed.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Use a damp sponge or rag to wipe the counters clean prior to sealing. The water will help clean any additional residue, and you'll be able to determine if all the haze is removed prior to sealing.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Seal the countertops

Seal the concrete countertops. I applied 3-4 coats of Tuff Duck concrete sealer using a microfiber rag. Follow the manufacturers instructions. The concrete will slightly darken. The sealer adds a professional touch and a little shine.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Wax the countertops to provide additional protection against stains. I would highly recommend using wax.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Install the concrete countertops

Move the concrete countertops using a dolly. This will help tremendously, since two inch thick concrete countertops weigh about 22 pounds per square foot.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Apply 100% silicon to the base.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Lift and slide the countertops in place. Then check to make sure they are level and shim if necessary.

Caulk seams

We mixed black and white silicone to get a grey color similar to the concrete. Tape each side of the seam and apply the silicon.

Here is an up close look at the seam.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

We also tried clear silicone to see how it looked. I actually thought the clear silicone looked a little better.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Final touches

Kris installed barnwood trim around the backsplash area. It was attached using a nailer and some glue.

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

Clean up the area!

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

We installed a flat screen tv so Kris and his family can watch football and other sports outside.

Placing other furniture above the top

Enjoy!

Enjoy your new DIY concrete kitchen countertops in your outdoor kitchen. I hope this tutorial provided value and helps with your future DIY concrete projects. Please like, share, and comment below! Please post photos of your concrete counters when complete! Cheers – Pete

how to make concrete countertops for an outdoor kitchen

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Shop DIY Project plans!

Instant PDF Download

>