Lightweight Concrete Countertops!

I know concrete countertops are not lightweight. They are actually quite heavy, like almost 20lb per square foot. Since I was going to be installing them on our deck I needed to come up with a better solution but I really wanted the concrete look.

I did some research and landed on the product Henry 549 FeatherFinish. This is a underlayment patch and skim coat product that can be applied to almost any surface and is quick drying in as little as 15 minutes! On top of that it is super simple to mix up and apply, not to mention it is only $20! It is used normally to prepare floors for a level surface so I figured lets give this a try for our outdoor kitchen counters!

What you will need:

Henry 549 FeatherFinish

At least 8” taping knife

Bucket

Drill mixer (optional) or paint stick

120 grit sandpaper

220-300 grit sandpaper

TILELab grout & tile sealer

Life Deck Acrylic Urethane Glaze in Gloss

Paint brush

Step 1: Prep!

Before you start making a mess be sure to protect all the surrounding surfaces. I taped the brown paper that you can get from hardware stores around my cabinets and the perimeter of the floor. *If applying over existing countertops be sure to sand the surface with a low grit (around 50) first. Wipe clean after.

Step 2: Mix!

The directions on the Henry 549 is 2 parts water 1 part mix. I found this to be very watery so I started doing a 1:1 ratio and the mixture was much more pliable especially for the edges. Pour the water in first, then the dry mix and either use a paint stick to stir or a drill mixer until smooth.

Step 3: Apply!

Using a taping knife (I used a 8”) scoop out the mixture onto the countertops and start spreading it as if you were frosting a cake. You just want to make sure you cover the entire surface with a thin even coat. With every coat you apply it gets easier to work with. I would do the entire top first and then the sides. Let this dry for a minimum of 3-4 hours.

Step 4: Sand!

Once dry (it will be much whiter) use an orbital sander with 120 grit and smooth everything out. Then sand with 220 grit for a smooth finish. You can round edges here as well.

Step 5: Repeat!

Depending on the look you are going for you can repeat steps 2-4 as many times as needed. I did 3 coats and let the final coat dry 24 hrs before sanding. I also opted for hand sanding the corners and the edges with a 220 sanding block after the final coat instead of the sander to keep a more square look. (The power sander removed too much)

Step 6: Seal!

Be sure to clean the surface with a tack cloth to remove particles from sanding. I used a spray on sealer by Tilegrab and liberally sprayed on two coats, waiting about 30 minutes between the two. Once that was all soaked in and dry I decided on using Life Paint acrylic urethane clear glaze in a gloss finish to add protection. You paint it on in thin layers and it goes on milky and will dry clear. Wait 4 hours between coats, I applied two.

That's it! Clean up your mess and enjoy those beautiful countertops! I am so happy with the way these turned out! I love how they match the fire pit I made for this area and the natural look!

Like always, if you are a more visual person you can watch me complete this entire process at my Instagram where everything is saved here in a highlight!