Tom Green and Kelly DeSantis are in the middle of renovating an abandoned house . When they first bought it, friends suggested they tear the structure down and start all over. But the couple liked the home's historical quality, so they got right to work. Since this is an expensive undertaking, Kelly and Tom are trying to save money wherever they can. In that spirit, they've decided to take on the next project themselves : hand-pouring concrete countertops in their kitchen. Neither Tom nor Kelly has ever tried anything like this, but they feel confident they can do it. Kelly and Tom want to get most of the work done in just one day. They begin by lining up metal trim along the edges of one of the plywood bases. For a moment, the couple is concerned the trim may not be lining up quite right, but when they discover the trim is actually fine, they start attaching it to the base. Once all the bases are done, Tom and Kelly attach them to the cabinets. Then Kelly lays down a moisture barrier, and Tom installs wooden molds that will hold the wet concrete in place.
The project continues as Tom and Kelly lay rebar in place on the counters. Then they mix up a batch of concrete and start pouring it in. Kelly and Tom move from counter to counter, working out air bubbles, smoothing the wet surface, and adding a bullnose edge as they go. Soon, all the counters have been poured. Later that night , Tom decides they can start taking the molds off. They find the concrete is dry enough that removing the molds won't cause damage, but still wet enough that they can smooth out the edges as needed.
After letting the concrete cure for several days, Tom and Kelly can now finish the job. They apply three coats of sealer to each counter, taking care to apply it smoothly so that it doesn't streak. Three weeks later, they have a beautiful new kitchen. They feel the concrete has just the right color, and they love the modern touch it adds to the room.
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