Countertips

Having introduced homeowners and contractors to an attractive alternative to costly granite, marble, and synthetic hardsurface countertops with his first

Having introduced homeowners and contractors to an attractive alternative to costly granite, marble, and synthetic hardsurface countertops with his first book Û Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms, and Finishes Û followed by the impressive showcase of Concrete at Home, designer Fu-Tung Cheng addresses project execution in a third book. Published by The Taunton Press, Concrete Countertops Made Simple [ISBN: 1-56158-882-2] is a DVD/book set that outlines in seven steps the process of designing, forming, pouring, finishing, and installing concrete countertops.

Guiding the reader as through a recipe, Cheng enables homeowners with the most basic tools and materials to produce excellent results the first time, the publisher affirms. Within two weeks, the author notes, readers using the Îhow-toÌ book/DVD package can produce a practical, personalized countertop that’s affordable and distinctive.

Cheng brings what Taunton Press officials note is the expertise of 20-plus years devoted to expanding concrete applications and the practical experience of instructing hundreds of contractors each year. Appealing to a wider audience, especially homeowners seeking to achieve luxury renovation of a kitchen or bathroom on a tight budget, the 96-page Concrete Countertops Made Simple features projects that are affordable and quickly executed. Any homeowner using dry mix purchased at a local hardware or home improvement store can build a concrete countertop Û following Cheng’s seven simple steps Û for about $15 per square foot, as compared to about $25-$40 psf for Formica, $40-$80 psf for granite, $60-$100 psf for stone, and $100-$300 psf for custom concrete. Moreover, Cheng demonstrates that the versatility of concrete allows fabrication of countertops that appeal across an aesthetic range from modern to traditional. Û www.chengdesign.com