Each concrete countertop contractor has their own proprietary countertop construction method. In general, however, here are the relevant issues:

• Design: Many homeowners are taking advantage of concrete’s flexibility and its ability to incorporate other functional features such as integral sinks, drainboards, and butcher blocks.
  
  
• Countertops are either pre-cast in a shop or built on site:

     Contractors who pre-cast like to pour in the shop where conditions are controlled, they use special casting tables, and they have the countertop in their possession while it is curing and until it can be adequately sealed.

     Contractors who like to build countertops on site like to do so because they can form the countertop to any client's particular needs- radius edges, curved corners, etc.

• Countertops are made of cement, lightweight aggregates, and a combination of additives. 
  
  
• Additives such as fiber reinforcement, silica fume pozzolan, and acrylic are often used.

• Standard countertops are 2 - 2 1/2 inches.
  
  
• Some type of reinforcement is used such as structural steel, wire mesh, fiberglass, and/or fibers. Sometimes more than one type of reinforcement is used.
  
  
• The countertops are cured.
  
  
• Countertops are often ground. Grinding the surface "skin" with progressively finer diamond polishing stones achieves two important objectives; durability and beauty.
  
  
• Non-toxic, water baised, hight performance sealers provide a streak-free finish and improve stain and abraision resistance, while maintaining the natural lster or concrete. Wax and polishes, specifically blended.