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Picture of lastmanstanding
posted
Granite is too expensive as is quartz. Stainless steel is expensive plus it gets hot and will reflect the sun back at you and fry your retina's. Concrete is a possibility but besides death and taxes concrete cracking is another certainty.

I'm turning the shelter in the pic below into a screened in outdoor kitchen/entertaining area. Nothing is going to be upscale fancy but it must be functional and as maintenance free as possible. And must survive harsh northern Minnesota winters. Floor will be a concrete pad and I have the other materials pretty well figured out with the exception of the counter tops. If someone has some creative ideas I'd like to hear them. Links to materials would be appreciated.



"Fixed fortifications are monuments to mans stupidity" - George S. Patton
 
Posts: 8678 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: June 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Bookers Bourbon
and a good cigar
Picture of Johnny 3eagles
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Corian or something similar? Man-made should be less pricey.





If you're goin' through hell, keep on going.
Don't slow down. If you're scared don't show it.
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.


NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER
 
Posts: 7335 | Location: Arkansas  | Registered: November 06, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
quarter MOA visionary
Picture of smschulz
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Poured concrete can be quite nice and don't crack the same way that sidewalks do.
 
Posts: 23307 | Location: Houston, TX | Registered: June 11, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Drill Here, Drill Now
Picture of tatortodd
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RapidSet Mortar Mix w/ Flow Control. See this YT video from the Michael Builds channel.

If I were to build my outdoor kitchen today, that’s how I’d do it. Alas, I’m probably 12-18 months from doing it Frown



Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
 
Posts: 23810 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of P250UA5
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Butcher block?
Not sure how it would do, exposed to the elements.




The Enemy's gate is down.
 
Posts: 16169 | Location: Spring, TX | Registered: July 11, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Optimistic Cynic
Picture of architect
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I think the classic material for this application is tile and/or brick. Cracking can be minimized by a rock-solid base.
 
Posts: 6872 | Location: NoVA | Registered: July 22, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Drill Here, Drill Now
Picture of tatortodd
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quote:
Originally posted by architect:
I think the classic material for this application is tile and/or brick.
I’ve had a tile countertop and you couldn’t pay me to have one again. Hard enough to keep clean indoors and couldn’t imagine the extra hassle outdoors.



Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
 
Posts: 23810 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of mark60
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Concrete can be beautiful and there are a ton of possibilities with it, cracking isn't a sure thing at all. Epoxy is another possibility.
 
Posts: 3567 | Location: God Awful New York | Registered: July 01, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of lastmanstanding
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quote:
Originally posted by tatortodd:
RapidSet Mortar Mix w/ Flow Control. See this YT video from the Michael Builds channel.

If I were to build my outdoor kitchen today, that’s how I’d do it. Alas, I’m probably 12-18 months from doing it Frown

Thanks for the video link looks like a possibility. I did a quick price check on materials and for under $400 I could do over 20' of counter top 2" thick. I wonder if this is any better than the bags of mix you buy specifically for counter tops other than the faster set time?
Thanks for all the input guys.


"Fixed fortifications are monuments to mans stupidity" - George S. Patton
 
Posts: 8678 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: June 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Drill Here, Drill Now
Picture of tatortodd
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
Thanks for the video link looks like a possibility. I did a quick price check on materials and for under $400 I could do over 20' of counter top 2" thick. I wonder if this is any better than the bags of mix you buy specifically for counter tops other than the faster set time?
Thanks for all the input guys.
You're welcome. He has several videos on countertops that you'll likely find useful:
  • Faster way to make the "live edge" using a reusable mold
  • Very cool epoxy river pattern in concrete table top
  • Since you mentioned 20' - Helping a viewer do all of the countertops for kitchen
  • Since you asked about doing it with a more traditional mix - made a coffee table top which took much longer than the rapidset mortar mix



    Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

    DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
  •  
    Posts: 23810 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Political Cynic
    Picture of nhtagmember
    posted Hide Post
    If you eliminate quartz and granite, rule out brick and plastic laminate you might be stuck with ceramic tile.
     
    Posts: 53948 | Location: Tucson Arizona | Registered: January 16, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    It's pronounced just
    the way it's spelled
    posted Hide Post
    The “wood grained” stuff made out of recycled plastic is pretty indestructible. A little on the homely side, but it doesn’t rot or warp and stands up to the UV here in AZ.
     
    Posts: 1535 | Location: Arid Zone A | Registered: February 14, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Dances With
    Tornados
    posted Hide Post
    A metal top such as Bronze or Copper, in a Matte finish and not too reflective, may be an option. I’ve seen many bar tops of this nature.
    .
     
    Posts: 12025 | Location: Near Hooker Oklahoma, closer to Slapout Oklahoma | Registered: October 26, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Member
    posted Hide Post
    quote:
    Originally posted by Nuclear:
    The “wood grained” stuff made out of recycled plastic is pretty indestructible. A little on the homely side, but it doesn’t rot or warp and stands up to the UV here in AZ.


    I made a table for my Big Green Egg and used Trex with some insets of Quartz to set hot items on. I had the Quartz remnants from our kitchen remodel so it was basically free. About eight years in and the Trex has faded considerably and the Quartz (white marble look) has badly discolored. The poor performance of both really surprised me. In fairness it spent the first 5 years of its life in the Las Vegas sun. Still I wouldn't use either again for an outside project.
     
    Posts: 2093 | Location: Just outside of Zion and Bryce Canyon NP's | Registered: March 18, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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    Picture of lastmanstanding
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    I've looked at some repurposed materials as well. Old box car or semi trailer wood floors that if sanded and sealed look very nice and will take the weather. But it's a lot of prep work and pieces are irregular and not exactly cheap either. I'm kind of looking for down and dirty moderately priced. As I said nothing upscale fancy as this is our summer lake place. I like the rapid set mortar mix video Tator posted but reading the comments several people posted that it set so fast in warm weather they couldn't even get it out of the mixing bucket.

    I'm tending to think the mix specifically made for counter tops may be the best solution. I don't see a reason why I need this to set up in less than a hour there is no particular hurry. I'll keep searching but it's becoming apparent concrete may be the best choice and hope cracking isn't a problem.


    "Fixed fortifications are monuments to mans stupidity" - George S. Patton
     
    Posts: 8678 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: June 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Drill Here, Drill Now
    Picture of tatortodd
    posted Hide Post
    quote:
    I like the rapid set mortar mix video Tator posted but reading the comments several people posted that it set so fast in warm weather they couldn't even get it out of the mixing bucket.

    Did the commentors mention whether or not they used Rapid Set's Set Control which gives more time (~20 min) in warm weather?



    Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

    DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
     
    Posts: 23810 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Member
    Picture of photohause
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    quote:
    Poured concrete


    Don't. drink & drive, don't even putt.


     
    Posts: 1631 | Location:  | Registered: March 28, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Member
    Picture of lastmanstanding
    posted Hide Post
    quote:
    Originally posted by tatortodd:
    quote:
    I like the rapid set mortar mix video Tator posted but reading the comments several people posted that it set so fast in warm weather they couldn't even get it out of the mixing bucket.

    Did the commentors mention whether or not they used Rapid Set's Set Control which gives more time (~20 min) in warm weather?

    No they did not but neither did the poster of the video he used flow control but I don't recall him mentioning set control. So now it kind of sounds like your putting in all these additives to make it a traditional cement mix. I've got a contractor working with me on this project I'll get his input.


    "Fixed fortifications are monuments to mans stupidity" - George S. Patton
     
    Posts: 8678 | Location: Minnesota | Registered: June 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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    Concrete would be the choice however, I'd find someone reputable and get some references on their work. Cracking/chipping is a distinct possibly but, there seems to be better improvements.

    Stone is porous and quartz and the various mix-compounds will fade in UV, heat, humidity...unless there's been some new advances.
     
    Posts: 15137 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    quarter MOA visionary
    Picture of smschulz
    posted Hide Post
    Using countertop concrete set in forms with reinforcement is great.
    I made one for my BGE and used concrete stain came out awesome.
    Cracking is not going to happen if done properly, supported properly and you don't drop an anchor on it.
    Lots of info on these everywhere.
    But again don compare this with a foundation that can shift and servers a different purpose.

    Countertop:


    On top of this stand:


    No pic of all together.

    YMMV
     
    Posts: 23307 | Location: Houston, TX | Registered: June 11, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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