Polished Concrete Worktops

Your Polished Concrete Worktop will be treated and sealed with a high-performance coating of specialist concrete sealant developed by The Concrete Countertop Institute. This sealant has been praised by concrete artisans as one of the most advanced sealing systems currently in use throughout the industry. This professional grade urethane sealant is used to improve stain resistance, wear resistance, hardness and scratch resistances of Polished Concrete Worktops.

FAQs

Woody’s Concrete Co. Ltd have spent nearly ten years nurturing a scientifically engineered manufacturing and processing technique which we apply to all our concrete products. 

Below we have summarised some of our most frequently asked questions. If you’re still in doubt, please connect with us.

Q. Are your samples stain resistant?

All our samples are treated in the same way as our worktops to allow you the opportunity to get to know the material. Any stain testing carried out during the first 2 weeks of sealing may result in transient staining. 

Q. Can I expect an exact match in colour and finish from a sample to my worktop? What level of variation should I expect?

We love working with our clients to create custom colours and bespoke finishes from scratch. However, please remember that samples are provided as a guide only. A number of variables, such as air humidity and temperature, and Woody’s casting process, will affect the colour of cured concrete so you should anticipate a degree of natural variation. Aggregate distribution, where you opt for an Exposed Aggregate finish, is random. The natural patina that occurs during the polishing phase, that may result in a variation in surface texture, is an inherent characteristic of our Polished Concrete Worktops and contributes to the living finish we pride ourselves on offering. 

Q. does concrete stain?

All man-made and natural materials are susceptible to staining. Woody’s advises its clients to adopt a clean-as-you-go method in respect to Polished Concrete. The longer you leave something to reside on the surface, the more likely it will stain. Whilst we may not have tested every possible staining aggressor, we’ve trialled some of the toughest we could find in our test-kitchen cupboard. The items listed below were tested up to 1 hour with no visible staining:

-       Lemon Juice

-       Hot oil

-       Tomato Ketchup

-       Red Wine

Treat your concrete surfaces as you would a favourite blouse or shirt; If you spill red wine down it, you would treat it with a stain remover as soon as possible.

Q. Is Polished Concrete harder to keep clean than Quartz?

There is a common misconception that Quartz offers complete stain-proofing compared to Concrete. However, both materials, whilst stain resistant, are not stain-proof and the maintenance and cleaning methods for both surfaces are the same: Clean up spills shortly after they occur, use a chopping board and place mats or trivets under hot pans. The use of bleach is approved for use on (Woody's) Concrete where staining occurs unlike Quartz. Concrete, when staining does occur, can be easily treated with a sand and reseal to lift the stain out whereas Quartz may become permanently stained in these areas.

Q. Can I use bleach safely on my worktop? 

Yes, our sealant is impervious to bleach and bleach-based cleaning products. If you are following the clean-as-you-go method for everyday spills, you should be able to avoid the use of bleach and reserve it for those more aggressive staining agents.

Q. Will my worktops be food safe?

Yes, our sealant, once applied, is chemically inactive. 

Q. are the worktops grease/oil resistant?

Yes. However, you should exercise the same care method with regards to spillages and wipe them up when they occur rather than allowing liquid to reside on the surface. 

Q. Will I see water marks? 

Our sealant offers a breathable finish so, whilst we process our worktops to protect against water marking, it is still possible for water penetration to occur. Any water left to reside on the surface will dry out on its own.  

Q. Will my worktop be ready to use as soon as it’s been installed?

Yes and No. Concrete continues to develop strength well beyond the day of installation as does our sealant. We anticipate full curing of the sealant to take between 4-7 days. We advise you to operate with additional caution for the first 2 weeks following installation whilst the concrete and sealer bond and cure. Avoid allowing liquid to reside on the surface, use drip trays where applicable and place the felt feet provided for you on any decorative items or appliances that sit on the surface. 

Q. How often does my worktop need to be treated or resealed?

The lifespan of our sealer has been tested up to five years. If you submit your worktops to extreme abuse i.e. chopping directly on the surface, repeatedly exposing it to heat, allowing water and staining agents to reside on the surface, you should anticipate a deterioration in the performance of the sealant overtime which could require it to be resealed in around three years.

Q. What warranty do you offer for your worktops?

Woody’s will offer free spot repairs if a product fails to maintain structural integrity for its intended use. Any aesthetic treatments or repairs will be subject to a maintenance quote and are carried out at the discretion of Woody’s Concrete Company. We remain a phone call or email away if you have any questions or concerns.

Q. Can I use your concrete outdoors? 

Yes, absolutely. Our sealant is UV stable but we do recommend the use of suitable protection against adverse weather and extreme sunlight to avoid staining caused by dirty rain water and discolouration caused by direct and prolonged UV exposure. 

Q. Can I put a hot pot on my worktop?

Yes, but please use a mat or trivet to protect your concrete surfaces. Woody’s concrete, paired with the professional application of our sealant, has been tested up to 260°C. However, we still advise you to place trivets or a heat proof mat on the work surface to avoid blistering the sealant overtime. 

Q. Can I cut directly on my worktop? 

Please don’t! Use a chopping board. This will protect your beautiful, hand-made worktop and it’s more hygienic! On that note, avoid using any abrasive cleaning tools, such as a scouring pad, as the steel wool will scratch the sealant making your surfaces vulnerable.

Q. How do I keep my worktop clean?

There’s no secret technique as to how to clean our Polished Concrete because it’s really straight forward. We recommend you adopt a clean-as-you-go attitude whereby you wipe up spillages shortly after they happen, use trivets for hot pots and pans and avoid chopping directly on the worktop. That’s it!

Q. Do I need to treat my Polished Concrete Sink any differently to the worktop?

Great question, yes! Your concrete sink will get way more action in a day than the work surface itself. Exposure to water, soaps, dirty dishes, clattering cutlery and so on will all mean your sink needs a little more TLC. We strongly advise that you avoid the build up of soapy residue by dry wiping the bowl of the sink after use. Natural signs of wear and tear are normal and discolouration is more likely to occur in moisture-rich areas. Get into the good habit of taking care of your sink early on and you’ll avoid appreciable deterioration. 

Q. Can I use your Polished Concrete as a fire feature?

Yes, if the fire feature is properly designed to keep direct flame off the concrete, then neither the concrete nor the sealer are going to heat up too much, so this is a non-issue. Like most coating sealers, our sealant does not stand up to open flame; Nor does bare concrete.

Have a question thats not been answered? Connect with us to learn more.