How to Do Veining on Concrete

Create veined concrete in a few simple steps.

Concrete countertops for kitchens and bathrooms are becoming an increasingly popular choice. But making your own concrete countertop is difficult and time-consuming. A plain concrete countertop is like a blank canvas, crying out for design shapes and colors to transform its appearance. Fortunately, precast concrete countertop packages are now available that allow you to make your own custom, veined countertops in a few steps. These packages include a material, typically melamine, to create a countertop form, precast concrete mix, veining powder mixtures in multiple colors and step-by-step instructions.

Things You'll Need

• Commercial precast concrete countertop package
• Silicone or acrylic caulk
• Rubber gloves
• Chip brush
• Vacuum
• Rag or cloth
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Cut edge rails and attach them to the form's casting surface, using an acrylic or silicone caulk, following the manufacturer's instructions. Allow the caulk to cure according to the manufacturer's recommended time line. This creates the form for your precast concrete countertop.

2. Pour a portion of the precast concrete into the form creating a desired length and shape for the vein. Put on rubber gloves and use your hands to adjust the concrete edge to establish the desired look, if necessary. The bottom concrete in the form will be the top of the cured countertop.

3. Sprinkle a good amount of the veining powder along the wet, precast concrete edge representing the vein line. Push excess vein material into the concrete edge, using a small chip brush. The powder adheres to the concrete.

4. Remove excess, loose veining powder from the form, using a vacuum. Wipe up any remaining vein pigment residue with a clean, damp rag.

5. Mist the vein lightly, using a spray bottle filled with room-temperature tap water, to help activate the cement in the vein.

6. Fill the remainder of the countertop form with precast concrete mix and allow the concrete to cure, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Tips & Warnings

• To create a larger or wider vein effect, pour the precast concrete mix onto the veining material, allowing gravity to push the concrete against the dry material and expand the coverage.

• Precast concrete manufacturer's packages are available online and at home improvement centers. The manufacturer's includes all materials necessary for building the form. The staff can answer questions regarding necessary tools and appropriate types of casting surfaces.

• The difference between precast concrete countertops and cast-in-place concrete countertops is precast are created off the counter site and transported as a finished product to be placed and installed at the counter location, while cast-in-place concrete countertops are those formed, poured, and finished on the ultimate countertop site.

• The casting surface must be flat and rigid to support the concrete countertop and prevent sagging.

References

• Concrete Countertop Veining - Xtreme Veining by SureCrete
• Surecrete Design Products: Concrete Countertops
• The Concrete Whisperer: Creating Natural Veins in Concrete Countertops - Xtreme Series