Concrete sinks: pros and cons, manufacturing subtleties

It is impossible to imagine any bathroom or kitchen without a sink. It should be reliable, practical and aesthetically pleasing. Today, one of the most popular options for making sinks and countertops is concrete, which has a number of advantages over other materials.

First, let's look at the strengths of concrete structures.

1. Cheap stuff. Stone countertops and sinks are ideal for bathrooms and kitchens as they are of impeccable quality and high durability. Concrete structures are no worse than stone products in terms of operational characteristics, they look very presentable outwardly, and are incomparably cheaper.
2. Suitable for interior design of any premises.
3. It is not difficult to make concrete products on your own without the help of experienced specialists.
4. The material is strong enough and solid, so the countertop and sink are not afraid of any temperatures.

Concrete is a versatile material that has, perhaps, only one drawback. Acids have a negative effect on the concrete surface. For example, even a drop of lemon juice will leave a stain. This is because the concrete contains calcium, which acts as a binding element. It is easily attacked by acids.

Using a protective polymer layer can solve this problem. In addition, the protective layer simplifies the maintenance of the concrete surface. The only drawback of the protective polymer coating: you cannot put hot dishes on it without a backing. This is because too high temperatures lead to polymer degradation.

Real masters in the field of construction and design embody any ideas into reality. They are not limited to simple square or round shapes.

• Concrete shell-shaped sink. Elegant configuration, thin lines, original design. This option demonstrates endless imagination in the manufacture of concrete products.
• Integrated (built-in) concrete sink. When designing their own space, each person tries to fill it with the most convenient elements. It often happens that it is impossible to find a suitable solution for a bathroom, so interior items can be made to order. An integrated washbasin meets all customer requirements in terms of aesthetic and operational characteristics, while the customer has the right to choose the shade, shape and size of the product he likes.

• The rectangular washbasin is a classic option. It is quite easy to use, since water will not splash during washing. The models of these sinks are the most popular and are offered in a wide range of sizes.
• Oval design is considered the most ergonomic option today.

Concrete is considered a rough material, but with the right approach, it can turn any structure into a real work of art.Trusting your imagination when decorating the interior, you can effectively use this material.

Let's consider several options for using concrete sinks in different interiors.

• A polished concrete sink combined with a wooden countertop looks very stylish. This option is ideal for a loft-style interior.

• Candles look especially romantic against the background of concrete sinks. A large round mirror in such an interior compensates for the simplicity and roughness of the concrete structure.

• Variants of concrete products in a light interior create a sense of sterility.

• The concrete sink is in perfect harmony with the wooden furniture.

Concrete structures harmoniously fit into a variety of stylistic directions.

• Concrete sinks and washbasins are very common in modern bathrooms and kitchens. Most often we are talking about integrated versions of the classic or original form. A concrete sink is ideal for a minimalist interior.
• Concrete is one of the main materials used in the loft style.
• Unusual shapes of concrete sinks are the main criteria for high-tech bathrooms. Such an interior is characterized by a minimum of used shades, an abundance of lighting, simple geometry of shapes and lines.

Making a sink with a concrete countertop is quite simple, you just need to adhere to certain instructions. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that this process is laborious and requires work with different materials and tools.

Before starting all work, it is necessary to create a sketch of the future structure. This will help you to accurately determine how much materials are needed for the job. The sink can be invoice or built-in. The overhead sink has a significant difference - the presence of a horizontal rim.

It is overhead products that are usually used for self-production. The presence of the side will allow you to hide small errors made in the manufacture of the product. Then the location of the future sink and countertop is outlined.

The next stage is the formation of the frame (formwork), where the concrete solution is poured. It is necessary to make a reliable formwork so that it can withstand the pressure of the mixture for several days. Materials for making the frame: large plywood sheets, wooden beams, boards, plastic sheets.

Required tools:

• a device for cutting materials, for example, an electric jigsaw;
• puncher;
• screwdriver;
• scissors for metal;
• hammer;
• container for concrete solution;
• ruler, level, tape measure;
• spatulas.

To form the formwork, it is necessary to lay the plywood sheets on a flat base. Then all the details of the sketch are copied to them. The material is cut and bent according to the shape of the future product. Wooden beams are installed along the perimeter of the base. For the formation of holes in the sink, it is recommended to use a plastic pipe, for example.

Then you can proceed to the installation of a reinforcing mesh, which serves to harden the concrete. With the help of a perforator, holes are drilled in the side walls of the formwork for metal reinforcement rods. They should be located in such a way that the reinforcing mesh does not touch the bottom of the frame and is in the thickness of the concrete solution.

The finished formwork can be attached to the wall. To give the frame the necessary strength, special attention should be paid to the fastening of the walls. For these purposes, you will need screws with a length of more than 6 cm or metal corners, with the help of which a reliable connection is ensured. A support of bricks is brought under the base of the formwork.

After carrying out the preparatory work, they proceed to mixing the concrete solution.

For this you will need:

• cement (1 part);
• sand (3 parts);
• crushed stone (3 parts);
• water (0.5 parts).

Water should be added to the concrete mortar slowly so as not to get too liquid composition. Ideally, the mixture should resemble thick sour cream in consistency.

The prepared solution is poured into the formwork. During pouring, it is necessary to compact the mortar to compact the crushed stone and remove air bubbles. Concrete must be poured in several layers, so that, as a result, the height of the compacted mortar is several millimeters higher than the formwork itself. This is due to the fact that as it dries, the volume of the concrete solution decreases, respectively, the level drops.

After a week, the composition gains sufficient strength, which allows you to remove the formwork and start finishing. Dismantling begins from above, at the end, temporary supports from bricks are removed. But they can be left until the entire structure is completely dry.

You will learn more about how to make a concrete sink in the following video.

At the last stage of creating a concrete sink, sand and polish the surface with sandpaper or a grinder. The sink is first sanded with a disc or coarse-grained material to remove irregularities and open pores, which must be treated with a solution of cement and acrylic filler.

The result is a beautiful, smooth and shiny shell. It can already be used, but, above all, it is recommended to treat the surface with antiseptics and protective compounds to protect against external irritants.

If desired, you can make a decorative finish on the table top. For this, ceramic tiles are most often used. A leveling compound is applied to the surface to be treated, then tile adhesive, and only after that ceramic tiles are laid. For more complex washbasins, it is necessary to cut each tile to the desired size. A thicker adhesive is applied to the side surface, and rubbed into the seams with a rubber spatula.

Making your own sink will be much cheaper than purchased options. In addition, you can always move away from the standard options and show all your imagination in the manufacturing process.

The concrete sink is a solid, stable option that is more suitable for private homes and cottages. However, very often there is a need for lighter and simpler structures, for example, for a country house.

A country sink can be easily and simply made from scrap materials. The best option is a plastic bottle design. The production of such an outdoor washbasin will take a few minutes. It will serve well until a more reliable option appears.

However, a plastic bottle garden washbasin does not meet the needs of the entire family, even when used very economically. You can install a similar larger version of the washstand from a plastic or metal canister. Even a bucket is suitable for these purposes.

A more reliable and convenient option for giving can be a washbasin with a cabinet. This design can be installed both in the yard and inside the house. One of the most common models of country sinks is "Moidodyr". It is a frame structure sheathed with sheet or panel material.

To create it are used:

• plywood;
• drywall;
• Chipboard;
• steel;
• plastic.

As a sink, you can use an old sink, used or a basin or even a bucket. It is best to purchase a water tank from a store, although an old canister or other container can be used here as well.Such a washstand is usually equipped with a countertop and a dryer, for the decoration of which they use ceramic tiles. You can also paint the surface with acrylic paint.