With the structure done and the bricks “got” it was time to put the counter together. This was actually easier than I thought it would be. Constructing the frame was pretty simple. I modified this from the aforementioned article about the double Durock substrate. Essentially I didn’t love the concept of seeing two sheets of Durock from the side. So I decided to build the forms about 1 1/2 inches from the counter edge. This would ensure that the form would pour cement over the edges of the Durock. To add to the look, I actually put quarter round  down to give the final product an inward cove design. Way better than just a square if you ask me.

I am not entirely sure that this mattered but since I had 3 panels (each two layers thick) I decided to tie them together a bit more and strap 1 x 2’s across the seams. This really tied the whole thing together and made it a ton stronger. Again, not entirely sure this matters but it was worth mentioning.

Also worth mentioning was that I added nearly all of the scraps of metal, Durock, cement chunks, etc to the counter forms. This decreased the interior cubic feet of cement required. This tip I learned from a cement guy locally. It was an excellent way to clean up the work site and will eventually allow me to cut the amount of cement required to fill the counter.

LEARNED TIP: The quarter round trick was awesome for sure. You can actually use any type of small molding for this so I would go nuts. However, be sure to pour this part separately from the main counter as the slightly chunky nature of the concrete does not make a sharp edge on the mold as I would have liked. I think a slightly more dampened version of the mix would have gotten into the grooves a bit more and made a tighter shape.

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