How NOT to pour a concrete counter top in 1 hour (Michael Builds method)

[@MichaelBuilds]

Fantastic job Brian! Thank you so much for the shout out and link! I’m sorry about all the problems you encountered. I made all those mistakes and then some lol 😂 That’s why I made the video haha. The voids definitely came from the mix being a little too thick. But I love how you turned those hiccups into triumphs! Again, thank you so much for the shout out and sharing the Michael Builds journey!!!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Back at you brother!! I know you're up North.. If your ever down in Ohio hit me up and we'll have a homebrew at the bar!! Thanks for all your work!! 👍🍻

[@Tony_in_AZ]

Michael does some interesting builds... even when he glues the project to the work bench.

[@greencertifiedweb]

Great video. I'm getting ready to do my own and I'm sure your video just saved me some headaches!

[@hardrock7634]

I’m a mould maker for the largest boat company in The souther hemisphere and can teach you guys a thing or two about making moulds , and the first thing I’ll dive right into for you both is creating a release angle ( draw) on your verticals for the sink inserts at least . Simply set your saw half a degree off and watch how much easier it releases There only needs to be a fragment of angle to have a dramatic increase of ease in releasing . A 90 degree angle with tape on it will always be problematic when releaseing .. you’ll be forced to use unnecessary pressure which results in cracking and stressing your products.....also try a canubrah base wax like TR WAX and you’ll never have a stick up . Go to any fibre glass marine distribution centre and you can purchase liquid or silicone / canubrah based release waxes . Remember rule number one , always perform small tests first before you do anything... even when doing something as easy as michealbuilds bench tops ... small tests first ... that’s why you ended up doing this vid ... you never did a small test .. even a square foot slab would have taught you a few cautions. I’ve already made two counter tops and I had perfect results . I’m not one for flaunting my persona all over the internet so I won’t be up loading any clips or pics . But in future .... small tests first with everything. Peace. Ps ...if you need any more tips on mould making ... ask me a question.

[@brysonperdasofpy4447]

I watched Michaels video and built my bar top literally 4 days ago. Came out perfectly! Even put a fire insert on the high top. Had no issues at all. Love his videos.

[@jewdd1989]

I just built my own form and poured… if not for creators like yourselves I would’ve had a disaster on my hands but thankfully I’ve learned a lot just from watching. I ordered the z countertop white cement mix with their pure white colorant and fiberglass grid, it has everything in it like flow control, fiber glass, etc. Now something no one mentions about this brand is the shipping costs far more than the product itself so it cost me for 3 bags, the fiberglass grid and colorant over $200 just in shipping not in product! That stung a bit. I bought melamine and broke it down on the tablesaw, used the same screws as Michael does and I highly recommend those too! Everything, I followed every step including waxing before applying the 100% silicone and be sure to silicone everything! Don’t skimp out on that or you’ll regret it! I used some 2’x2’ sheets of purple insulation board to make my sink cutouts and grateful I did. I had to cut mine apart to get them out and can’t imagine using more melamine as knockouts because is so hard to pull out. Now I have nice drills but they’re all battery so I found Ridgid’s concrete mixer which has adjustable speed and incredible strength, I’m a small woman and thank God I had this Ridgid mixer because there’s no way mixing full bags using a hand drill! Also I’ve read ppl complaining that their mix cured in the buckets, use ice water it makes a big difference and hustle don’t waste time. The most important is how you add your ingredients: start with half or 3/4 of the water, then the dye or colorant, then SLOWLY add in your concrete mixture and drill at the same time because dumping in whole bag is asking for an uneven mix. Pls don’t dump in all your concrete at once when mixing! Anyways mine turned out very well for never having done this before. Be gentle with your top after is dried long enough to remove, and then follow Micheal’s way of polishing. After burning my concrete go and buy a cheap polisher for your diamond pads. Don’t use a grinder! Even variable speed ones burn the concrete. My only complaint is that I suck at smoothing out the silicone. I used a fondant tool and everything but it clumped and didn’t look like I’ve seen. I think I might need to try the window foam spray and see if that’s what was missing because my silicone edges looked awful and were hard to smooth out after poured. Other than that it’s a lot of fun, I’ve learned a lot about pouring vanity tops but couldn’t have done it without you guys

[@GunnarSoroos]

Love that you were honest about mistakes and pitfalls, as well as how you overcame them. Also love the glass rinser. Great job on the build.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Got to be honest! 👍🍻

[@michellewhite6218]

Michael Builds you are the real deal, I love your show and i love all your projects and took notes. You did not take this as a negative and I love that because you are the ONE, REAL AND MATURE MAN.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

He is a pretty cool dude.

[@TrevorGay]

What “not” to do videos are so incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@iahomebrew5648]

Love how in depth this video was and how you turned your problems into cool accents in your project. Nice work man!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!! I had to share my experience. Not knocking other videos, but a lot of them show how things turned out after some practice.. Mine is real deal first try!! 👍

[@atalayawise6237]

I absolutely appreciate how you didn't give up! You are most definitely the raw example of: life happens so just do it and be HAPPY 😂 You Rock❗ Thank you for sharing. I just love your finished product and all of it's characteristic 😉❗❗❗❗

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!!

[@Holdfast]

This is a great de-brief video. I find so many videos go for production value and gloss over potential problems!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I try to keep it honest and real!

[@loosebootwoodworking]

Thanks for sharing, especially the mistakes and how you corrected them.

[@blackdogadventures7531]

the imperfections came out looking awesome in the end. I like seeing the "fails" turn into badassery.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha... Thanks! I'm happy with them!!

[@terryhutson4671]

Love your honesty bruh, subscribed! Mike’s builds blew me away. Your build makes me feel like I might be able to do this. Ty for all your tips.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Awesome! Glad it is encouraging yo to try it! Michael inspired me to make mine. I am SO glad I did. I love the way they turned out. We hosted thanksgiving and the family couldn't believe I did them myself. I would highly recommend the set additive to give yourself more work time! Let me know if you do it and how it turns out! 👍

[@fasteddie67]

Great video and great advice! Thank you for highlighting the mistakes that are often edited out of these type of DIY videos. Making mistakes adds character--admitting to them, reveals it!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

So true.. When I had all the mistakes happened, I knew I had to leave them in because other people were having them, but not showing them.. Thanks for the comments!!

[@chillidawg4647]

Great video! Micheal Builds inspired me to do this as well. I was afraid you'd have to junk out the first counter top but you fixed it perfectly! Thanks for taking the time to make this vid.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yeah!! I had to save all that work!! 👍

[@ensatina62]

stumbled on your vid, learned more from this than all the "see my perfect poured counter top with the LED lights" Thanks!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

That's why I did it. I didn't plan on having the issues but thought it was better to let everyone know my experience and what not to do..lol 👍

[@goldiesincity8005]

That was a good idea to fix the issue , at least you rescued your project without starting over , the outcome looks good , your mistakes can hopefully save someone else's counter top great video..

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks! That was not my initial intent.. lol but I figured if I can salvage the counter and make a video at the same time it might help at least one person. 👍

[@marhimarhi]

Those mistakes are adding character to the counter top. Great work fixing the mistakes and thank you for showing them to us

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Definitely! Thanks for watching!! 👍

[@GodotWorld]

Things on the internet are never as easy as the person making the video makes it out to be. I guarantee the 1 hour concrete guy, great video, probably did that dozens of times before making that video. Probably things he did that he does so automatically now he doesn't even think about doing it, and there for didn't mention it. I'm glad you did this video because I was thinking of doing it. I think I've learned more from a first timer's mistakes from a flawless execution of someone that's done it a bunch of time.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks for the comments!! You are exactly right! This is also why I decided to share all of my issues. Learn from my mistakes and have a better result! 👍

[@MegaDcmp]

That pitting on the sink base top looks amazing after you mixed in the grout and sealed it all up. Looks like a natural veining. Knowing how to take mistakes and work them to your advantage makes a huge difference. I may be trying out Michael's method, and your video caps it on the back end to show how you can err, what can happen when you do err, and what you can do to recover. Phenomenal job and video.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@jenxer608]

I agree with Michael Builds....love how you made those "hiccups into triumphs!" Part of the reason I'm hesitant to try big projects is because I'm an inherited perfectionist (my mom was the same way). I'm learning to just roll with the imperfections. Thanks for sharing your experience!!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful. The biggest thing I wanted to show is that your first time might not go perfect. BUT you can still have a good end result! Thanks for watching!

[@Moffy1961]

Nice finished product, and thanks for walking through the handy mistakes and how you tackled them!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!! 👍

[@nitesurfer]

wow what a fabulous inspiration you are... dont panic and find a way to fix it .. great advice and a great result.. you can be proud of the job .. and even more proud cause u had to work out so much yourself and fixed your way into some great counter tops... than ks for a great vid and for sharing your experience i learned a lot watching this :)

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thank you! 👍🍻

[@TractorsNStuff]

I now feel absolutely compelled to inform you and @Michael Builds too if he ever sees this: I recently re watched your entire series on your basement build. I have a similar space (much different dimensions, I envy you) that I am building into my new brewery/bar/reloading/man cave room. When I saw your bar, especially the sink with the glass washer, I knew I wanted to do something similar. I started looking at doing my own countertops as my bar will have an odd shape, and because I love DIY. I started looking into pouring my own concrete countertops and thats when I found Michael's channel. He makes it look so easy! and it is! I've poured a coffee table as my test piece! I went back to your brewing channel, looking for the video you might have made, that I didnt see, of how you incorporated your glass washer. I didnt realize you had this channel... after some searching, I obviously found it! THANK YOU (And Michael) SO MUCH FOR THIS!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks man!! Glad you found it too! 👍🍻

[@markburns4777]

I loved that you shared the mistakes you made. I think your countertop looks better with those little imperfections highlighted. Makes for an interesting visual detail on a concrete countertop almost like a live edge would do for wood. I had to subscribe and I'm excited to go and watch your other videos.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks Mark. I agree that it makes for a unique countertop. More to come!! 👍👍

[@toddhunt2087]

great video. I made mine and had mixing issues and flipped mine and cracked the corner off. Your not the only one with first time problems. Michael makes it look easy for sure. I will do another one in the future thumbs up

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks! Yeah he did make it look easy.. And I think it is if you know the limitations and what to do. I'm glad I documented my build so I could share issues I had. Thanks for watching!

[@detroitdiy]

Wish I would have seen this video before I poured mine. I have featured a complete tutorial on my channel of my experience. Was a huge learning curve. Thanks for showing mistakes really helps others not make the same ones.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

That's the goal!! Glad you found it helpful! 👍

[@Drifter0001]

Thank you for the video, I am also attempting this, you took some off the anxiety about doing this away.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!

[@znighthawk8342]

I am about to attempt a 30" x 30" with a cut out for a bar sink and I believe your video has helped immensely. Thanks for the tips and great job.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Glad you found it helpful! 👍

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Let me know how it turns out!

[@znighthawk8342]

@@BuildITWithBrian Will do.

[@znighthawk8342]

@@BuildITWithBrian So, I finally got it poured. Turned out pretty good. Couple of things went wrong of course. First thing was the set time. OMG, If anybody is about to attempt this get set control as well as flow control. I had no time to knock air bubbles out and barely got my 3 pieces of rebar in. But in the end I had no air holes, so thankful for that. I know where near got the tape smooth enough and had to cut out my sink hole. Of course while I was pulling it out, I some how chipped right above where the facet goes. So at least it was in an alright spot and I did a little patch. The other thing was I did not get my bucket mixed as well as I should have... I have a pour ring where a dark circle formed at my pour point. It's not to bad but noticeable. A sander and 40grit paper took care of some tape marks around the outside edge where I had put in a piece of concaved wood so I'd have a rounded corner. I had to rough up the concrete for the sealer I was using so I just did it all with the sander. I'm pretty happy for my first attempt and would love to do another one. Just got to find a reason.

[@kevincollins7102]

thanks for the quick response, i myself use his method but i use more vibration methods to get rid of surface voids hey i appreciate your videos though really thanks brian

[@BuildITWithBrian]

👍

[@jiwbink]

THANKS FOR THE COURAGE TO EXPOSE YOUR MISTAKES! IT TAKES A BIT MAN TO OWN HIS ERRORS(NOTHING ELSE MEANT THERE) THANKS FOR THE GUARDRAILS!

[@joemechanic2751]

Thanks for all tips. It's always nice when we can learn from others' mistakes. Saw another video where someone used pink foam for the sink void. He used silicone to stick it to the bottom of the mould and it came out quite easily.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Would have been a better idea for sure!

[@tshort63]

This is so funny, if I did not know better we could be brothers. Same temperament, sense of humor, number of mistakes, same build and same wardrobe. Keep it uop

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha my brother from a different mother!! Build on!! 🔨👍

[@daddynutz024]

I like the voids in the concrete. It gives it character. Great job saving the counter. I don't know if I would have been so patient. 👍🍺

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha! Thanks! It was either that or repour it.. In the end it was worth it!! I have a unique counter top now. 👍

[@j10001]

Awesome video. Thank you so much for spilling all the details for us to learn from. Standing on the shoulders of giants!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha.. Thanks! My goal was to document my experience. I had NO idea it would turn out like this. But in the end I kinda like that I was able to show some issues and a way to overcome the obstacles. Thanks for watching! 👍

[@raulsanchez4493]

Those were pretty damn cool. The mistakes added character which I really liked

[@bsbhomebrew]

Nice! They turned out great Brian! Thanks for sharing your experience on making those countertops! Cheers!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks Jonas!! 👍🍻

[@lazyplumber1616]

The repair to the voids in the concrete looks awesome...I would say I would prefer that look to a defect free top, that definitely adds character to the piece. Thanks for sharing.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yeah I am pleased with how it wound up! I agree it makes the countertop unique!! 👍

[@The-Stuff-I-Do]

Great idea with the grout repair!

[@NicolasRuiz93]

glad you mentioned using black silicone, it helps.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yeah it would be really difficult to see how clear was applied. 👍

[@stoneboss979]

where did you get the glass washer from. Concrete is tricky I make Concrete statues as wells molds for them so understand well what you went through. I think you did a good Job for first one.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Off of Amazon. amzn.to/3KWO7Xa. it will works great! 👍🍻

[@ThorAgtarap]

I'm glad it worked out for you and you were able to save the project. How's it holding up a year later? CSA cement kicks crazy fast compared to Portland cement. Had you worked with it prior to this project? You mentioned using the Rapid Set Flow control. How much did you use? What about Set control by Rapid Set? You noted it in the description but didn't mention it in the video.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I used the flow control, but not the set control. The counter looks pretty much the same as it did after install. The color has changed a little bit nothing huge. It has not cracked.i used one bag of the flow control per bag of mix.

[@ThorAgtarap]

@@BuildITWithBrian Awww, that makes sense… you crazy! Hahaha! Just kidding. I can't imagine trying to mix and pour a whole bag (let alone multiple bags) of Rapid Set by myself with a paint mixer without Set Control all while filming for KZbin. You're a brave man sir! Any reason for opting out of Set Control? I bet your mixer didn't like you very much at the end of the day. Half bag batches would've probably been easier with your setup. Even with better equipment though, thoroughly mixing a full bag of Rapid Set is tricky without a retardant like Set Control. That CSA cement starts to kick so quickly and sets up even faster the longer you mix it. Plus heat will also cause it to setup faster. Using ice water is a good trick especially when working in a warmer environment and with larger batches that generate more heat. I was eager to hear back from you to see if you had any issues between layers. Clearly you were concerned about delamination since that first layer setup much faster than you were anticipating. Rapid Set is supposed to have good adhesion so that fact that it's still holding together is promising. Outside of adopting Michael Builds method, any particular reason you opted for Rapid Set Mortar Mix (e.g. turnaround time, cost, availability, etc)? In retrospect, from what you learned, would you recommend it over a traditional mix using Portland cement (like Quikrete Countertop Mix) vs CSA cement? Have you considered or experimented with designing a mix using both? What are your thoughts on GFRC? Regarding the difficulties you had removing your knockouts, have you considered using a less rigid material like EPS foam board insulation? It's inexpensive, easy to shape, a closed cell foam that won't absorb and swell with moisture, and can easily be removed when demolding. I'm not sure how durable it is at withstanding the amount of heat generated from CSA cement but it's often used with concrete mixes made with portland cement. Of course, your best molds, forms, and knockouts are going to be made with silicone but that's a different topic all together. At the end of the day you're left with a great looking countertop! I actually prefer the organic variation in color you get when filling in the voids with slurry. Have you considered trying to make those features more pronounced? Are you familiar with the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi? Anyway, when all is said and done, although you may have had some hiccups or pitfalls during the process, in my opinion, there's no better way to learn, improve, and perfect a skill, craft, or trade than to make mistakes. Thanks for all your insights.

[@blejames]

On my third attempt. 1st countertop came out almost perfect until we went to move it and it basically crumbled even with rebar in it the entire length. 2nd attempt was a disaster first bag almost setup in the bucket, 2nd bad setup in a pile in the mold we removed it and kept truckin. Bag 3 and 4 were ok, but still the top cracked in half. Pretty discouraged at this point, spent a lot money to get all the supplies and tool and still don’t have anything to show for it. Yours came out awesome even with the problems you had, thanks for the video!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

That's a bummer!! I hope you have success! Thanks sharing your experience and the comments! 👍

[@ozarkconcretedesigns5550]

Stop trying to use rapid set. It's a CSA concrete and really isn't a beginners concrete. Just get regular portland cement and sand to mix your own. use wire mesh as your reinforcement. 50% portland cement 50% sand (silica or play sand) .34 water cement ratio......so if you have 10# portland cement you'd add 3.4# (54.4oz) water. Use flow control to make if flow to your liking. DO NOT add more water! 30 minutes after casting cover with painters plastic and a blanket. Leave it for 24 hours and then demold. Not only is this way cheaper it's way easier to handle for a newbie. Also, use a decent set of scales to weigh everything out.

[@allenm9291]

Thanks for your Honesty Man! All in all I think it looked Awesome! Job well done 👍🏻

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks. So many videos out there that make it look so easy. Nothing against those videos at all. I realize now that they had quite a bit of practice before making the video. I'm not "glad" I had issues but it was very enlightening for my first attempt and I wanted to share it from that perspective. 👍

[@elleg3606]

Hi Brian, I really appreciated this video. You are a talented builder and this is a great tutorial! One question I had was how did you calculate the number of bags you needed?

[@californiacritic9779]

1-Get the measurements for the area you're going to pour. 2- Use a concrete calculators on the internet. It will give you the square footage. 3-Read the bag of your material to see how many square feet it covers.

[@Tortuga89R]

Despite what you saw as flaws....you did awesome recovering from them. I like character on things like this and it looks perfect to what I would want. Great video and info! Cheers!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks! I am really happy with how it turned out! It is very unique and I've had lots of compliments on the "flaws" 👍

[@Automationacademytv]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge very informative, it inspired me to focus more making electrical video

[@michaelh7770]

Great video Brian! I am prepping to build a table with a Solo Stove Bonfire set in the middle tomorrow, using the Michael Builds method, and luckily came across your video today. Is there a reason nobody is renting a cement mixer to ensure uniform mix color and consistency, and to enable a single pour? I'm going to get a 3.5cu ft model from HD for $35. Seems like it'll be worth it? Again thanks for the video and I'll adjust based on your experiences.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Sure you can rent a mixer I would definitely recommend the slo retardant though. 👍

[@jaysoncoppieters8075]

Awesome job. I'm interested in doing countertops as well. Just wondering if you could give me the link for the sealer that you used to give it the glossy finish

[@BuildITWithBrian]

www.amazon.com/dp/B000M2UKM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_zK-PFbVS2BW1F there you go.

[@Newokie59]

Like Michael says, "Happy little accidents!" Great video, learned more tips and tricks. I'll be doing a kitchen countertop project this summer. I have subbed, and will be sharing with others.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks David!! 👍

[@robertproctor8355]

Actually that's a Bob Ross quote, but Michael gives Bob the credit.

[@rottison]

thank you for the advice and honesty I plan on doing this in the summer

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Good Luck!! 👍

[@taadventures6312]

Great video. I just poured my outdoor kitchen tops 5 molds. And had some of the same issues you did but they turned out great.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Good to hear! How did you fix the issues?

[@shawnr771]

I have tried making two of these tables like Michael. Neither one of them turned out like his. I used a square shaped drywall paddle. It worked very well. I have a lot of experience mixing cement products. So the mixing process was not an issue for me. You are correct that the recommended amount of water is not quite enough. If you add additional water do not add too much. 5 quarts is what is on the bag. I would recommend not going over another 8 ounces. 12 at most. If it is hot outside this will affect the curing time of your mix. Best to do this on a cool morning, out of the sun. This material chemically cures. On the first one like yours the first pour started setting before I got the second bucket mixed. Instead of using my hand to move the material I used a 14 inch stainless steel trowel. One of my mistakes was not spreading the first layer out evenly down the form. When I poured the second bucket the first layer did not move very much. I could see the discoloration of two separate curing times in the finished product. I used a square palm sander without sandpaper to vibrate the form. This worked pretty well and I had very few holidays. The form came off okay but the pattern I tried to use looked freaking horrible. After about a week. I sanded the table down with 80 grit sandpaper and then 120 to get rid of the ugly patterning. I then used the black grout and skimmed a coat over the top and edges. I slicked it down and left no trowel or chatter marks. I let it dry for about two days then put two coats of clear acrylic sealer on it. Looks great NOW. Thinking I had learned from the first one I tried a second table. It poured much better but again the pattern did not work out correctly. I was trying for something specific but was not even close. Since I was giving this one as a gift. I had to come up with a way to fix it. My solution was take paint and a spray bottle of water. I sprayed the table top down and then applied the paint with a rag, smearing it into the water. Then spraying more water on top of the paint to remove any marks made by the rag. I had two or three different colors of paint. The spraying of the water mixed the paint in ways that i could not. The paint was absorbed by the top layers of the cement like stain. It also rained for about twenty minutes while I was doing this. There are rain drop splatters in the the finished product. Looked great when I was done. I gave it as a wedding gift to my friend and his wife. I used the trunk of a cedar tree that my friend and I had cut down from his grandmothers front yard as legs. I am upset that the original plan on both tables did not work out and will try again. I am happy about the way I was able to "FIX" them and the way they each turned out. Both are unique and one of kind. Thanks for sharing your experience. I thought I was the only one that screwed it up.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Man! Sounds like you ran into some of the same things. Nothing against Michael at all ( his stuff comes out awesome) but I am glad I made the video to show how it can go wrong.. Lol I had a feeling I wasn't the only one that had issues!! Thanks for sharing! 👍

[@KB-py6jd]

Omg. I was sweating just watching the video. You have way more patience than I do. That project would have ended up as garden edging.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha. I was too far to turn back! Lol it all worked out in the end.. 👍

[@eco_guardian]

Interesting video - great solutions to real-life stuff. That kinda shit happens to me all the time and its the solutions that give it the character.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks man!!

[@markmadgett3141]

Great video!!! Unless you have somebody helping mix, everybody should use the "set control" admixture as well. I would think you should add both the "flow control" and "set control" admixtures after you have the initial 5 qts mixed into the dry bag mix. All admixtures are on the clock as soon as they hit that water so don't waste the time while mixing the initial water into the dry mix. Great suggestion about the release angles for the forms on the earlier post too! Seems like that will make a big difference. Again... GREAT JOB!

[@johnnywalker2609]

Even with the filled voids, it looks pretty darn good. The glass rinser is a really nice touch.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks.. It worked out in the end for sure. I really love the glass rinser! Use it all the time! 👍

[@wyldbyks1]

Nice save looks awesome!!! Wish I saw your video when I did my table top, I ran into the same issues and eventually scrapped the project.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Sorry to hear that. I hope this video helps people that have issues. 👍

[@MMGJ10]

Great video. I'm getting ready to attempt this as well after watching Michael builds videos on it. I've used rapid set for several different masonry jobs that I do as a self employed mason, but never anything like this. Even with using the set control that stuff can set pretty damn quick so getting all of your mixes in there asap is very important. Having several buckets filled and ready to mix would be my idea, so you could mix and pour them all quickly. Tapping or vibrating the forms is critical too, even doing so right after the first pour before mixing the next batch. I'm curious to see how mine turns out 😂 i'm sure I'll make a mistake somewhere. Although you handled the mistakes nicely and it looks awesome.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!! Good luck!! Let me know how it turns out! 👍

[@BEERNBBQBYLARRY]

Nice to see your experiences with this; good and bad. Makes me almost want to make one...almost.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha.. The end result was good. It was a chore though!

[@GregoryRusso]

Nice video. And nice counter tops. I am curious why you decided to add Portland Cement to the grout that you used to fill the bug holes? Isn't grout just Portland Cement and acrylic fortifier? What is the purpose of adding additional Portland Cement? I'm just trying to figure out how to do the same, and what is the best method/materials. Thanks.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I saw a KZbin video on finishing pour in place counters. Is seems that the Portland Cement gave it more strength? At least that's wha the guy said.. Lol

[@triggerwarning2439]

I did the exact same, even had a crack and it all turned out better than it would have without the flaws 👍

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Bob Ross countertop!! Happy accident! 👍

[@TheAlpine49]

Dude, great video! I thought you showed class admitting all your mistakes and then fixing them.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!! Gotta be real and show the good and bad.. 👍

[@robcschweitzer]

Your bar looks beautiful! Your title made me think it didn't work out. However, it looks like what a professional would have done. You ran into challenges but that is pretty normal for anyone who makes anything... Great Job and Great Video

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks man!!

[@gilsongallego2328]

Thanks Brian, looks great! Happy holidays

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Same to you! Thanks for watching!

[@destinationom]

I followed the same video and the front of my counter that I had made an inside form for a undermount sink cracked. I realized it cracked because I didn't have sufficient support underneath for that section as I had supports to level the mold on either end and the weight caused a slight bow in the middle and the front 4" edge where the sink was to go cracked. I used a product called "WELD BOND" that sets super fast and dries clear. I then grinded the cracks out and mixed a new batch of concrete and filled the larger crack in. After sanding it you can't see the crack at all 👍

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Nice!!

[@jamessadler7157]

That looks awesome brother

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thank you! 👍

[@MikeJohnson-ut7lx]

Good information. Thanks.

[@joshm4723]

Love the vid! Looks like the bubbles weren’t vibrated out and wd40 was left out to pop the mold. Thanks for the quick tips! Super helpful since I’m planning on doing a countertop project myself!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I did WD40 both molds. The sink blank was not tapered properly. It turned out well in spite of all of it though. 👍

[@SurfinCook352]

Nice video. Will be building my counter top in 2 weeks and this helps also. Subscribing.

[@pedalman4595]

Beautiful Work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!!

[@mrbigtbonevissoc]

Very cool Brian.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks for watching man. A little bit too long to include in a basement brewery update video. That's one of the reasons why I started the second channel so I could dive a little deeper into some of this type of stuff. 👍🍻

[@billmthacker]

You didn't do the captain Morgan stance on the bucket when you were mixing. Very important step. That is why your mix did not do well.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Shoot!! That's what the problem was!! I KNEW IT!! LOL 🤘

[@chushingura4295]

Looks awesome

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks man!

[@ltaylor4444]

Would mortar mix work with a pour in method rather than making a mould?

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I think you could donate pour in place option with it.

[@Thisguyuknow]

How much of that glaze sealer did it take to do the whole counter? Looks like the kits are 30 bucks a pop

[@BuildITWithBrian]

It was one small kit for both of the countertops with a little left over.

[@Thisguyuknow]

@@BuildITWithBrian awesome thank you. I just ordered some for a bathroom vanity I just poured, probably not even half of what you had to seal.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Good deal! Let me know how it turns out!

[@Phelixc]

Appreciate the chance to learn from your mistakes... Granted, I'll probably still manage to make those mistakes, but at least I'll know what to do with them ;)

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha thanks.. That's why I shared.

[@JasonGrissom]

Good video! Good outcome. 👍

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks.. Problems present opportunities!! 👍

[@JasonGrissom]

@@BuildITWithBrian Ain't that the truth. I suppose that's why we love it.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yep!!

[@yadicarlos8500]

Where is the link to the sealer? This looks 👏🏽 awesome

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks man!! Here you go! www.amazon.com/dp/B000M2SWNS/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_gMDCEbBE9E8E6

[@brandonpierce1729]

How has that sealer worked out so far and would you recommend it for use on a heavier used countertop in a kitchen or bathroom?

[@eljefe6782]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I think you forgot one step tho... to spray the mold with WD-40...

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I did spray it. I may have had the video sped up at that point. Thanks for commenting!! 👍🍻

[@dsaint1347]

Looks great

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks!

[@zackscott8636]

Props for being resourceful. I dont quite get why not just add some rebar when you work so hard.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I did add some... And had I planned a little farther ahead it would have been easier.. But hey I'm not perfect.. Lol thanks for the comments!! 👍

[@christyinthecarolinas]

What brand epoxy did you use??

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Famowood glaze coat

[@poepflater]

The short pieces of rebar (rebar in general for this thickness) is a problem. A countertop is a beam and this by definition has some supports and an area it spans freely.. you want your strengthening to be length-wise. Something about 9 guage is perfect. That large-format square foundation mesh works well.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks for sharing that tip.

[@stormypinkness4030]

Thank you sir.

[@antikruxx]

Man, those initial flaws turned into really nice looking accents in the countertop.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yeah! I'm happy I was babies to save the counters and get that nice accent out if it! Thanks for commenting! 👍

[@DanielRichards644]

You should have used Foam Board insulation for your negative space fills, lot easier to remove. Also definitely too thick on the pour, you need 1 bag of flow control for each bag of mix and like Micheal shows mix your concrete to normal consistency first then add the flow control.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

For sure on the foam board!! The reason the one is so thick was so that I could incorporate the glass rinset into it. Yes on the flow control. I did need a touch more water I think as well. Thanks for the comments! 👍

[@hastingr]

Thanks for sharing the pain!

[@user-xb1ht4py2v]

Should have put some draft on the side of the inserts. Standard mold design criteria. nice recovery though. thanks

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks. Pardon my ignorance. What is draft?

[@user-xb1ht4py2v]

@@BuildITWithBrian draft is when you angle the faces of a mold so that the molded part will come out. Typically a draft angle of 3 deg is used in the fiberglass / composites industry. But you did an excellent job of making it all work out.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Yes!! I should have done that.. I thought about it too.. (After the fact! Lol) thanks for the info! If I make more counters I'll employ that technique as well! 👍

[@frododavis9082]

Here is a tip add the dry to the wet and mix as add. that will eliminate dry crap in te bottom of bucket use a garden sprayer, spray your form with diesel YEP i said diesel it will not stick

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Thanks for the tip!! 👍

[@michaelbaker9746]

thank you for sharing your mistakes

[@BuildITWithBrian]

For sure! For it helped! 👍

[@joren4455]

You 100% need to add reinforcement. 5000 psi, 10,000 psi it needs some kind of reinforcement. Preferably ar glass fiber and not any kind of steel (eventually it will rust through) . Also wax the molds with like a Johnson’s paste wax instead of WD 40.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Good tip on the wax! So you think the counters will fail? Where is a good place for DIY'ers to get the reinforcement you are talking about? 👍

[@joren4455]

I would recommend checking out Buddy Rhodes Concrete products online. They have everything you need including informational videos geared towards professionals and DIYrs.

[@Alphasig336]

Foam is better for sink than melamine and it won’t hold the mold as strong as there are no screws only silicone

[@Alphasig336]

I’ve tried wd40 and without. With Melanie I’ve never had it not fall out without wd40.

[@victorsupreme214]

From my vast experience of watching concrete countertop videos from my armchair, I think your mix was too thick.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I agree with you!! Especially with the fan on.

[@shermansparks5542]

That is called honeycomb...that's why you hammer, and vibrate

[@BuildITWithBrian]

And use set control...

[@tonya8276]

I enjoyed your video, I would have liked better if you would have actually made mention to Michael from Michael builds rather than your references to him as just "him, his". I to made huge mistakes making my counters. I ended up doing 6 before I got one "right". Lol. I now have some amazing stepping stones around my firepit!

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Haha good point I thought I did mention his name at the beginning? Live and learn right! Step stone are never a bad thing! 👍

[@tonya8276]

@@BuildITWithBrian ♥️

[@crackerbarrelkid5517]

You forgot the wd40 that was part of the problem for the second mold.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I did it off camera.. The sink cut out was the biggest issue. Some of the tape on the sides had wrinkles and ridges in it and they would not budge.. Lesson learned. 👍

[@crackerbarrelkid5517]

Build IT With Brian ohh I got ya, good job anyway !

[@kevincollins7102]

i think you should stick cleaning out your garage ? Michael builds has worked for me and many people with no problems

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Never said his method didn't work. Complete user error on my part. Just sharing my issues to help more be successful. Most of the time no one shows the failures only the successful attempts. There have to be failures somewhere in the process. Just sayin'

[@walkertongdee]

thanks but i would have started over ...

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I thought about it!! But then pressed on!! 👍

[@lloydrmc]

You're supposed to add the elastomer to prevent voids. I don't see you doing that. Michael places heavy emphasis on how important this is, so you're not really using his method.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

I did use the powder in the mix.Wet I think it's called.

[@apauln]

Air flow is worse than heat for pouring concrete.

[@BuildITWithBrian]

Definitely!! Sucks the moisture right out..