Kitchen Counters
Perimeter runs with cutouts for cooktops, undermount or integral sinks, and seams placed where they disappear.
Handmade in Waterloo Region
Custom Concrete Countertops in Cambridge, Ontario
Sila Concrete Contracting designs, casts and installs custom concrete countertops for kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor kitchens in Cambridge and across Waterloo Region. Every top is made by hand to your cabinets, in the shape, thickness and colour you choose.
Unlike quartz or granite, concrete can include an integral sink, a sloped drainboard, embedded stone or glass, and colours no slab yard stocks. We mostly work in lightweight GFRC and also build precast and cast-in-place tops where they suit the job.
Homeowners, kitchen designers and renovation contractors bring us in for the craft and the concrete know-how behind it: 12+ years in the trade and 600+ completed jobs. We are licensed, insured and WSIB covered.
Our Concrete Countertop Services
We make concrete surfaces for any room where a solid, custom top makes sense. Most projects fall into one of five groups.
Islands and Waterfall Ends
Large islands with seating overhangs and waterfall legs that drop to the floor, built in GFRC to keep weight manageable.
Vanities With Integral Sinks
Bathroom tops with ramp, trough or basin sinks cast in one piece, so there is no sink rim to collect grime.
Outdoor Kitchens and Bar Tops
Freeze-thaw-rated tops for barbecue islands and patio bars, often paired with our concrete fire pits for a full outdoor room.
Fireplace Hearths and Surrounds
Floating hearths, mantels and surrounds cast to match a countertop or stand alone as a feature wall.
GFRC vs Precast vs Cast-in-Place
There are three ways to build a concrete countertop, and the method shapes thickness, weight and cost. For most kitchens we recommend GFRC.
| Factor | GFRC (glass fibre reinforced) | Precast (traditional wet mix) | Cast-in-place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical thickness | 19 mm (3/4 in), with thicker-looking returned edges | 38 to 50 mm (1.5 to 2 in) | 38 to 50 mm (1.5 to 2 in) |
| Weight | About 50 kg per m2 (10 lb per sq ft) | About 90 to 120 kg per m2 (18 to 25 lb per sq ft) | Similar to precast |
| Strength | High flexural strength from AR glass fibre; resists cracking well | Good with steel mesh or rebar; heavier | Good, but finished on the cabinets with less control |
| Outdoor suitability | Very good with a sealed, low water-cement mix | Good; steel can rust if cracks let water in | Fair; hard to cure evenly outdoors |
| Cost | Highest per sq ft | Mid-range | Lowest |
GFRC is sprayed or packed into a mould in two layers: a fine face coat for appearance, then a fibre-rich backer for strength. That is why it can be thin, light and still tough enough for a kitchen.
Design Options: Colour, Edges and Inlays
Integral Colour
Iron oxide pigments are mixed through the whole top, on grey or white cement, from warm whites and greige to charcoal and deep green. Colour runs through the full depth, so a chip does not show a different shade.
Edge Profiles
Square, eased, bullnose, ogee and chiselled edges, plus thick mitred aprons that make a 19 mm top look 75 mm thick from the side.
Inlays and Exposure
Recycled glass, river stones, shells, copper or a family keepsake can be embedded, then revealed by grinding. Some clients want a smooth cream face; others want the aggregate showing.
Drainboards and Sinks
Grooved drainboards slope toward the sink, and integral basins are cast with the top so they share colour and finish.
For colour ideas, our coloured and stained concrete work shows how pigments behave on larger surfaces such as patios and floors.
Sealing for Kitchens: Stains, Etching and Heat
Concrete is porous and reacts with acid, so the sealer is what makes it a kitchen surface. Every sealer is a trade-off between protection and a natural look.
Acids etch. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar and tomato sauce react with the cement paste and leave dull marks, sometimes even through a sealer. Stains come from oils, coffee and red wine soaking in.
Penetrating sealers soak in and keep the most natural feel, but resist stains less and do nothing for etching. Topical sealers such as high-performance polyurethanes and hybrid coatings form a film that blocks stains and most etching, with a slightly more finished look.
Heat is the other limit: hot pots straight from the stove can scorch or cloud topical sealers. We tell you which sealer we are using, and your care routine is simple: pH-neutral soap, cutting boards, trivets, and wiping up acids promptly.
Outdoor Kitchen Countertops in Ontario Winters
Outdoor concrete countertops can last through Ontario winters if they are built and cared for with freeze-thaw in mind. Water that soaks in and freezes is the enemy.
We cast outdoor tops in GFRC with a low water-cement ratio, a dense surface and a penetrating sealer that lets vapour escape. Tops are sloped slightly so rain sheds, cutouts are sealed, and integral sinks get a drain that cannot hold standing water.
In winter, use a breathable cover rather than a plastic tarp that traps moisture, keep snow brushed off, and never use de-icing salt near the top. These tops pair naturally with a concrete patio or a built-in fire feature.
How We Make and Install Countertops
Most countertop projects take 3 to 5 weeks from template to install. The cabinets must be installed and level before we template.
- 01
Templating
We trace the installed cabinets with thin templates and record sink, faucet, cooktop and appliance specs so every cutout is exact.
- 02
Mould Building
Moulds are built from melamine with silicone-radiused corners and foam knockouts for sinks and faucet holes. Mould quality decides edge crispness, so this is slow work.
- 03
Casting
For GFRC we spray a fine face coat, then pack and roll a fibre-rich backer layer. Precast tops are vibrated to remove air pockets.
- 04
Curing
Pieces cure covered and damp in our shop before demoulding, then keep gaining strength before grinding.
- 05
Grinding and Polishing
Wet diamond pads open or smooth the surface, and a cement slurry fills pinholes. Repeated passes bring it to a honed or polished feel.
- 06
Sealing
The chosen sealer goes on in thin coats and is allowed to cure fully before food contact.
- 07
Install and Support Check
We confirm the cabinets can carry the weight and add plywood subtops or hidden steel brackets for long overhangs. Tops are set on silicone and seams are filled with colour-matched epoxy.
Countertop Problems We Design Out
Most concrete countertop complaints come from shortcuts in the shop, not from the material. These are the faults we build against.
- Cracks radiating from sharp sink and cooktop corners, prevented with radiused knockouts and extra fibre
- Warped or curled pieces from one face drying faster, prevented with covered, even curing
- Pinholes and bug holes left open to trap food, filled with cement slurry before sealing
- White efflorescence blooming through the sealer, avoided with a full cure before sealing
- Sealers that cannot handle kitchen acids or heat, matched to how you actually cook
- Unsupported overhangs that snap at the cabinet edge, backed with steel or corbels
Have a Kitchen or Outdoor Space That Needs a One-of-a-Kind Top?
Book a design visit and bring your cabinet plan, inspiration photos and colour ideas.
Concrete Countertop Cost
Custom concrete countertops in Waterloo Region typically cost $80 to $175 per sq ft installed in 2026, depending on method and complexity. That puts them alongside or above quartz and granite, because each piece is handmade.
| Surface | Typical 2026 installed range |
|---|---|
| GFRC concrete countertop | $100 to $175 per sq ft |
| Precast concrete countertop | $90 to $150 per sq ft |
| Cast-in-place concrete | $80 to $130 per sq ft |
| Integral concrete sink | Add $900 to $2,000 each |
| Quartz (for comparison) | $70 to $130 per sq ft |
| Granite (for comparison) | $60 to $120 per sq ft |
What drives price: total area, number of pieces and seams, edge thickness and profile, integral sinks and drainboards, inlays, custom colour matching, sealer type, and whether tops must be carried up stairs.
Countertops for Homes Across Waterloo Region
We template and install throughout the area. Recent requests include island tops for century-home renovations as your concrete countertop maker in Cambridge, vanities in Kitchener condos and semis through our Kitchener concrete contractor team, and modern waterfall islands in new Waterloo homes.
We also build outdoor bar tops for Guelph backyards, farmhouse kitchen counters around Wilmot Township, and fireplace hearths for clients in Brantford.
Concrete Countertop FAQs
Do concrete countertops crack?
Fine hairline crazing on the surface can appear and is mostly cosmetic. Structural cracks usually come from poor cabinet support or weak spots at sink corners, and GFRC's glass fibre reinforcement greatly reduces both.
Are concrete countertops food safe?
Yes, once the sealer has fully cured. Concrete itself is inert, and we use sealers that are safe for food contact after their cure period, so you can prep food directly on the surface, though cutting boards protect the finish.
How heavy are concrete countertops?
GFRC tops weigh about 10 lb per sq ft, close to 3 cm granite, while traditional precast weighs 18 to 25 lb per sq ft. Standard kitchen cabinets usually carry GFRC without changes; we check every install and add support for long overhangs.
Can concrete countertops go outside in Ontario?
Yes, if they are built with a freeze-thaw-resistant mix, sloped to shed water and sealed with a breathable sealer. A breathable winter cover and no de-icing salt keep them in good shape.
How do I maintain a concrete countertop?
Clean with pH-neutral soap and water, use cutting boards and trivets, and wipe up acids quickly. Depending on the sealer, a maintenance wax or reseal every year or two keeps protection strong.
Book a Countertop Design Visit
Tell us about your space and we will talk through colour, edges, sinks and sealers, then send a written quote. Building an outdoor living area? Ask about concrete fire pits and coloured concrete to tie it together, or a polished concrete floor that matches your new counters indoors.
Call 226-895-3039 or send the form.
- Cabinet layout or kitchen plan with dimensions
- Sink, faucet and cooktop models
- Indoor or outdoor location
- Colour and edge ideas or inspiration photos
- Integral sink or drainboard wishes
- Target install date