Author Topic: Recycled glass countertops (for kitchen and bath)  (Read 2598 times)

MrsPete

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Recycled glass countertops (for kitchen and bath)
« on: April 29, 2015, 12:08:05 PM »
I love the look of recycled glass counter tops ... but they actually cost more than granite!  Yes, seriously! 

I've seen several you-tube websites in which people make their own, and they look GREAT.  However, the methods vary significantly from individual to individual.  It looks like a moderately big project, but nothing seems out-of-the ordinary difficult.  The basic plan seems to be

- Save up old glass in the color of your choice
- Break the glass into small pieces of varying tiny sizes; apparently it takes a TON of glass 
- Create large molds, lay out glass bits
- Pour concrete over /shake to "spit out" tiny air bubbles -- this part concerns me
- Turn the product out of the mold, sand with increasingly fine sandpaper to expose the bits of glass
- Polish   
- I'm not clear on HOW one cuts out the spot for the sink

I'd like to make these for the bathroom we're building in our new house.  I'd like to create a vanity top and a large topper to hold a "tub set into a deck". 

IF I can do this, it'll be quite economical.  Okay, not as cheap as butcher block, but I don't want butcher block. 

Any advice? 

Papa bear

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Re: Recycled glass countertops (for kitchen and bath)
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2015, 12:13:15 PM »
See the thread on building a concrete countertop.  Could be similar - use glass as an aggregate.


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velocistar237

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Re: Recycled glass countertops (for kitchen and bath)
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2015, 01:24:02 PM »
- Pour concrete over /shake to "spit out" tiny air bubbles -- this part concerns me

I've seen people use an orbital sander to bump the mold to get air bubbles out. You're not shaking the whole thing, more like vibrating. I'm sure some youtubing would turn up an example.

grantmeaname

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Re: Recycled glass countertops (for kitchen and bath)
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2015, 08:21:52 PM »
You don't want to cut out a spot for the sink, you want to make the mold with a sink hole already in it. This instructable is pretty good - look at the smaller rectangle in the form in the picture.