Thanks for all the kind words on Teddy’s arrival last week. We’re home now and settling into life as parents to a newborn again (anyone have tips for getting one to sleep between the hours of 10pm and 4am?), so we’ll definitely be on a lighter schedule, but one project that we rushed to check off the to-do list around 48 hours before Teddy was born was finally sealing our kitchen’s recently Ardexed counters.
We’ve shared a few other “how to seal” tutorials (like this one about de-hazing & sealing tile, this one about sealing grout, and this one about sealing cork) so here’s what we settled on for protecting our Ardex counters.
We read a bunch of the-sealing-step-could-make-or-break-them posts when it comes to Adrex, so we resisted the urge to rush into anything, and we used some of your input on our March 24th post to help select which sealers to research a little more and eventually track down (we had to order one from Amazon). In the end, our method of choice was two coats of 511 Impregnator Sealer which we bought from Amazon followed by three coats of Safecoat Acrylacq which we had on hand from ordering it previously (those are affiliate links).
The Impregnator’s job was to seal the concrete – against staining and moisture absorption – and it was very easy to apply. The water-like consistency made it easy to spread, so I poured a bit in a bowl and then brushed it onto the clean concrete surface liberally.
The instructions say to wipe off any excess after a few minutes, but I found most of mine absorbed into the concrete pretty quickly. But as a shameless rule follower, I wiped nonetheless. It looks darker and splotchier than it did after it dried in this picture (since it was mid application) but after it all soaked in it was pretty much back to its original color.
We applied that twice (24 hours apart) and then gave that last coat 24 hours to cure before moving on to the last step, which was top-sealing with the Acrylacq. The great thing about using Safecoat as a top-coat in a kitchen environment is that it’s non-toxic and 100% food-safe. This would also seal the counter against stains and moisture (liquid would bead up on the surface instead of absorbing and making rings) and create a nice polished look that’s protective against chipping or scratching. I went rogue with this stuff and just poured a small puddle onto the surface and spread that thinly across the counters with a brush.
We use Acrylacq a lot, so we’re familiar with it (I’m no longer alarmed by the blue-ish tint that it puts on the surface while it’s still wet).
We applied a second and then a third coat of the Acrylacq, just to be safe (letting it dry about 12 hours between each one). Then we let it cure for three full days before putting anything on it, even though it was dry to the touch much sooner than that. Although the Acrylacq was just a “satin” finish, it made the surface significantly glossier than the chalky finish the original Ardex had left. I realize that sounds like I was disappointed, but it’s great.
Not only does the glossier finish make it feel more like a shiny stone countertop (and less like a chalky DIY job) it also protects the counters much more from spills/stains. No longer do drips leave longstanding discolorations on the surface (picture water soaking into a concrete walkway outside and looking dark for hours). Now spills and splatters just bead up and can be wiped away without any trace.
We also read that some sealers show a lot of scratches, but so far we haven’t had any show up, even after cooking some big family meals and sliding some heavy dishes around to serve things. So it seems as if this mix of sealers yields a nice stone-like look that’s food-safe, scratch-resistant, and makes liquids bead up instead penetrating – at least so far.
My only complaint about our sealing results is that the glossier finish makes it slightly easier to see imperfections in the counter’s surface, namely areas where I should’ve sanded things a bit smoother during the Ardex application step (just like how glossy paint will accentuate imperfections in walls, this follows the same principle). Sherry is quicker to embrace these imperfections as par for the concrete counter course (“they’re supposed to look like that”) but the perfectionist in me just sees areas that I could have smoothed out a little more before sealing. Either way we’re both ecstatic to finally have everything back on our counters and be able to use our kitchen again like normal people. And it’s definitely a huge step up from the old yellow laminate that we had before.
Note: There have been people who’ve asked if we’d like to paint those bottom cabinets now that the counters are done, which is always a possibility, but for now we’re a lot more distracted by things like that faux brick linoleum flooring – so that’s at the top of our list.
There are still some things I’d like to improve about my Ardex-ing technique (namely sanding more smoothly) but generally I’m really happy with how it all turned out. Especially how the sealing step turned it into a much more finished feeling surface.
Aside from a few the-family-is-in-town-to-meet-a-new-baby meals, we haven’t used the kitchen like crazy yet, so we’ll definitely keep you posted on how it wears. Whether stains get through and we get scratches galore, or things stay pretty darn similar to how they look now, we’ll definitely share some updated detail shots in a few months time.
UPDATE: We shared how the counters are holding up here for ya!
Has anyone else used the same mix of sealers? Or had good (or bad) luck with another combo? Feel free to share those details here for anyone who might be tackling this soon. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a photo comparison that a bunch of you guys have requested. Here’s Teddy at four days old:
And here’s Clara’s when she was around three weeks old in the same pose. They seem to have identical (extra long) fingers and toes, the same invisible blonde eyebrows, and the same tiny little chin – but Clara had a lot less hair. This Clara picture and this Teddy picture are probably the closest comparison so far (in real life we think they look related – but not quite like twins).
Now about those tips for getting a newborn to sleep between the hours of 10pm and 4am. We’re all ears…
Valerie says
Congrats on your little guy–he’s a sweetie!
My daughter, who has a little girl a bit younger than your Clara, a 2-year-old, AND a seven month old (can you say, “BUSY!”?), has trained her children from very young to sleep independently. She has a great post on her blog:
http://www.feathersinournest.com/2013/10/10-tips-for-establishing-newborn-sleep.html — It has lots of good tips for sleep training.
Hope you get into a “new normal” very soon with your family of FOUR (well, 5, counting Burger!)
Blessings!
April says
Hey guys!! Such a handsome little man you have there…and some pretty handsome countertops, too!! I decided to *one day* apply this same technique in my kitchen and your post makes me that much more confident in my decision!
As far as that sleeping thing goes…here’s what we did with our two (and what I’ve done with every kid I’ve ever cared for as a night shift pediatric nurse) – works like a charm!!
1. choose a bedtime (say, 10pm), and then make little guy’s sleep area very dark just before that time.
2. keep it that way.
3. give him a nice warm bath – nice and warm, not lukewarm.
4. make it a point to put him in regular clothes in the morning and pajamas at night…he will associate the difference in attire from a very young age and it will signal sleep time – now get those jammies on!
5. Nurse/Feed, sing, rock, whatever you like – just make sure to do it IN THE DARK (or at least in the very, very dim).
6. If he falls asleep, great! If not – that’s ok – just lay him down (on his back until he can roll over) in his crib while he’s groggy. We swaddled our first until she was 10 months old, but the boy just wouldn’t have it past about 3 months. If he will tolerate it, a really tight swaddle can be your best friend. If you don’t know, Google it.
7. Whenever he wakes, DO NOT – I repeat DO NOT – turn on the lights, play, sing, talk (much), or do anything else you normally do when he is awake…save all that stuff for waking hours only. This signals him again that it is still time for quiet and rest.
8. When he wakes up for his first morning feeding, play with him, greet him, smile, coo, sing, whatever you like to signal to him that it’s time to be awake and have fun! CHANGE HIS CLOTHES!! I can’t stress that enough! It’s kinda like when you, as an adult, have a PJ day and overall you feel more tired…your surroundings, including your clothing, dictate your body’s response.
9. Do all the same environmental cues for naps (sounds, location, lighting as much as possible, routine, etc.), and be intentional when you lay him down. Make it as close as possible to his nightime sleep environment, except the bath and the pajamas.
All of those environmental cues tell our bodies that it’s time to rest, and our bodies secrete Melatonin as a response. Melatonin makes you relax so you fall asleep. It just makes sense – and it works! I guarantee if you’re consistent with a routine you will have him sleeping longer and longer stretches within a week. Both of my children slept through the night from about 1 month old (like 830-630 or 7 through the night).
Hope you find this helpful! Sorry, but I tend to give lots of details!!! Congratulations, you guys all look great!
Bobbi Sue says
Have you ever tried Young Living Essential Oils? Diffusing can help put the little ones to rest! I got started with them because when they get sick there’s really nothing you can give them until they’re 6 yo. (I felt so helpless when my son was smaller) I LOVE these oils and more so love that they’re natural! I started using them this past September and already the personal testimonies I can tell you are amazing! Let me know if you may be interested!!!! If not, good luck! Teddy is adorable!
Lili says
We are needing to seal our granite countertops & want to use the safecoat sealer. Do you recommend the gallon or quart size? From the pics Iim guestimating that we hve about 1.5 times the counter space. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s not a gallon so maybe it’s a half-gallon? It seems like more than a quart – although it goes a loooong way. So I definitely think we could have done it with a quart, we just have a larger container (we use it on multiple projects).
xo
s
lili says
I am just wondering how many quarts/gallons of ecosense you would recommend to seal approximately 1.5x the counter space that you have. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
I think you’d only need a quart of SafeCoat to seal 1.5x the counter space (we have a larger container but use it on multiple projects).
xo
s
Robyn says
http://www.amazon.com/The-No-Cry-Sleep-Solution-Through/dp/0071381392
Em says
Tips for sleeping with tiny one? Keep the guy in bed and sleep/breastfeed all night.
Katherine says
Hi guys! Belated congrats to your family!
I have a 6 week old & was looking forward to reading the comments after your post the other day…it’s been a tiring 6 weeks over here with a nursing little guy who wakes a lot & an energetic three and a half yr old. Last night I broke down & went to Target to purchase the Rock ‘n Play with hopes of a more restful night between feedings. And I’m happy to report that he loved it!! In fact, he is still asleep while I am actually rested & awake. He woke to feed at 1am & 5am after going to bed at 9pm, which was glorious!![insert Oprah voice]. I think the sleeper holds them similarly to being held in someone’s arms. Just thought I’d comment in case you are considering purchasing it. I really didn’t want another baby item, but I’m happy I gave it a try. I feel like a new woman!! Haha!! Good luck & enjoy this special time!!
Stacy says
Definitely second the idea of white noise – we have an ocean waves track that we put on repeat – and we cosleep. We have the arm’s reach cosleeper attached to the side of the bed – but in the very beginning we didn’t even use that much. Now we at 5 months.
Shanna says
Our now 2 month old has really liked the Baby Shusher as he falls asleep. We knew it would be a hit because he calmed down when we shushed him. This is the same thing except you don’t have to get lightheaded from shushing for 15 minutes :)
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Shusher-Soothing-Miracle-Babies/dp/B00D2JN87I/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1398257584&sr=1-1&keywords=baby+shusher
Good luck! Teddy is absolutely adorable :)
Al says
For me it was important to teach my baby to sleep without any external aids. A schedule was a must! Natalie Willes helped me figure it out… She’s seriously a sleep training genius. http://babysleeptrainer.com/. She got us on a schedule that helped our little man sleep through the night by three months with regular naps! Check her out on Yelp. Also the book Healthy Sleep Habits Healthy Child by Weissbluth is my sleep bible.
Good luck and congrats! There is nothing as special as a new perfect baby :)
lesismore says
Your baby boy is still so new, he doesn’t know day from night yet. Give him a couple of weeks to adjust to life on the outside, and try to keep it EASY. Eat, Activity, Sleep, You. I think it’s from the book, Baby Whisperer but I rad so many books and heard so much advice, it’s all a blur.
Anyway
EASY, is just that. You feed him, you change his dopes or play on the floor with him, etc. that’s the activity part. Then you put him down for sleep, and the last part is crucial-take time for YOU! Even if it’s a shower and brushing your teeth. I always felt like the first few months of “newborn-y-ness” I was just a raggedy zombie who breastfed, changed poops, breastfed, shushed and bounced, breastefed, changed the clothes they spit up on, and breastefed.
It’s exhausting, but as you already know, completely life-giving and joyful.
Another good tip to tell yourself when things get bumpy: It’s just a phase. :)
Jill says
What a sweetheart! I have zero tips on the sleep thing (we swaddled, fed through the night, etc., but I’m sure every baby has their own rhythm), but I laughed out loud when I read “The Impregnantor’s job was…” because I thought it was in reference to John. I thought, my, that’s bold! And then I actually read the whole entry properly. The counter looks great :)
kay says
Love the picture of Teddy and Clara with John!!
Timothy says
is that yellow radio on the counter a thrift store find?
YoungHouseLove says
I wish! It’s a Tivoli radio from Joss & Main a while back.
xo
s
Marley says
Super cute Tivoli radio!! :)
Penny Smith says
Co-sleep! And master the “top breast lean-to breastfeed” maneuver! Lol! Ya won’t roll on him, promise. And barely waking to nurse and have a restful night is outstanding! He won’t sleep with you til college. Promise!!
:)
Jeff Morgan says
My wife has had a hard time convincing me to go with concrete counter tops. Was the decision easy for you? I know the biggest concern is the staining and upkeep, which you seem to have protected yourself against.
YoungHouseLove says
So far we’re really happy with ours! No stains or scratches and the price was pretty great.
xo
s
sherri says
Quick question: we just finished our new build, but since we built it with cash we were short at the end and needed a temporary solution for the kitchen countertops. This post coincided perfectly with our dilemma, so we decided to go for it following your steps to a t. We love how they turned out, but the acrylacq turns white instantly when water gets on it and the counters are tacky after we wipe them. We let it cure for 3 days after the last application…any ideas where we went wrong? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, that sounds off. Maybe the acrylacq is spoiled? That seems like such a strange reaction (it’s a sealer, so it holds up so well to water without changing color in a normal instance). My only other thought is maybe it’s on too thick? So sorry, we have never had that experience with it! Anyone have an idea for Sherri?
xo
s
Kristi says
We are applying our second coat of Ardex today! We LOVE it! Just wondering if you could give me a quick update on the wax … is it all you had hoped for? Would you use this again if you had the chance to do-over? We will need to purchase the wax soon, so I thought I would ask for an update. Thanks in advance!
YoungHouseLove says
We really liked this method of sealing (so far, so good – no marks or stains). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Erin says
Hey! I am getting ready to forge into this project myself and wanted to know how the counters have been wearing since the sealing was completed. Have you noticed any grease, water, or coloring stains? Scratches?
Any extra tips before I get started are welcome!
YoungHouseLove says
So far it has been awesome! We would definitely use this combo of sealers again!
xo
s
Lesley says
I am catching up on old posts (have a little baby too!), and was skimming this too fast … I saw the photo of John and the phrase “the Impregnators job was to seal the concrete” before I realized that was the name of the sealant. I kept looking to see what the pregnant one was doing while the Impregnator was doing the sealing!! Best wishes in getting sleep. I know others have given a lot of suggestions, I will just say I know how it is and I feel ya!
Steph Reiner says
So question… Will the safecoat Acrylacq work on actual concrete counters – not just ardex? We finally did some cast in place concrete counters but haven’t pulled the trigger on a sealer and my eyes are bleeding from reading about concrete sealers. Gah. So much info.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I’m not sure if it would work on actual concrete. I would try to contact them to see if they recommend it or maybe try to test it out on your matching concrete cutting board (if you got one) or something to see.
xo
s
Amber says
HELP!
We’re building a play kitchen, recycled out of an old TV stand. We’ve spray-painted everything, but we wanted to seal it. I was going to use the Safecoat Acrylaq, because I know you guys use it on everything. I can’t find it locally, and everywhere online it’s $75 for a gallon, plus shipping? Ouch! How much does a gallon cover, or do you think we could get away with a quart? I know on your 2009 post about painting furniture you said you can also use Minwax Water-Based Polycrylic Protective Finish in “Clear Gloss.” Would you recommend/not recommend that now? What are the major differences?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes you should easily be able to do all of that with a quart! It goes a LONG way! We have probably only bought two gallons of it in 7 years (the first one was picked up locally at an eco shop and the second one I got online and hated paying shipping but it has lasted through so many projects). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Suzanne says
Your baby is adorable. Thank you both for inspiring me to turn my 60’s kitchen into something very modern and industrial looking. I am more fortunate than you in my kitchen in that I have green slate for my floors rather than the faux brick linoleum so we went very industrial by adding a charcoal pigment to the Ardex (Henry’s) giving us a much darker countertop. We are also using the Impregnator 511 but hadn’t thought about the other as the website for Miracle sealants indicate that is a food grade product for use on countertops. Also if anyone is interested the 511 is available at HomeDepot for $33 a pint.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds great!
xo
s
Erin says
I completed the ardex countertops over the long July 4th weekend…. SOOOO MUCH SANDING! Now I need to apply the sealer. I am so confused on which sealer or combination of sealers to use. Why did you decide to do the 511 Impregnator/Arcylaq combination over the GST International sealer? I really want the most durible/ oil resistant sealer. Any suggestions would help! Thank you.
YoungHouseLove says
We really wanted something food-safe, so we were with the Acrylacq, but I think GST might be stronger/more oil resistant. Good luck!
xo
s
Cydnee says
We are currently resurfacing our counters with concrete. I have read a ton of blogs on how to. You are the only blog I’ve seen use the impregnator sealer. Do you think this is necessary? We are staining our concrete then we were thinking of using the wet look concrete sealer then Cheng food safe concrete counter top sealer. Do we need the impregnator then?
Thanks!
Cydnee
YoungHouseLove says
I think if you use the Cheng stuff you should just follow those instructions, so whatever pre-sealer or steps they recommend beforehand I’d just do those. We hear great things about the Cheng system!
xo
s
Melanie says
Hi! I’m wondering if you could use the Safecoat Acriglaze rather than the Acrylacq? The Acriglaze comes in a matte finish, which I like, but I’m not sure if it is strong enough. I’ve already purchased the 511 Impregnator, but I wanted to make sure and follow the correct steps. I’m new to this DIY thing! Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Never tried that! Maybe call or email the company to see what they recommend?
xo
s