"JB" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am working on a outdoor kitchen / prep center which includes a 2x8
counter top. The countertop is covered, but in here in the pacific
northwest it still tends to get damp, so I'm not even going to bother
with the pre-made laminated counter tops (can you say particle board
swells like a blow fish in heat).

So I'm looking for some advice on a reasonable priced countertop (can
you say no stainless, no corian, no teak). I was thinking about
tile... but would prefer to avoid it.. but may go back to it yet. I
was also thinking about a laminate using a plywood base.

Has anyone had any experience with these for outdoor use, or can you
suggest any other alternatives.


Have you considered concrete?

I have seen a couple concrete counter tops in kitchens and they were really
nice. Definitely time and labor intensive in terms of creating the forms
and doing the work. But the cost is fairly low and you end up with a surface
that is basically bulletproof. Additives will help to make it any color you
desire. The ones I saw were finished in black and almost looked like stone.

I see no reason why you couldn't come up with a concrete countertop for
outdoor use.

There seems to be a fair amount of educational material on this too.