New build. Advice?

[Dchambers25]

Still plugging away. I figure I got about another week or so before everything is pretty much buttoned up.

Here is a shot before I put on the concrete countertop sealer

Now here the patio is sealed, as well as the countertop. I am really happy with the sealer. It's called Surecrete xs-pc12. Easy to apply and brings out an incredible shine

All I have left is just the stone and the backsplashes and shadow boxes which will be decorative tile. I also want to trim the post out, just waiting for the trim to come in. I want it to look like the posts are sitting on the countertop.

 

[Robl]

That looks great! I was thinking of using the same concrete sealer. Did you get it from Cheng?

 

[Dchambers25]

That looks great! I was thinking of using the same concrete sealer. Did you get it from Cheng?

Thanx!

Yes the seler was ordered from Cheng. A two part mixture that's easy to apply. I was looking at a two part epoxy sealer from Z counterforms as well, but everything I read about it said that it was difficult to apply.

 

[Dchambers25]

I was able to get a days work in over the weekend. I had hoped to get three days of work in since I had Friday off, but it just didn't happen. I started off by setting all the decorative tile in the shadow boxes. I originally planned to trim them out with concrete, but the slabs didn't look right to me when I set them in the boxes. So tile it is then. I also set the glass tile on the backsplashes. Then my brother came over and helped me drop in the grill. I had to use the grinder with a diamond wheel to trim off just a little of the concrete on each side at the front of the counter so the grill would slide all the way back. Now it fits like a glove. My brother also helped me set the raised bar concrete slab on the left. Set all the components in then worked about an hour on the stone.


Shadowbox on the right leg of the island. I furred out the opening with permabase, then picture framed the opening. My wife picked out the tile for the back of the box.

Grill in. Raised bar countertop set on left side. Doors, fridge, and drawer frame screwed in. Backsplash tile set. Needs to be grouted.

Stone started. I did just a little and then stopped. I want to see what kind of bond I get to the redguard.

 

[pragmatic]

Coming along nicely. Great touch on the shadow-box!

 

[Dchambers25]

Finally finished up my island. Or should I say I am 99% done. I have to paint the trim around the post and clean up here and there. I started about two and a half months ago. Took two weeks longer than I expected. Not bad.





Stone complete. I protected it with a wet look stone sealer. Really brought out the colors.

Shadowbox on the left leg of the island. It's more of a storage for easily accessible items like tiki torches

Shadowbox on right side of island.

Since I couldn't find any baseboard that was weatherproof, I had to make my own from pvc stock. This base is consisted of three separate pieces.Still needs to be painted.

- - - Updated - - -

Night pics. I didn't have the post column base on in These pics.

Backside of island clearance lights

Propane storage with internal lights, just in case I need to change the tank at night

Storage under grill unit. Also nice and bright in there with the lights

I counted an I have about 24 lights around and in the island. Lot of soldering and heat shrink. Some of the soldering performed upside down. I only burned myself 4 times

Now it's time to grill!

 

[Casey]

Very nice!!!

 

[737mech]

That kitchen turned out great! I like all the lights you installed. Good job!

 

[pragmatic]

Wow, very nice. That's truly a work of art!!!

 

[Dchambers25]

Thanks guys! This site was invaluable to an inexperienced diy-er bbq island builder like myself. I owe everyone who posted here a beer!

 

[nugimon]

Very Nice in deed!!! I was looking for a good baseboard material for my pergola posts, didn't think about PVC. I think I try that! That would match my pergola as well.

 

[Dchambers25]

Very Nice in deed!!! I was looking for a good baseboard material for my pergola posts, didn't think about PVC. I think I try that! That would match my pergola as well.

Yea I just ordered the three pieces form home depot. They were about $20 I think

 

[rodog123]

Nice build! a couple of questions

1. Do you experience any condesation under the counter where the drop in cooler is located? (when it is filled with ice of course)

2. Did you create the checker board using tile/granite, or was it pre fab all together? (Love the gaming board very nice touch)

Smart adding lights under the counter propane and under grill nice detailed touch.

 

[Dchambers25]

Nice build! a couple of questions

1. Do you experience any condesation under the counter where the drop in cooler is located? (when it is filled with ice of course)

2. Did you create the checker board using tile/granite, or was it pre fab all together? (Love the gaming board very nice touch)

Smart adding lights under the counter propane and under grill nice detailed touch.

Thanx.

1) that is a single side burner to the left of the grill. The beer stays cold in the fridge so no need for the cooler!

2) thanx again. I created the game board by using concrete stain since it was a concrete countertop. I used the same stain I used on the border of the concrete patio to tie everything in.

Yeah the lights come in handy. I have lights under the counter at each drawer or door opening, and they work great too. I got just about all my ideas by searching this forum, and on bbq source forums, and the info I got was invaluable.

My wife got this idea for custom tiki torches made from old wine bottles to fight off the Mosquitos.

 

[Heater]

How hard was it to do the counter tops?

 

[cjd3060]

Very sharp!

Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk

 

[Dchambers25]

How hard was it to do the counter tops?

I wouldn't say it was hard, but it is definitely time consuming. I could have done tile in about two days, but I probably have about 50 hours in the concrete countertop altogether. I like it because it is a unique product and a great conversation piece.

Thanx cjd3060! I am about to fire up the grill now. Got a couple of dozen people moving over for Memorial Day.

 

[mrcarcrazy]

That looks fantastic. Great work.

 

[Seanbuc]

Great build! Quick question, you mentioned the issue with furring out the opening around each component to make them flush with your veneer, would you mind sharing how you went about solving that problem?

 

[jerseyjef]

Nice looking set-up! I'm interested in the stone work, what did you use?