BOARD-FORMED CONCRETE WORKTOPS
ESHER – SURREY
For this kitchen project, we used board-formed concrete — also often described as board-marked concrete — to create textured edges and vertical faces that reproduce the grain and character of timber. The main worktop surfaces were then polished smooth, giving the finished pieces a practical working surface alongside a much rougher, more architectural outer texture.
That contrast is one of the most distinctive features of the project. The upper surfaces remain suitable for everyday kitchen use, while the exposed edges retain the irregularity, grain and natural variation associated with timber formwork.
Creating the Timber Texture
The timber used for the moulds was prepared specifically to emphasise its natural grain. The boards were sandblasted so that the softer summer growth was removed more readily than the denser winter growth, leaving a deeper relief in the surface.
Once the required texture had been developed, the timber was sealed with polyester resin, allowed to cure and then waxed before casting. This helped prevent excessive adhesion while still allowing knots, grain and other irregularities in the timber to transfer into the finished concrete.
You can read more about the process in our guide to board-formed concrete worktops.
Casting and Finishing
The mix used well-graded river sand together with white cement and metakaolin. The lighter cementitious base was selected to keep the finished concrete warmer and more sandy in tone than a conventional Portland-grey mix.
The main working surfaces were cast and finished to minimise pinholes and create an easier-to-clean food preparation area. The textured faces were treated differently: small voids, casting marks and subtle layer lines were allowed to remain because they add to the character of the board-marked finish.
After curing, the upper faces were ground and polished smooth. This created a deliberate contrast between the refined work surface and the rough timber-imprinted edges, allowing the same piece of concrete to feel both practical and strongly architectural.
Because the texture is taken directly from the prepared timber, every cast face varies slightly. The finished worktops therefore retain a natural, tactile quality rather than looking uniform or mass-produced.
See more of our polished concrete worktops, including colours, finishes and other bespoke kitchen projects.
