Forming the Counter
Concrete is poured on the plywood top (Figure 2). The plywood edge is hidden behind a face frame or by thickening the nosing. If the counter has any kind of overhang, we build a temporary shelf to support the nosing when it's poured and while it cures. The shelf can be anything; we normally put a 2x4 on the flat and prop it up with legs. To avoid damaging the cabinets, we wedge or clamp it in place.
We typically need to remove doors or drawer fronts to install the shelf. Before starting, we use blue tape and plastic to mask the cabinets and nearby walls. If there's a finished floor, we'll protect it, too. We cover the plywood top and adjoining walls and cabinets with Kraft building paper. This prevents them from absorbing excess moisture or wicking color from the wet concrete.
Forming the Counter