masonry toolsPeople who are interested in saving money on a project around the home by pouring their own concrete, for whatever reason, will need to get some masonry tools. Working with concrete tools is not the easiest thing in the world, but if you can practice on small amounts of concrete that you mix yourself and use masonry tools to learn to smooth the concrete and edge it, you could save a fair amount of money on your home improvement project.

Concrete countertops are the rage now, as are concrete floors. People are tearing out their old carpet and either leaving the concrete bare or painting it with gorgeous designs. Concrete countertops are a little trickier because they require a thin layer of concrete that will be difficult to get perfectly smooth until you have perfected your technique with masonry tools. The advantages of concrete countertops are many: they never wear out, they are easy to decorate with paints and other surface coatings, and they are easy to keep clean. The disadvantages are that they can develop hairline cracks, and your glass dishes will break easily if they are dropped on the counter.