Painting Laminate Countertops
Revive Old Laminate Countertops with a Fresh Coat of Paint
Doing a kitchen or bath renovation on a shoestring budget? You can paint over your old laminate countertops to give them new life...and save a bundle in the process.
We've all seen them, or have been unfortunate enough to have them ourselves: ugly laminate counter tops. New counters can be expensive, easily ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. For a new look without the hefty price tag, painted counter tops are the way to go.
Painting a laminate counter top is all about preparation and patience. If you're able to do these two things right, you'll have results to be proud of. The materials for this project are inexpensive. You'll need:
- Sandpaper--120-grit and 220-grit or fine steel wool
- Detergent (for cleaning countertop)
- Denatured Alcohol (for removing greasy residues)
- Oil-based primer
- Oil-based paint
- Marine varnish or polyurethane
- Masking tape or Painter's tape
- Paint pad, rollers, or brushes
- Paint tray/pail
Follow these steps to refinish your counter top:
- Clean the counter well with detergent. Be sure to clean well around any crevices, such as where the sink meets the counter. Rinse with clean water, and let dry.
- Wipe the entire surface to be painted with denatured alcohol. This will remove any greasy residue, which would compromise the strength of the paint job.
- Tape off the surfaces around the counter: walls, cabinets, sink, plumbing fixtures.
- Sand the entire area well with 120-grit sand paper. Be sure not to gouge the surface. The goal here is to rough up the laminate so the primer will have something to "grab" on to.
- Prime the entire surface using oil-based primer and either a paint pad or roller with short nap. Use a brush to cut in along walls and fixtures. Let it dry completely.
- After it is completely dry, give the primer coat a light sanding with 220-grit sandpaper or fine steel wool to remove any brush or roller marks. Use a slightly damp cloth or tack cloth to remove any dust from sanding.
- Give the counter top its first coat of paint. Several light coats are much better than one thick, gloppy coat. Apply the paint the same way you did the primer, cutting in along walls and fixtures, and painting the rest of it with a paint pad or low-nap roller. Let the paint dry completely.
- Lightly sand with 220-grit sandpaper or steel wool between coats. Wipe with damp rag or tack cloth to remove dust.
- Repeat as needed. Two to three coats is perfect.
- After the final coat of paint is dried, sanded, and wiped clean, give it the first coat of either polyurethane or marine varnish. Polyurethane is fine, but will require more coats. Marine varnish stands up to water better. Apply it the same as the paint and primer, sanding lightly between coats. Two coats of marine varnish or two to three coats of polyurethane will do it.
For best results, try not to use the freshly painted counter top for a few days. After about two days, it will be fine to start using it again. There are a couple of points that should be made about this process. First and foremost, it is time-consuming. Make sure you have a few days to devote to this project. Most of the time is spent waiting for paint to dry, but it's a process that can't be rushed. Also, keep in mind that the paint job will be fairly durable, but not nearly as durable as the original laminate was. It will stay looking nice if you follow these rules:
- Do not cut food on the counter top. Always use a cutting board.
- Do not place hot pots directly on the counter. Use a trivet or towel underneath it.
- If you must have a draining rack for dishes on the counter top, be sure to dry the counter top underneath it fairly frequently. Constant contact with water can make the paint job bubble.
Other than those few things, the painted counter top should provide years of service. If it gets chipped or scratched, simply sand the chip lightly and give it a quick touch-up of paint and varnish.
With a little patience and a lot of preparation, painting laminate counter tops is a simple, rewarding project.
