Refinish a Laminate Countertop
Countertops have seriously and innovatively evolved over the years. Countertops are heavily used in bathrooms and kitchens of people\’s homes or in public places. Countertops add a certain dignity to the installed place. There are different types of countertops that one can choose from, depending on the prices and durability. One of the most popular choices of countertop happens to be the laminate countertop. When it comes to laminate countertops, there are many types to choose from. Nevertheless, laminate countertops are considered a decorative feature to add to your bathroom or kitchen.
For those who have laminate countertop in their kitchen or bathroom know that it\’s not easy to keep the countertop clean and fresh as new. Countertops are known to be sensitive and if not taken good care of, they might rot or break in a few pieces. So, overall it is very important to take proper care of our laminate countertops. These countertops should be cleaned after use to avoid any rusty spots created if left unclean.
Refinishing countertop is a process of repairing and restoring your countertop whether in the kitchen or bathroom in order to extend its functional life without the need of making a replacement. It involves applying a very hard and durable acrylic coating to your existing countertop. Refinishing would not cost as much as buying a new laminate countertop would. If it isn\’t broke then why change it, so refinishing comes to the rescue.
What you need:
- Trisodium phosphate
- Newspaper
- Sandpaper
- Painter\’s tape
- Oil-based primer/sealer
Oil-based paint in three colors: One base and two accents
- Sea sponge
- Oil-based polyurethane
- Paper towels, Paintbrushes and also rubber gloves
Method:
- To avoid staining other parts of your countertop, ensure that you cover everything such as cover the floors and tape up painter\’s canvas cloths to your cupboards, other areas like the wall and also adjoining mirrors.
- The entire top needs to be cleaned using trisodium phosphate and also be sure to cover your hands so that you don\’t accidentally hurt your hands. You need to also sand down the area to rough up the surface in order for it to accept the paint. Then, proceed to wipe or vacuum any of the excess dust.
- Next, you should apply oil-based primer and allow it to dry thoroughly at least 24 hours. After that, paint the base color over the top of your primer and also allow it to dry thoroughly until its surface is no longer gluey.
- Next is for you to apply the first accent color that you have chosen. You could also add a visual texture by applying two accent colors using a sponge and dab it into a towel or paper towel in order to remove excess paint before you start to lay it to the counter. For example, apply the darker paint first and leave it dry thoroughly before applying the lighter color by mixing in the pattern with a sponge.
- Finally, you need to finish the entire surface using a non-yellowing top coat and allow it to dry thoroughly at least 24 hours.
Additional Reading:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2256561_refinish-laminate-countertops.html
http://www.miraclemethod.com/countertop-refinishing.htm
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyhugo/421729895/
