Did yous know you could resurface laminate countertops for under $50? It's true, and I'll show you lot how! Now, be gone ugly laminate counters.

Photo showing freshly painted laminate countertops in white, with decorative cutting boards and backsplash.
Guess what? I recently resurfaced the kitchen counters in my studio, added leather drawer pulls, and whipped up a DIY backsplash. And today, I'm sharing how y'all can exercise information technology too: how to resurface your laminate countertops for less than 50 dollars!

Whether changing the color of your laminate countertops is a temporary or permanent solution, yous'll learn everything you need to know to go it correct the first time.

It's a great budget-friendly option for anyone looking for a simple solution to their ugly laminate countertop woes. And will drastically change the look of your infinite for a very reasonable / affordable price.

Click through to learn how to resurface laminate countertops for nether $50.

How to Resurface Laminate Countertops

Laminate countertops are an affordable option for counters, but overtime they begin to vesture and can look outdate fast. If yous want to change the look of your kitchen without spending a lot of money, resurfacing your laminate countertops with the technique I'k sharing today, is a great option.

Not only can yous completely transform your countertop for less than $50, but y'all tin make those tired surfaces feel fresh and new again, without a costly remodel.

I did the entire resurfacing project by myself and changed my ugly black laminate counters to a make clean, modernistic white. And dearest the results, peculiarly because the toll (nether $50 for this full transformation).

All white kitchen with bold pattern backsplash and newly resurfaced white laminate countertops.

Materials Needed for Resurfacing Laminate Countertops

  • countertop coating (about $xxx on Amazon)*
  • high quality pigment roller
  • paint castor (one that won't get out castor marks – like cream)
  • sandpaper or sanding sponge
  • old cloth and balmy kitchen cleaner
  • respirator mask
  • painter's tape (and painter'due south plastic, if needed)
  • old canvass or driblet cloth
  • polyurethane coating (optional)

*This countertop coating tin can be tinted to sixteen colors, but you'd have to purchase it at a domicile comeback store in order to accept it tinted a item colour (light grey, beige, charcoal, etc).

I decided not to get any tinting put in at all considering I wanted the counters to be white (which is the color of the countertop coating without any tint added).

If yous desire to paint your counters white like mine, you can order it online and do not have to go to a home improvement store (though it is bachelor there too). Hither'due south a link to the same one I used, simply on the Dwelling house Depot site.

What Kind of Pigment to Use for Countertop Resurfacing

While it may seem like countertop paint is just like regular paint, I can promise y'all it's not.

Information technology is a unlike consistency (that is unfortunately not every bit easy to use as regular paint), is much more durable (and cleanable) when finished, and has a VERY strong aroma when painting.

Because of the potent odour, you want to make sure y'all use a respirator and do your best to allow air circulate while the coating is drying – open up windows and doors as well.

Using regular pigment to resurface your counter is NOT a long-lasting selection. And will most likely event in pigment peeling, bubbling, etc. So brand sure to use the specialty countertop coating I specified in the materials list.

This particular countertop coating that I used (–) is made for laminate, vinyl tiles, wood surfaces, and metallic. When used on bare metal or woods, however, information technology is recommended that you get-go use a primer before the countertop coating.

Please keep in heed that this product is recommended for employ on laminate, vinyl tiles, metallic, or forest surfaces. When using over bare metal or woods the use of a primer is highly recommended. To ensure proper adhesion, it is important that the surface is properly cleaned and prepped following the instructions. To clean the surface, we recommend using nonabrasive cleaners.

How to Resurface Laminate Countertops (Instructions)

Step 1: After you surface is completely make clean (use a non-abrasive cleaner), start by sanding the unabridged countertop and backsplash / lip areas to rough the surface upwards a lilliputian and assist the paint stick permanently.

Then, wipe away whatsoever debris and make clean the surface with a balmy lather and water (or some other not-abrasive cleaner). Wait for the surface to completely dry out earlier moving onto the adjacent step.

Sanding dark laminate countertop before applying new countertop coating.

Step 2: Next, tape off any areas that you don't want the countertop coating to stick to and make certain to embrace the floors with something besides, but in instance. I used painter'south tape around the fridge, the sink, the backsplash, and underneath the countertops.

So, I added a painter'southward plastic underneath the counter to protect the cabinets beneath, along with an old sheet on the floor. Meliorate safe than sorry on this one.

Tape off the laminate countertop to prep the surface for countertop coating

Footstep three: Then it's time to paint. Be sure to start at the back and piece of work your way forward, so you're not leaning over the paint when it's wet.

Kickoff with the backsplash lip and pigment a thin layer, as shown in the photo below, working your style to the crevices and then painting nigh an inch or two on to the counter also to brand it easier for the adjacent step.

I used foam brushes for the detail areas and the backsplash lip. You don't want to use a bristle brush because this blanket doesn't seem to be self-leveling, and then you lot'd likely encounter the brushstrokes when it dried if you were to use a bristle brush.

The step by step tutorial for resurfacing laminate countertops (cheap)

Footstep four: So grab a paint roller and embrace the residue of the counter (top and and then sides / edges) with a thin layer of countertop coating, again working your way from the back to the front end.

According to Rustoleum, y'all should employ long, overlapping strokes when using a roller and be conscientious not to end in the middle of your stroke.

Painting countertop coating onto surface.

You will definitely demand to utilise more ane glaze for this projection, if you lot are going from a nighttime countertop to a lite color similar I did. And you may even demand more than one coat if going from a calorie-free color to a dark color. Then, just keep that in mind.

Yous'll accept to wait for each glaze to completely dry to the affect before applying another coat.

It took me half dozen thin coats (that'due south a lot of coats) to go from a black countertop to a solid white one. But if you're going from a light counter to a darker one, information technology will take less coats than mine.

The fact that each of my coats were very sparse amy accept also contributed to the high number of coats needed to completely cover the counters.

In process photo of DIY resurfacing of laminate counter.

Stride five: Once that kickoff layer of paint is completely dry to the touch (somewhere between one 60 minutes and ii seems to be the sweet spot), add some other thin layer of paint to the unabridged counter and backsplash (if applicable), the same way you lot did the first time.

And so wait for information technology to dry to the impact over again before calculation another glaze. You'll know you've added enough thin coats when you can no longer run across the previous counter color at all and the new counter coating looks solid and fifty-fifty.

Stride six: Once all the coats are on and you're happy with the finish, remove the painter's record and let the counters cure for at to the lowest degree 72 hours earlier using.

Information technology will exist dry to the affect within hours, only if you put stuff back on the counters also before long, it tin can crusade chipping, etc. Then, wait the full 3 days if you can, before using the counters as normal.

UPDATE 4/26/20: If y'all accept any trouble with your counters drying fully after those three days or you lot seem to accept firsthand chipping (I didn't have issues with either of those things), you may want to add together a polyurethane coating on meridian.

I did not add a poly coat to mine, but I merely read some contempo reviews and information technology seems that a couple people who had those issues were able to gear up information technology with a poly coat or two. I added it to the supplies listing as an optional add-on.

Before and after photos of resurfacing laminate countertop from dark black to light and bright white (for under $50)

Clean, white laminate countertops for under $50

And that'due south how to resurface laminate countertops for under $50. It'due south actually a pretty piece of cake project, even though the coating itself is a little flake of a hurting to work with because of the stickiness (before it dries) and the stiff, stiff smell.

Just if you lot're willing to put in the elbow grease, information technology'southward definitely worth the investment. It is far, far, FAR cheaper than replacing your countertops, even in a larger kitchen where you would demand multiple cans of coating to complete the job.

Let me know if you have whatsoever questions!

How to Resurface Laminate Countertops for Less Than $50

UPDATE: How My Resurfaced Countertops have Held Upward

I painted the counters most ii months agone now (as of ix/6/17) and they've held up actually well, with the exception of a tiny 1/2 inch area nearly the lip that chipped off.

It happened Before the blanket was fully dry out (I think early on day 2) when I sat something on it for an 60 minutes or so so picked it back up, along with the paint. Whoops! And then, exist sure to await the full 72 hours if yous can.

Looking for more DIY kitchen upgrade yous can complete?

Bank check out my DIY backsplash featured in this post.

And my tutorial for leather drawer pulls besides.

How to Resurface Laminate Countertops (Under $fifty)

Laminate countertops are an affordable option for counters, just overtime they begin to wear and can look outdated fast. If y'all want to change the expect of your kitchen without spending a lot of money, resurfacing your laminate countertops with the technique I'chiliad sharing today, is a great option. Not only can you completely transform your countertop for less than $50, simply you can make those tired surfaces feel fresh and new again, without a costly remodel.

  • countertop blanket (almost $xxx on Amazon)*

  • paint roller

  • pigment brush (one that won't leave brush marks - like cream)

  • sandpaper or sanding sponge

  • old cloth and mild kitchen cleaner

  • respirator mask

  • painter'due south tape (and painter's plastic, if needed)

  • old sheet or drop cloth

  • Start by sanding the entire countertop and backsplash / lip areas to rough the surface upwardly a footling and help the paint stick permanently. So, wipe abroad any debris and make clean the surface with a balmy soap and water. Expect for the surface to completely dry before moving onto the next step.

  • Adjacent, record off any areas that y'all don't desire the countertop coating to stick to and make certain to comprehend the floors with something as well, simply in case. I used painter'south tape around the fridge, the sink, the backsplash, and underneath the countertops. Then, I added a painter's plastic  underneath the counter to protect the cabinets below, along with an old sheet on the floor. Better safe than sorry on this ane.

  • Then it's time to paint. I'd recommend starting at the dorsum and working your way forward, then you're not leaning over the paint when it's wet. Offset with the backsplash lip and pigment a thin layer, as shown in the photo below, working your way to the crevices and so painting about an inch or two on to the counter too to make it easier for the next footstep.

  • And so catch a paint roller and cover the remainder of the counter (superlative and then sides / edges) with a thin layer of countertop blanket, again working your way from the dorsum to the front end. You will definitely need to apply more one glaze for this projection. Simply you'll have to wait for each coat to completely dry to the touch before applying some other coat.

  • One time that first layer of paint is completely dry to the impact (somewhere between one 60 minutes and ii seems to exist the sweetness spot), add together another sparse layer of paint to the unabridged counter and backsplash (if applicative), the aforementioned way you did the first time. And so wait for information technology to dry out to the touch once more earlier adding another coat. You'll know y'all've added plenty thin coats when you can no longer see the previous counter colour at all and the new counter coating looks solid and even.

  • Once all the coats are on and yous're happy with the cease, remove the painter'south tape and let the counters cure for at least 72 hours before using. Information technology volition be dry to the touch within hours, but if you put stuff back on the counters too before long, it tin can crusade chipping, etc. So, wait the full iii days if you tin, before using the counters as normal.

What practise y'all remember of the finished countertops?Have y'all always tried painting countertops before? Let me know if y'all have any tricks or tips for the process, if I missed anything.

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