“We are often asked questions about [painting countertops] and in general we don’t like to do it just because of its longevity,” says Mike Kremsreiter, senior painting consultant for on-demand house painting platform Improovy. Kitchen counters, in particular, experience significant wear and tear. While there are high-quality countertop painting kits on the market, with paint and sealer that should look good for a while, Kremsreiter says even meticulous jobs will be vulnerable to damage. “You can get two or three years out of it, but then it fails to the point where you have to replace the countertops.” Also note: This is not a tenant-friendly upgrade, as it is extremely difficult to reverse.
Lizabeth Cole, an avid DIYer who lives in Burnt Hills, New York, painted two sets of kitchen counters with mixed results. His first try, in an old house, involved following an online tutorial to refresh outdated laminate. Although she didn’t use a kit specifically designed for this purpose, she made sure to purchase paint and sealer advertised as safe, durable and wipeable for a restoration surface. Cole says the final result lasted about three months before he noticed any problems. “If you moved a pan, it would scratch,” she says, which is not possible in a house with three children. “From a distance it brightened up the area, but when you looked up close you could see all the imperfections.”
She was more careful in her next turn, painting the gray laminate in her current home. This time she started with a coat of primer and sealed the job with four coats of shellac. The extra work was worth it, Cole says, creating a harder surface that lasted about eight months before defects, including minor bubbles, appeared. Despite this, she says she would do it again as a temporary step before a full renovation: “I think it’s a good solution for a six to 12 month cosmetic update.” »
If you’d like to try, Kremsreiter recommends countertop paint kits, which come in a variety of options designed to mimic high-end finishes such as marble or quartz. These take some of the guesswork out of it, because they include coatings designed for that specific project, as well as step-by-step instructions. Follow these instructions carefully, taking care not to skimp on shortcuts, to achieve the best results. Here’s what to keep in mind.
For your safety, you should only use products approved for countertops. Paints designed for use outdoors or in areas where they will not come into contact with food and water may contain chemicals or other compounds that may be harmful if swallowed , explains Kremsreiter. You can find countertop painting kits from companies like Rust-Oleum, Daich Coatings, and Giani, which come with the appropriate cleaners or primers, paints, and topcoats.
Samantha Stoddard, who documents projects in her Virginia Beach home on the DIY Instagram @salvagedbysammie, has painted countertops twice using a kit from Rust-Oleum (the brand partnered with her on the second project). Beyond the kit, Stoddard said he separately picked up a spray bottle and bucket for diluting and applying the cleaning agent, four-inch paint rollers, a paintbrush and caulk. She says it’s worth investing in high-quality rollers and brushes to get the smoothest finish possible. She looks for brushes with fine, well-distributed bristles, which she says are better at hiding brushstrokes; smaller rollers can also provide better control.
Consider Your Existing Countertop Material
According to David Shetsiruli, owner of Capitol Stone Care, the paint adheres much better to man-made materials such as laminate, concrete and the varnish that covers butcher block than it does to natural surfaces such as marble or granite. “Natural stone is porous, so when you apply a sealer, the stone sucks it in,” he explains. If you try to paint one of these surfaces, you will likely need to do more preparation for the new coating to adhere (more on that below).
Be honest about your skill level
It’s not that easy to properly prepare and paint a surface, so people can overestimate their skills and end up disappointed, Kremsreiter says. “There are times when these trends arise and actually work against the DIYer because they oversimplify [the task] and the preparation needed to make it last a long time,” he says.
Kremsreiter says you’ll need to clean the surface thoroughly for the paint to adhere properly. This involves dusting and then using a degreaser or cleaner to remove any remaining residue. Although many kits state that it is not necessary to sand a countertop before painting, he claims that doing so will help the paint adhere. Be sure to use sandpaper between 180 and 220 grit, as any lower grit will leave scratches that may be visible through the paint and any higher grit will polish the surface rather than etch it. Kremsreiter prefers to use a mechanical sander for greater precision.
The painting part may also be more difficult than expected. It takes practice and skill to apply protective tape in straight lines and to nimbly move brushes and rollers for even application. To get more comfortable with your tools, Kremsreiter recommends practicing with your roller or brush on a piece of cardboard.
Give yourself enough time
Once prep work is complete, allow ample time for paints and sealers to adhere to the surface, dry and harden. Depending on the kit you use, you may need to apply several coats of paint. When working with multiple layers, allow enough time for each to dry before adding the next. Don’t forget to let the final coat of sealer or epoxy cure as well. “Some kits are very specific and require ‘sweating time’ for the product to mix, and it won’t work the way it’s supposed to if you don’t follow the instructions,” says Kremsreiter.
You don’t know which kit to choose? He recommends going to your local paint store for recommendations; they will have a good idea of the products available and may have heard direct customer reviews. Depending on the size of your space and required drying periods, painting your countertops can easily turn into a multi-day project. So plan ahead and, before you begin, count on the fact that your bathroom or kitchen will be unusable for a while.
