Re-Painting a Painted Counter Top?

Question

Hey everyone, my kitchen counter top was painted by the previous owners. The current colour won't work with what I want to do with the walls and I can't afford to replace the whole counter. Is there an inexpensive alternative? Could I paint over it again? If so is there a product out there that will be durable enough? Thanks

Answer 1

First of all you got to remove the existing paint by scrap it or sand paper it. Prepare the surface till it is smooth. Repaint with either stain finish or satin finish. That should last at least 5 years.

Answer 2

That was a strange thing for them to do. I would think that between spills and knife marks from cutting food it is a mess by now.

Your first step is to apply paint remover on the counter-top. Open the windows for fresh air and use the kind that soaks in and bubbles up. Put it on a small area. Leave it on until the paint looks blistered and then scrape with a plastic spatula. Before you go further look at what is underneath the paint. If it is plastic laminate that you could live with you might want to take it all off the same way. If it is only bare wood do the rest but use a metal spatula to work faster.

When the paint is off and you want to repaint, scrub it as per the directions on the paint-remover. Get wood primer and put on a coat of that so the finish coat will be even. When that is dry get a good quality paint (like kitchen-grade enamel) and give it two coats.

My guess for this approach is probably $25 for supplies plus a lot of labor if you repaint. You will have enough paint left over that you can touch up when it starts to look worn. If you like the laminate you uncovered you save about $20 of that by not needing the paint.

Get a cutting board for slicing food on and a trivet for hot pots and you can get a lot of years from the rework you did.

Answer 3

Is your counter laminate? You typically would not paint a counter because when you slide things back and forth on it the paint could come off. If it is laminate you can purchase new sheet laminate at Home Depot or Lowes for an inexpensive price and just replace the existing laminate. If you decide to repaint you will have to prime and paint and then put a coat of polyurathane over top to seal the paint to keep it from chipping or peeling.

Answer 4

If it is still smooth as in no peeling or flaking paint ,you can do the following, first get a good primer I reccomend X-I-M it is made for high adhesion needs...put on a coat of that and let it dry overnight...then get an industrial enamel...I reccomend Valspars anti rust enamel ...put on two coats of that ...and you will be done ...the enamel is durable enough so you do not need to clear coat it with anything.Painting contractor.

Answer 5

yuck, and you put food on it too?

cheap alternative is make your own concrete counter top,

or call and have your counter top recovered, is alot cheaper than a new one and they usually do it right in the house,

otherwise paint away,

Answer 6

Not A Good Idea