Counter Culture: How to Resurface Laminate Countertops for Under $50

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

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 you can do it 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, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get it right 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 space for a very reasonable / affordable price.

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

How to Resurface Laminate Countertops

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

Not only can you completely transform your countertop for less than $50, but you can 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 clean, modern white. And love the results, especially considering the price (under $50 for this total transformation).

Materials Needed for Resurfacing Laminate Countertops

• countertop coating (about $30 on Amazon)*
• high quality paint roller
• paint brush (one that won’t leave brush marks – like foam)
• sandpaper or sanding sponge
• old cloth and mild kitchen cleaner
• respirator mask
• painter’s tape (and painter’s plastic, if needed)
• old sheet or drop cloth
• polyurethane coating (optional)

*This countertop coating can be tinted to 16 colors, but you’d have to purchase it at a home improvement store in order to have it tinted a particular color (light grey, beige, charcoal, etc).

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

If you want 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 available there too). Here’s a link to the same one I used, but on the Home Depot site.

What Kind of Paint to Use for Countertop Resurfacing

While it may seem like countertop paint is just like regular paint, I can promise you it’s not.

It is a different consistency (that is unfortunately not as easy to apply as regular paint), is much more durable (and cleanable) when finished, and has a VERY strong smell when painting.

Because of the strong smell, you want to make sure you use a respirator and do your best to let air circulate while the coating is drying – open windows and doors as well.

Using regular paint to resurface your counter is NOT a long-lasting option. And will most likely result in paint peeling, bubbling, etc. So make 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 metal. When used on bare metal or wood, however, it is recommended that you first use a primer before the countertop coating.

Please keep in mind that this product is recommended for use on laminate, vinyl tiles, metal, or wood surfaces. When using over bare metal or wood 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 clean (use a non-abrasive cleaner), start by sanding the entire countertop and backsplash / lip areas to rough the surface up a little and help the paint stick permanently.

Then, wipe away any debris and clean the surface with a mild soap and water (or another non-abrasive cleaner). Wait for the surface to completely dry before moving onto the next step.

Step 2: Next, tape off any areas that you don’t want the countertop coating to stick to and make sure to cover the floors with something as well, just in case. I used painter’s 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 one.

Step 3: Then it’s time to paint. Be sure to start at the back and work your way forward, so you’re not leaning over the paint when it’s wet.

Start with the backsplash lip and paint a thin layer, as shown in the photo below, working your way to the crevices and then painting about an inch or two on to the counter as well to make it easier for the next step.

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

Step 4: Then grab a paint roller and cover the remainder of the counter (top and then sides / edges) with a thin layer of countertop coating, again working your way from the back to the front.

According to Rustoleum, you should use long, overlapping strokes when using a roller and be careful not to stop in the middle of your stroke.

You will definitely need to apply more than one coat for this project, if you are going from a dark countertop to a light color like I did. And you may even need more than one coat if going from a light color to a dark color. So, just keep that in mind.

You’ll have to wait for each coat to completely dry to the touch before applying another coat.

It took me 6 thin coats (that’s 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, it will take less coats than mine.

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

Step 5: Once that first layer of paint is completely dry to the touch (somewhere between one hour and two seems to be the sweet spot), add another thin layer of paint to the entire counter and backsplash (if applicable), the same way you did the first time.

Then wait for it to dry to the touch again before adding another coat. You’ll know you’ve added enough thin coats when you can no longer see the previous counter color at all and the new counter coating looks solid and even.

Step 6: Once all the coats are on and you’re happy with the finish, remove the painter’s tape and let the counters cure for at least 72 hours before using.

It will be dry to the touch within hours, but if you put stuff back on the counters too soon, it can cause chipping, etc. So, wait the full 3 days if you can, before using the counters as normal.

UPDATE 4/26/20: If you have any trouble with your counters drying fully after those three days or you seem to have immediate chipping (I didn’t have issues with either of those things), you may want to add a polyurethane coating on top.

I did not add a poly coat to mine, but I just read some recent reviews and it seems that a couple people who had those issues were able to fix it with a poly coat or two. I added it to the supplies list as an optional add-on.

And that’s how to resurface laminate countertops for under $50. It’s really a pretty easy project, even though the coating itself is a little bit of a pain to work with because of the stickiness (before it dries) and the strong, strong smell.

BUT if you’re willing to put in the elbow grease, it’s definitely worth the investment. It is far, far, FAR cheaper than replacing your countertops, even in a larger kitchen where you would need multiple cans of coating to complete the job.

Let me know if you have any questions!

UPDATE: How My Resurfaced Countertops have Held Up

I painted the counters about two months ago now (as of 9/6/17) and they’ve held up really well, with the exception of a tiny 1/2 inch area near the lip that chipped off.

It happened BEFORE the coating was fully dry (I think early on day two) when I sat something on it for an hour or so and then picked it back up, along with the paint. Whoops! So, be sure to wait the full 72 hours if you can.

Looking for more DIY kitchen upgrade you can complete?

Check out my DIY backsplash featured in this post.

And my tutorial for leather drawer pulls as well.

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How to Resurface Laminate Countertops (Under $50)

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

Equipment

• countertop coating (about $30 on Amazon)*
• paint roller
• paint brush (one that won't leave brush marks - like foam)
• sandpaper or sanding sponge
• old cloth and mild kitchen cleaner
• respirator mask
• painter's tape (and painter's plastic, if needed)
• old sheet or drop cloth

Instructions

• Start by sanding the entire countertop and backsplash / lip areas to rough the surface up a little and help the paint stick permanently. Then, wipe away any debris and clean the surface with a mild soap and water. Wait for the surface to completely dry before moving onto the next step.
• Next, tape off any areas that you don't want the countertop coating to stick to and make sure to cover the floors with something as well, just in case. I used painter's 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 one.
• Then it's time to paint. I'd recommend starting at the back and working your way forward, so you're not leaning over the paint when it's wet. Start with the backsplash lip and paint a thin layer, as shown in the photo below, working your way to the crevices and then painting about an inch or two on to the counter as well to make it easier for the next step.
• Then grab a paint roller and cover the remainder of the counter (top and then sides / edges) with a thin layer of countertop coating, again working your way from the back to the front. You will definitely need to apply more than one coat for this project. But you'll have to wait for each coat to completely dry to the touch before applying another coat.
• Once that first layer of paint is completely dry to the touch (somewhere between one hour and two seems to be the sweet spot), add another thin layer of paint to the entire counter and backsplash (if applicable), the same way you did the first time. Then wait for it to dry to the touch again before adding another coat. You'll know you've added enough thin coats when you can no longer see the previous counter color at all and the new counter coating looks solid and even.
• Once all the coats are on and you're happy with the finish, remove the painter's tape and let the counters cure for at least 72 hours before using. It will be dry to the touch within hours, but if you put stuff back on the counters too soon, it can cause chipping, etc. So, wait the full 3 days if you can, before using the counters as normal.

Tried this recipe?Mention @paperandstitch or tag #paperandstitch!

What do you think of the finished countertops? Have you ever tried painting countertops before? Let me know if you have any tricks or tips for the process, if I missed anything.

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