Painting Countertops

Painting countertops has become a popular alternative to replacing laminate countertops, so let’s look at how one would go about doing that.

Step 1 – Painting Prep

The first thing you need to do before painting is to wash the countertops with a warm water and ammonia mix. Follow the directions on the ammonia.

This will remove the dirt and grime. Since the cleaner they are the better the paint will adhere, you should repeat until you see no more signs of dirt.

Painted countertops will wear well if you take the time to prepare them properly.

A word of warning when working with ammonia as it can cause injury. Always wear rubber gloves to avoid contact with the skin. Ammonia when inhaled can be very irritating to your lungs. Consider wearing a mask. Use caution so as not to splash in the eye, which can cause burns and permanent eye damage.

Step 2 – Prime Countertops

Once the countertop has been cleaned and has dried thoroughly, you will need to prime it with a bonding primer. This helps to get the paint to stick properly on a non-porous surface. There are several good bonding primers on the market, such as Zinssers Bin, XIM 400, or Sherwin-Williams PrepRite®.

Once you have primed the countertops you need to let the primer set for at least 24 hours before painting.

Step 3 – Paint the Countertops

Once the primer is dry you can begin to paint. If you prepare food on your countertops you will want to use water-based paint. Let the paint dry for a minimum of 24 hours.

Step 4 – Seal the Paint

After the paint dries, apply three coats of water based sealer, either high gloss or satin. Allow each coat to dry completely for a minimum of 24 hours before you apply the next coat. It can take more than 24 hours depending on how humid and how warm your space is.

Painting countertops is an affordable way to get a great new look at a relatively low cost.