Yes, you can paint your laminate countertops to look like granite!
I hated my old laminate countertops! They were a blah cream and damaged.
One day while sitting at home I decided to see if there was anything I could do
inexpensively to improve them. After researching for weeks... this is how they turned out.
1. Clean the countertops with warm water and dish soap.
2. Fill any cracks or gouges with laminate repair filler. (I actually used spackling) Smooth filler into the blemish with a putty knife. Allow the filler to cure for the time indicated in the manufacturer's instructions. Also remove the kitchen sink(I didn't and wished I did) and make sure that all the areas around the countertop is taped very well including plastic below the sink area.
Make sure you have totally encased your cabinets below and floor in
plastic.
3. Sand the countertops with 220-grit sandpaper until the gloss finish is removed. An electric sander can also be used. Also sand down any coarseness left from filling in cracks or gouges.
4. Wipe away all sanding dust with a damp rag.
5. Paint the countertops with a good primer (I used grey Gripper primer) Use a foam roller. Apply enough primer to create a consistent, opaque layer over the countertop.
Allow the primer to dry.
2. Fill any cracks or gouges with laminate repair filler. (I actually used spackling) Smooth filler into the blemish with a putty knife. Allow the filler to cure for the time indicated in the manufacturer's instructions. Also remove the kitchen sink(I didn't and wished I did) and make sure that all the areas around the countertop is taped very well including plastic below the sink area.
Make sure you have totally encased your cabinets below and floor in
plastic.
3. Sand the countertops with 220-grit sandpaper until the gloss finish is removed. An electric sander can also be used. Also sand down any coarseness left from filling in cracks or gouges.
4. Wipe away all sanding dust with a damp rag.
5. Paint the countertops with a good primer (I used grey Gripper primer) Use a foam roller. Apply enough primer to create a consistent, opaque layer over the countertop.
Allow the primer to dry.
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6. Paint the countertops with latex paint, using a foam roller. Apply one thin, even
coat. The finish texture of the paint you are using, such as glossy or satin,
does not matter because it will be sealed later with Envirotex.
Allow the paint to dry.
7. Pour small amounts of three to four paint colors onto individual plastic plates. Use colors commonly found in granite, such as beige, tan, cream, slate, gray and gray-blue.
8. Apply the lightest color first. Touch one side of a sponge to the paint then dab the paint on a plate to remove excessive globs of color. Lightly touch the sponge to the countertop repeatedly until you create a speckled pattern over all of the surfaces. To mimic granite, the pattern should be irregular with dots of paint appearing in all different sizes and shapes.
9. Dab a fresh sponge in the next darkest color. Make an irregular, speckled pattern on
the countertop in the same manner as the first color. This pattern will create a layer over the first, causing them merge together and start to look more like the complex, spotty grain of granite.
coat. The finish texture of the paint you are using, such as glossy or satin,
does not matter because it will be sealed later with Envirotex.
Allow the paint to dry.
7. Pour small amounts of three to four paint colors onto individual plastic plates. Use colors commonly found in granite, such as beige, tan, cream, slate, gray and gray-blue.
8. Apply the lightest color first. Touch one side of a sponge to the paint then dab the paint on a plate to remove excessive globs of color. Lightly touch the sponge to the countertop repeatedly until you create a speckled pattern over all of the surfaces. To mimic granite, the pattern should be irregular with dots of paint appearing in all different sizes and shapes.
9. Dab a fresh sponge in the next darkest color. Make an irregular, speckled pattern on
the countertop in the same manner as the first color. This pattern will create a layer over the first, causing them merge together and start to look more like the complex, spotty grain of granite.
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10. Use a clean sponge to lightly blot the new layer of speckles to blend them with the
first layer of speckles.
11. Continue adding paint in the remaining colors until you have achieved an irregular,
dappled pattern that mimics granite. (You can add in metallic colors or glitter if
you want too!) Allow the paint to fully dry.
12. Now you are going to apply Envirotex lite. You can purchase the Envirotex lite at
Michaels. Make sure you plan ahead and use a 40% off coupon. You will want to buy way more than you think because you do not want to skimp. I would even buy double the amount that you need knowing you can take back the extra.
Make sure you have totally encased your cabinets below and floor in
plastic. You don't want this stuff dripping on them.
first layer of speckles.
11. Continue adding paint in the remaining colors until you have achieved an irregular,
dappled pattern that mimics granite. (You can add in metallic colors or glitter if
you want too!) Allow the paint to fully dry.
12. Now you are going to apply Envirotex lite. You can purchase the Envirotex lite at
Michaels. Make sure you plan ahead and use a 40% off coupon. You will want to buy way more than you think because you do not want to skimp. I would even buy double the amount that you need knowing you can take back the extra.
Make sure you have totally encased your cabinets below and floor in
plastic. You don't want this stuff dripping on them.
Once you get started, you need to work fast! This is a 2 person job at least and even better if you have 3 people. Make sure you both read the directions on the package. This is NOT the easiest stuff to work with.
You are going to mix according to package directions. Starting with the back splash you are going to pour a section at a time using enough that it can run down the back splash across the countertop and over the edge like a waterfall (just let it drip off onto the plastic on the ground. Do only one continuous section at a time. While you are pouring the second person needs to be mixing another box so that when you are done you can pour the next section quickly. This will allow everything to melt together and self level and be one continuous piece.
You are going to mix according to package directions. Starting with the back splash you are going to pour a section at a time using enough that it can run down the back splash across the countertop and over the edge like a waterfall (just let it drip off onto the plastic on the ground. Do only one continuous section at a time. While you are pouring the second person needs to be mixing another box so that when you are done you can pour the next section quickly. This will allow everything to melt together and self level and be one continuous piece.
13. After a section is all poured you are going to quickly get a torch and torch
the countertop so that the bubbles that are in the Envirotex will pop. I know
this sounds scary but it really is no big deal. Go over it and over it until it
is hardened enough that torching is no longer releasing bubbles. (If you have 3
people helping I would have one person assigned to the torch, popping the
bubbles as soon as a section is done and continue until the whole countertop is
poured and set) Don't get too close or sit in a particular area too long, just
close enough that you can see the bubbles popping. Once the section is complete
move to the next section.
After all the Envirotex lite is on and all the bubbles are popped let it dry according to to package instructions.
After it is completely dry, you can sand or cut with a razor any drips beneath the countertop that have hardened.
Your done!
Here are some after pics to show you some different possibilities.
the countertop so that the bubbles that are in the Envirotex will pop. I know
this sounds scary but it really is no big deal. Go over it and over it until it
is hardened enough that torching is no longer releasing bubbles. (If you have 3
people helping I would have one person assigned to the torch, popping the
bubbles as soon as a section is done and continue until the whole countertop is
poured and set) Don't get too close or sit in a particular area too long, just
close enough that you can see the bubbles popping. Once the section is complete
move to the next section.
After all the Envirotex lite is on and all the bubbles are popped let it dry according to to package instructions.
After it is completely dry, you can sand or cut with a razor any drips beneath the countertop that have hardened.
Your done!
Here are some after pics to show you some different possibilities.
