Factors To Consider When Undertaking Countertop Replacement

Even if your countertops have been worn out and you are thinking about replacing them, it doesn’t mean you should simply go ahead and undertake countertop replacement—you need to consider several factors for your project to be a success. Which are these factors? Here they are:

The cabinets

Countertop materials sit on the cabinets, and to retain their look and structure, the cabinets should be able to support them.

The last thing you want is to install the countertops and only for them to crumble due to excessive weight.

To avoid this, ensure that your current cabinets can support the countertop weight. This calls for you to hire an experienced professional to inspect the cabinets and confirm that they can carry the weight. If they can’t carry the weight, first strengthen them. It would also be nice to find a countertop material of a similar weight as the previous material and install it.

Plumbing

Sometimes you have to reconfigure your plumbing, meaning you have to hire the services of a countertop installation professional and hire a plumber.

A classic example of when you may need to hire a plumber is when you want to replace a tile countertop with a solid surface or engineered composite surface. While the cabinets in such a case will stay in place, you may have to replace the sink, unless the existing sink is mounted under an existing stone counter.

As you can tell, the sink change will impact the faucet configuration, and you may also have to replace the faucet.

To avoid surprises, work with an experienced contractor who can foresee the project before it begins.

Your old appliances

When many homeowners think about replacing their countertops, their old appliances are the last thing on their minds. Unfortunately, they are an important aspect of the entire project as they have a significant impact on the look of the countertops once you are done with the project.

If your appliances are as old as your countertops, it would be nice to simply replace them, as leaving them as they are would be synonymous with wearing a new outfit with an old pair of shoes.

On the other hand, if you are one of the homeowners fond of replacing their kitchen appliances when they break down or feel they are getting too old, you have nothing to worry about, as the new countertops will blend just right with the appliances.

If you have to also replace the appliances to prevent them from looking out of place, work with a professional who will guide you on the right appliances.

Lighting

Similar to appliances, lighting can significantly affect the look of your kitchen. The situation is even dire if you have under cabinet lighting.

The reason for this is that under cabinet lighting causes an eye-straining glare when you aim it directly onto a highly polished stone surface. If you already have under cabinet lights and don’t want to remove them, find a countertop material that won’t cause too much glare.

Backsplash

Unless you are replacing the countertops with the same countertop material, you may have to replace the backsplash. This means that if you are installing a different material, factor in the cost of removing and replacing the backsplash.

Your lifestyle

Your lifestyle significantly impacts the type of countertop material you should go for. If you are single and home most of the time and don’t mind giving your countertops a little more care, you can get away with marble countertops Durham.

On the other hand, if you have small children, cook a lot, and don’t like countertop maintenance tasks, it would be nice to avoid countertops that might need care. This means you should stay clear of granite or marble counters. Some of the best materials for you are quartz or other easy-to-maintain materials.

If you aren’t sure of the right materials to go for, get the input of an expert.

When buying the kitchen countertops, don’t buy them from any store—take time and find a reputable store selling high-quality materials at a low cost.

4 Kitchen Countertop Mistakes You Should Avoid Making

Countertops are one of the most vital parts of your kitchen, as they affect the look of the kitchen and its functionality.

Most homeowners installing kitchen countertops for the first time make plenty of costly mistakes. Which are these mistakes? Here they are:

Choosing the wrong material

Due to the many countertop materials in the market, most first-time installers buy the wrong ones often because they don’t know the right ones to go for.

If this is your first time, you should know that the material you choose depends on the look you want for your kitchen, and your lifestyle, among many other factors.

For example, if you love cooking and have small children in the house, it would be unwise to install marble countertops, as they are highly porous and stain easily.

These countertops would be perfect if you live alone and rarely use your kitchen.

The best way to avoid buying the wrong materials is to work closely with an experienced professional who knows what they are doing.

The professional will first understand the look you want, and your cooking patterns and then recommend the suitable material to go for.

Buying from big box stores

The best place to buy the countertop materials is from the big box stores. After all, they are popular, and this is where most people buy from, right? While they are popular, they are the wrong places to buy your countertop materials.

This is because they often don’t stock a wide range of countertop materials. This means you are always stuck with what is in the store, which is usually extremely limited.

The big stores also sell their materials at extremely high prices, and you can’t haggle the prices.

The best places to buy your kitchen countertop materials are from small stores. While they are small and often unpopular, they tend to stock a wide range of materials, so you have many options to choose from.

Since these stores specifically deal with countertop materials, they have experts that will help you decide on the best materials to go for if you aren’t sure.

The small size of the stores also means that you can negotiate the prices to buy the countertops at a much lower price.

Besides the above benefits, these stores will install the countertops often for free or at a meager price.

While this is the case, you should note that no two stores are the same. This means that you should take your time and find a reputable store to buy from.

As a rule of thumb, buy from a store with many countertop materials. The store should also have experts that will guide you make the right decision.

Before you decide to buy from a given store, scout around and see what is available.

Avoid buying from a highly cheap store as they might be selling cheap, low-quality materials. You also should avoid a costly store as they might be trying to rip you off.

Buy from a store selling high-quality countertop materials at a standard price.

Ignoring countertop cost factors

Besides the cost of the countertops, you need to factor in the price of installing the countertops. Different countertops have different installation costs that vary depending on the material and contractor.

Of course, you can cut the installation costs by finding a countertop store that will install the countertops for free.

The other cost factor to consider is the maintenance cost of the countertops. Some countertops, such as marble and granite, are porous, requiring resealing at least once a year. As you can guess, this significantly contributes to the total cost of the countertops.

If you aren’t ready for these costs, find a cheaper countertop that will be cheaper to maintain in the long run.

Hiring the wrong contractors

This is a major mistake as you can buy the best marble, granite, quartz, or any other countertops but fail to get the results you deserve and waste money.

As a rule of thumb, take your time and find highly experienced granite contractors Raleigh or any other professionals to install your countertops.

Before settling on a contractor, do a thorough interview and background checks and ensure you are working with the right person.

What Shouldn’t You Do To Your Kitchen Countertops?

To keep your countertops in top shape and have them last for as long as possible, you need to be cautious of what you do to them. What shouldn’t you do to your kitchen countertops? There are plenty of things, with the common ones being:

Don’t use knives on your countertops

As much as your countertops look tough, they can easily get damaged by knives and other sharp objects, so you need to be cautious about how you go about it.

When you cut directly on your surfaces, you leave surfaces with slice marks that are not only unpleasing to look at, but are also unhygienic as harmful bacteria and other microbes can hide inside.

To avoid damaging the countertops or even your knives sometimes, make it a habit to use a cutting board. Of course, get a high-quality cutting board that will last for a long time.

Don’t use bleach when cleaning the countertops.

When used properly, bleach is one of the most effective cleaning tools you can use to clean the various parts of the house. While this is the case, you shouldn’t use it in every situation. As a rule of thumb, keep it out of your countertops as it will discolor the countertops, making them look too old than they are.

You shouldn’t use bleach the same way you shouldn’t use harsh cleaning pads such as steel wool or Brillo pad.

Most of the countertop dirt can be removed with a soft piece of cloth, soap, and water. If you have tried cleaning the surfaces, but things aren’t getting better, chances are the countertops are stained, and you need to hire a professional to use specialized products to clean them.

Don’t store cleaning supplies on your countertops.

The cleaning supplies are safe to place on the countertops. After all, you clean the surfaces using them, right?

Well, as much as you clean the surfaces using the products, you shouldn’t place them on the countertops. This is because the products contain plenty of chemicals that can stain the surfaces, especially when you let them sit on the countertops for a long time.

The chemicals can also get to the food, putting your life and that of your loved ones at risk.

The best way to go about it is to store the products under your sink, or any other place far away from where you prepare the food.

Don’t let the dishes dry on your wooden countertops

Wooden countertops give the kitchen a character. They can also look as excellent places to place your dishes, waiting for them to dry, but they aren’t.

This is because, with time, the seal on the surfaces wears out, meaning that the water from the drying dishes seeps through, creating mold spots.

Some people place a towel across their counter to prevent water from seeping through, but this also isn’t enough as with time, the towel too gets moist, and water starts passing through. The wet towel is also a huge source of germs in the kitchen, putting you at risk of food poisoning.

Never place dishes on your wood countertops to be on the safe side. Instead, use a drying rack at all times.

Don’t sit or stand on the countertops.

If you visit most homes, you will find the homeowners sitting on the countertops while waiting for food to get ready. Others will stand on the surfaces as they reach for the top shelf or replacing the bulbs. This is wrong as it puts too much pressure on the countertops, increasing their chances of cracking.

To keep your countertops in top shape, don’t sit or stand on them. If you want to sit while in the kitchen, get a chair. Do you want to reach for the top shelf or replace the bulb? Get a ladder or step on a stool.

Parting shot

These are some of the things you shouldn’t do to your countertops to prevent them from getting damaged and being forced to undertake countertop replacement Durham.

If you notice even a minor issue with your surfaces, get in touch with a professional to have the issue looked at and fixed before it worsens.

How Can I Make My Kitchen Counters Better?

kitchen countertop replacement

If you don’t currently like the look of your countertops, you must be wondering, how can I make my kitchen countertops better, right? If you are asking this, you are in luck, as there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Painting the countertops

When well done, paint can do wonders to your countertops. The cool thing is that painting is quick, affordable, and extremely easy.

If you don’t have money to hire a professional, you can always do the painting by yourself as all you need is sandpaper, painting supplies, your preferred paint, and sealer.

Although you can paint any countertop, paint works best on linoleum countertops. Use a heavy-duty polyurethane finish for the ultimate excellent results, and be generous in your application.

Refinish your butcher block countertops

The beauty of butcher block countertops is you can easily strip them down and refinish the wood, giving your kitchen an entirely new vibe. This gives the surfaces a new look, but you can easily get rid of any dings, scratches, and marks that might have accumulated over the years.

You need to sand the surfaces using sanding paper and wood finish to do this. Sand the countertop to remove the old finish, then apply a few coats of your preferred wood finish or stain.

You can do the work by yourself, but let a professional help you out for the best outcome.

Apply a concrete coating

Concrete is tough and durable, but pouring it on your countertops is no easy feat. The beauty is that you can easily fake the look. All you need is a bag of feather finish cement and food safe concrete sealer.

Begin with roughing up the old countertop surface with sandpaper for proper adhesion, then using a trowel or drywall knife, apply multiple coats of cement leveler. Complete the look with a food-grade sealer.

When installing faux concrete, remember that the cover is exceptionally durable and may be prone to scratches and stains. Installing it can also be back-breaking, so approach it with care. For the best outcome, let a professional help with the installation.

Tile over the countertops

Tile is excellent for covering all surfaces from walls, showers to floors, and there is no reason you can’t use it to cover your old countertops.

There are many types of tiles you can use on your surfaces, but for the best outcome, use grazed ceramic, and porcelain tiles as they are stain and heat resistant, and they come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors.

You can use natural stone tile, but you need to seal the stone frequently to prevent stains from coming about.

When installing tiles on your surfaces, ensure that the surfaces are flat and stable enough, so the tiles don’t crack.

Take advantage of a refinishing kit.

A refinishing kit is like paint on steroids as it comes with everything you need to cover a standard-sized countertop completely.

Using the kit is simple and straightforward, but it tends to be messy, back-breaking, and you need to pay close attention to detail.

For the best results, follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.

Add a wooden overlay.

Have you always wanted a butcher block, or been drawn to the beauty of real wood? You can have the look by covering your old counters with wide planks of solid hardwood, plywood, or bamboo.

Regardless of the wooden covering, you apply, ensure that you thoroughly seal or oil it to get stain and moisture resistance.

Install modular granite

Also known as granite or stone overlay, modular granite is a system of small, thin slabs of stones designed to cover old countertops.

The beauty of modular granite is that it covers the countertop’s entire front and back distance. Since the countertops are 16-18 inches wide, you cover the old countertops with just a few joints.

You might argue that improving the countertops with modular granite isn’t different than using solid granite countertops Durham, but you can cut the costs by installing modular granite yourself.

How Do I Keep My Kitchen Counters From Cluttering? Here’s How To Go About It

You can install marble, granite kitchen countertops, or any other countertop, but your kitchen will never look good if it’s cluttered. Do you have stuff lying everywhere, and you are wondering how do I keep my kitchen counters from cluttering? There are plenty of ways to go about it, with the popular ones being:

Take the appliances out of the counters

There is no way your counters will look clean and organized if there are appliances all over. So, to maintain a clean look, remove the appliances from your counters.

A good rule of thumb is to remove all the appliances you don’t regularly use and store them in the cabinets or any other place. This means that your surfaces should only have the units you use for your daily needs. These include: a toaster, dish rack, coffeemaker, fruit basket, a crock of cooking tools, and microwave.

For the items, you regularly use, find a permanent home for them in a convenient and logical spot. For example, you can put the coffeemaker under the mugs cabinet, put the crock of cooking tools near the stove, etc.

This is to prevent the items from spreading all over the kitchen when using them.

Keep the items in the cabinets.

Your kitchen will look neater when the various items are behind closed cabinet doors—they don’t look good when in the open.

If you love shelving, avoid having too many items on the shelves, as it gives your kitchen and counters a dirty look. Instead, take up a minimalist style and only have what you need.

When choosing the various kitchen items, settle with a unified color palette. You can also opt to display the items in nice-looking containers that will keep the various items looking intentional and tidy.

Come up with ground rules to keep the counters clutter-free

There are several ground rules that you can use to keep your counters clutter-free. They include:

Ensure that the dirty dishes go directly into the dishwasher or sink. They should never go on the counter
Before you go to bed each night, wipe off the counters
Never place papers on your counters
Even if no one can see them, keep the cabinets and drawers properly organized so that every item in the kitchen has a designated space.

Group similar items together

When you group similar items, you make the kitchen appear less cluttered and provide easy access to the various items. There are plenty of things you can use to keep the various items organized—you can use cutting boards, cake stands, trays, etc.

Minimize the decorations

As much as you love art and decorations, you should be cautious of the number you display. This is because they can easily turn your counters into an eyesore. To be on the safe side, keep the decorations to a minimum.

It’s okay to have a picture here and there, but it should be in a strategic area. If you aren’t sure where to place it, get the input of a professional.

Have a messy drawer

Even if you aim for a clutter-free kitchen, it’s impossible to have completely clutter-free counter surfaces. The same way every good diet requires a cheat day is the same way you should have a cheat spot which is a messy drawer.

Here you stash everything until you find a better location or purpose for it. It makes more sense putting it in the cheat spot than leaving it out and giving your counters a cheap look, right?

To maintain decorum in your kitchen, be specific and intentional about the location of the cheat spot. A good rule of thumb is to choose one shelf or drawer and don’t let it spill out into the entire cabinet.

Add storage options

If you have items that are giving your marble countertops NC a cluttered look, add storage options for them. Great options include:

Installing a wall hanging fruit basket or wall mounted paper towel holder
Having magnetic strips on the backsplash for knives and other utensils
Installing hooks for keys
Having a wall mount rack for the commonly used spices.

How To Deal With Common Countertop Problems

Both bathroom and kitchen countertops develop a myriad of issues that you have to deal with to keep the countertops in top shape. Which are these issues?

Cracked countertop surfaces

The countertop will crack due to various reasons such as imperfectly shaped joints, installing the countertops on uneven surfaces, and placing excessive weight on the surfaces.

How you fix the countertops depends on the nature of the cracks. If you have small cracks, repair them using epoxy resin. For deeper cracks or damage brought about by placing excessive weight on the countertops, replace the damaged part using a drill before applying a special filler.

When choosing filler, choose one that flawlessly mixes with your countertops. If this is the first time you are doing it, you will most likely get it wrong, so it’s best to have the work done by a professional.

Scratches and chips on the countertop surface

When you routinely place blades, containers, and other utensils on the countertops, you are bound to cause scratches and chips.

If you have covered countertops, you can easily fill the cuts or scratches using a repair pen or paste. Remember to fill exactly in the respective marks and avoid overfilling or underfilling as you will have a problem removing the filler later on.

For the best outcome in removing the chips or scratches from the countertops, you have to follow the right procedure.

Begin with applying concealing tape over the encompassing shelf space to leave the damaged area uncovered. Using an extremely sharp edge, rub off the excess filler to achieve a smooth wrap-up.

You should then place a piece of clear tape over the recently filled chipped surface to power the gun further into the chip to have a more solid seal.

Finally, mix an epoxy pitch with the fading shading colors to match your granite color.

Dull countertops and chemical stains

Your countertops will get dull due to you using the wrong cleaning products. Thankfully you can brighten them using one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts water, and a few drops of dishwashing liquid.

If there are steaks on your countertops, remove them by spraying a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

Are there coffee, grape juice, or wine stains on your surfaces? Remove them with a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water.

Once you are done, you should wipe and buff the surfaces with newspaper until they are dry.

To prevent your countertops from getting dull again, don’t use abrasive cleaners or abrasive pads, as these cleaners will remove the finish, leaving your countertops dull and unattractive.

Never use acidic cleaners such as vinegar or lemon juice on your surfaces.

Also, stay away from ammonia-based cleaners. To prevent stains, wipe the spills immediately.

If you are using a commercial countertop polish or cleaner, ensure that it’s specially designed for the countertops in question, so they aren’t damaged.

As a rule of thumb, never set hot pots and pans on your countertops as you will damage them. Use trivets at all times.

Stains on the countertops due to hot pots and pans

Even the porous countertops are designed to withstand high temperatures, unfortunately, when you keep exposing your surfaces to the high temperatures, they are bound to get damaged.

Due to the high temperatures, giving your surfaces an ugly look.

To remove the stains, you need to apply some lemon juice on the stain, then leave it to dry for 5-10 minutes. You should then apply a layer of toothpaste to the surface using a rubber spatula then use a soft-bristled brush or toothbrush to scrub the stain.

Once the stain goes away, wipe the surfaces and clean them with a crisply wet towel.

Parting shot

Whether you have marble, wooden, or granite countertops Raleigh, your countertops will develop problems that you need to fix to restore sanity. You can fix some of the problems by yourself but if some of the issues are complex such as large cracks on the surfaces, let an experienced professional help you out.

As a rule of thumb, never try to fix a problem you don’t understand as you will cause more problems than were originally there.

What Happens If You Don’t Seal Marble?

best kitchen countertop

Marble countertops are highly porous, and all experts agree that you should seal them the first thing after installation to protect them from damage. What happens if you don’t seal marble? You must be wondering, right? Well, plenty of things can happen:

They will be stained by foods and drinks

When you leave your countertops unsealed, it means that the countertops aren’t protected. This means that in the event of a food or drink spill, the materials will quickly absorb to the inner layers of the countertops, making them hard to remove.

An unsealed marble surface absorbs even the smallest amount of liquid. For example, you will leave a glass of juice on your unsealed countertop, then five minutes later, you find a large circular stain on your countertops.

Certain cleaning products will damage them.

If you are like other homeowners, you use commercial cleaning products to clean your surfaces. While many natural cleaning products are harmless to the surfaces, many products contain citrus and other materials that quickly eat away at the calcium on the marble countertop.

These products are harmful even to the sealed countertops, so you can imagine the damage they cause to the unsealed surfaces.

Water will discolor them.

One of the crucial roles of the sealing agent is to repel liquids and prevent them from getting to the inner layers of the stone. This means that if your surfaces aren’t sealed, the liquids easily get to the inner layers, making them hard to remove.

This means that even leaving a cold glass with condensation on the unsealed surfaces can change the color of the countertops as the condensation gets to the countertop inner layers.

How often do you need to seal marble?

To avoid the problems that come with failing to seal your countertops, you should make it a norm to seal them as frequently as possible.

How often do you need to seal marble? The frequency depends on how you use the countertops. If you love cooking, you need to seal the surfaces more often than a bachelor who rarely cooks.

Experts agree that you should seal the countertops at the time of installation, then at least once every 3-6 months, depending on how you use the surfaces.

How do you tell its time to seal the countertops?

You can’t just look at the countertops and reach a verdict that they are ready for sealing—you need to test them. Some of the tests you can do include:

Mineral oil test

Here you use a petroleum-based liquid or solvent. Put a few drops of the mineral oil on your countertops, then wait for at least 10 minutes before wiping the oil off the surface with a dry cloth.

If you have a dark stain upon wiping the mineral oil, it’s time to reseal the countertops.

Water drop test

If you don’t have mineral oil, you can always use water for testing. Find an inconspicuous area of the countertop, sprinkle a few drops of water then set a timer to track how long it takes for the countertop to absorb water.

Once the timer is off, check whether the marble stone darkens and absorbs water. If it absorbs the water and leaves a dark spot, it’s time to reseal the surfaces.

How to properly seal marble surfaces

If your surfaces are ripe for sealing, go ahead and do the sealing. You can do the sealing by yourself if you have the skills, but let an experienced professional do it for you for the best outcome.

The marble contractor should begin with thoroughly cleaning the countertops and removing any dirt and debris on the surface.

Once clean, the contractor should apply the sealing agent with a soft cloth, lamb wool, or any other material that won’t damage the marble kitchen countertops NC.

Of course, for the seal to last long, you need to use a high-quality one. Avoid cheap sealing agents as they won’t provide you with the protection you need. They also tend to fade after a short time.

How Do I Choose A Kitchen Countertop? Here Are 5 Things To Consider

Are you thinking about revamping your kitchen and wondering how do I choose a kitchen countertop? There are plenty of factors you should look out for. These factors include:

Your lifestyle

How you lead your life will influence the type of countertop you should go for. If you are in the house most of the time and love cooking, you need tough countertops such as granite countertops that will take up the abuse and give your kitchen an exciting look.

On the other hand, if you are a busy person and are rarely in the house, so you don’t have time to clean and maintain your countertops, you should go for easy-to-maintain units such as quartz and others.

Young children

Do you have children? This will also significantly influence the countertops you install. If you have young children, it means they will be jumping and sitting on the countertops. They also most likely will be drawing and even hitting the counters.

To keep your counters in top shape, you need tough and easy-to-maintain surfaces. This calls for you to avoid granite, marble, and other porous countertops as they easily stain.

In such an instance, you should go for tough, easy-to-maintain countertops that won’t stain easily.

Your budget

The other factor to consider when buying kitchen countertops is your budget. How much are you looking to spend on your counters?

If you have a large budget, there is no wrong countertop to go for, but if your budget restricts you, you should go for cheaper counters.

As you are shopping, you should note that different stores sell their counters at different prices. This means that you will need to take your time and enter different stores, and compare the prices they charge for their counters.

If you can’t afford premium counters such as marble and granite, there are cheaper options such as quartz and others.

If you are looking for counters for small areas such as Kitchen Island and don’t have a lot of money, consider countertop remnants that go at extremely low prices. Some countertop companies even give them out free.

Your desired look

We all have a look we want to give our kitchen, and to achieve this, one of the things to do is install the right kitchen countertops.

You have to install countertops of the right color, texture, and any other feature that aligns with the look you want.

If you aren’t sure about the countertops that will give you a look you want, get the input of a professional.

As you are choosing a countertop color, choose one that is versatile. This way, you can easily change the kitchen paint and accessories without changing the countertops.

To keep your options open in the future, install countertop materials with veins and splashes of color.

Before you buy large countertop pieces, take samples with you at home, place them in your kitchen, and see how they blend with the rest of the room. Get a second or even a third opinion if you aren’t sure about the look.

Of course, you should only buy the countertops that match your desired look.

The amount of care you are willing to give the countertops

Although, this goes hand in hand with your lifestyle, it’s common to have a lot of time, but you don’t like cleaning or taking any care of your countertops.

If you love showing love to your countertops, install porous countertops such as marble, granite, and limestone. If taking care of countertops isn’t your thing, go with easier-to-maintain materials such as quartz that only need you to wipe them down.

Professionally install the countertops.

Regardless of the type of countertops you install, ensure that you professionally install them. If you are a dab hand at DIY projects, you can install the countertops by yourself, but let experienced granite companies Raleigh help you out if you have never done it before.

For the best outcome, take time to hire a countertop installation company and ensure that you are hiring a reputable company that knows what they are doing. The last thing you want is to hire a contractor that damages the precious countertops you have spent your fortune on. You don’t want this, do you?

What Kind Of Paint Do You Use On Countertops?

If you don’t have money to replace your countertops, one of the best ways to improve their look is painting them. What kind of paint do you use on countertops?

Well, there are plenty of paints on the market you can go for. They include:

Water-based acrylic paints

Whether you want to paint bathroom or kitchen countertops, you can use water-based acrylic paints. The beauty of the paints is that they are highly convenient to use as you can easily clean any messes you make using water without leaving any odor behind.

After applying the topcoat, the paint will take 14 days to cure fully. This means that you will have to stay away from the countertops or be gentle in how you use them.

Water or oil-based latex house paint

Latex paints are known for their low cost, so if you are operating on a tight budget, these are the best to go for.

Textured spray paint

They are easy to use and highly cost-effective, making them a great addition to your arsenal. You also don’t need to use a primer and topcoat to increase their strength and durability.

Two-part water-based epoxy

This paint can be highly intimidating, especially as a first-time DIY. This is because you have to mix the two paint components.

The cool thing is that if you are used to the paint, you will easily mix the two.

The paint components take only four days to cure to full hardness, and you don’t need a primer.

As you apply the epoxy, you should note that the fumes tend to be too harsh, so be cautious and properly ventilate the area you are working on. Going for brands with lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) also doesn’t hurt.

There is no right or wrong paint to use on your countertops—it all depends on your preferences and budget.

What should you consider when choosing the paint to use on your countertops?

Location of the countertops: Are the countertops in the kitchen or bathroom? If they are in the kitchen and you have many people living with you, it means they are heavily trafficked, and you need to use durable paint.

In such a case, the best paint to use is an acrylic paint that tends to dry extremely hard and is good for your countertops. To increase the hardness, use a resin topcoat.

Color of the countertops: It goes without saying that you need to use paint that complements the color of the countertops. In most cases, you will need to hire a professional to help with this.

Desired finish: Do you want a smooth or textured finish? If you want a textured one, you will need to use three or four different paint colors, but one color is enough if you want a smooth finish.

Odor: While it seems like a useless factor, it’s important to consider. If you are asthmatic or you can’t stand strong smells, it’s wise you go with water-based acrylic paints as they have a low odor.

Even when using the low odor paints, turn on the fan and open the windows.

Valuable countertop painting tips

You need to consider several countertop painting tips to get the best results. These tips include:

Remove all the chips and scratches: If your countertops are buckling or peeling, you should smoothen them to remove any chips or scratches that might be present. One of the best tools to use for the work is fine-grit sandpaper.

You should sand the entire countertop, including the edges and backsplash. The purpose of doing this is to remove any rough spots and create a nice smooth surface for the paint to adhere to.

Protect the areas you don’t want to paint: To prevent the paint from spreading to the areas you don’t want, use painter’s tape to protect them. These include the walls, taps, sinks, floor, and cabinets.

Use a smooth foam roller: Instead of a brush that will leave streaks on your precious granite or marble countertops Raleigh, use a foam roller.

Just like the walls, first, apply the primer, then let it fully dry and harden before you apply paint. You should then let it fully dry for at least four hours before applying the second layer.

Where Can You Use Marble Countertops?

Marble countertops are beautiful and luxurious, and they have been gracing structures for hundreds or even thousands of years, a classic example, being the Greek and Roman architecture that still stands strong to date.

If you are new to these countertops, you must be wondering where you can use them in your home, which is a great concern. The beauty of it is that there are plenty of areas you can use marble. Some of these areas include:

Kitchen countertops

These are probably the most popular areas homeowners use their marble countertops. If you would love to give your kitchen a luxurious look, marble is an excellent material to go with.

Before you install marble in your kitchen, you should know that the material tends to be highly porous hence highly prone to stains. This means that installing it in the kitchen might not be a great idea, especially if you have a busy kitchen or have small kids.

You should note that this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t install marble in your kitchen. It’s just that it will get damaged quickly if you are always in the kitchen cooking or have small kids that will jump on the countertops, hit the countertops, among many other things.

Marble will give your kitchen a classic and perfect look and even last for a long time if you are single and rarely in the kitchen.

Kitchen backsplashes

Well-installed marble gives the kitchen a dramatic look. The look is even more interesting if you have chosen a simple, rustic feel for your countertops.

For an industrial look, choose a subway tile. You can also go for a full, solid marble backsplash to display the various patterns provided by your marble.

Kitchen islands

Marble kitchen islands are an excellent way to make your island stand out from the rest of the kitchen. Install marble slabs of the same color and ensure they are installed by an experienced professional who knows what they are doing for the perfect look.

Tub and show surrounds

Marble walls are an excellent choice for bathrooms, especially tub and shower surrounds. Like kitchen islands, ensure that you have a professional expertly install the surrounds to reflect the bathroom’s theme.

How to choose marble countertops

Regardless of where you want to use marble, you need to ensure that you buy the right one. To help you out, here is a guide to help you choose the right marble counters:

Install white/graying marble in your kitchen

When people think about kitchen countertops, their minds automatically go to cream-colored marble. While you can still install this, install white/grayish marble in your kitchen for the best outcome.

The reason for this is because there are plenty of acids in the kitchen, from juices to fruits, and when they spill on your marble, they lead to acid etching that leaves a whitish mark that is more noticeable on cream and other colored marble than on white marble.

So, by installing white marble, you hide the stains that might come about.

Think about the veining patterns

Veining patterns on marble heavily rely on the quarry the marble is mined from, and it’s vital to factor this out when making the purchase. Two of the most common veining patterns are cross-cut and vein cut.

Cross-cut veining results in stone slabs with “an open flowered pattern” that looks fairy random and ideal for book matching.

On the other hand, the vein cut slices the block the other way to achieve a linear, striped appearance.

The veining you should go for depends on the look you want to create. If you aren’t sure about the right veining to choose from, get the input of a contractor highly experienced with marble kitchen countertops Raleigh.

Think about how the slabs will come together

Since they are natural, marble slabs are different from each other, so you should be cautious of the slabs you choose. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the slabs you choose will naturally come together to give you an elegant look you are looking for.

Again, to have an easy time, work with an experienced professional who knows what they are doing.