Tag Archives: faux granite countertops

How to Paint Countertops to Look Like Granite

It’s often said that you should fake it until you make it. If you love the look of granite countertops but don’t have money to buy real granite, you can always paint your countertops to look like granite. How do you go about it? Here is what to do:

Pick the right paint

You will not get perfect results if you choose the wrong paint. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources you can use to find out the right paint to go for. If you aren’t sure about the one that will give your countertops a look you are after, get the input of a professional.

You should note that you can choose the right paint, but if you choose the wrong primer or sealer, you will most likely have awful results, so also be ultra-cautious when buying the primer and sealer and ensure that you choose the one that goes well with your paint.

Clean and prepare the surfaces

Like any other painting project, you need to clean the surfaces before painting. This calls for you to remove any materials from the countertop surfaces. If possible, also pull the sink.

Using quality household degreasers, scrub any dirt, grease, and debris from the surfaces, then fill any deep cracks or nicks with wood patch or laminate repair filler.

Give the filler time to dry, then sand flush with the countertop surface. If the caulk is loose, cut it away from the sink or backsplash.

Apply the primer coat

Pour a small amount of primer on the surfaces, then cut it with a 2-inch brush. To minimize marks on the surfaces, use a narrow brush.

After cutting, use a roller to apply more primer to the countertops. For the best outcome, work in 3-foot sections, rolling in a single direction with overlapping strokes. When you complete each 3-foot section, roll back over the primer using long, straight rows to reduce air bubbles.

You should repeat this process in 3-foot sections across the rest of the countertops, making sure that you roll out any paint before it dries.

Once you are done, thoroughly clean your roller and brush with warm water, as you will use them to apply the glossy top coat. You should let the primer sit for at least 6 hours before you apply the top coat.

Paint the surfaces

Once your surfaces are ready for painting, go ahead and paint them. The painting kit you buy will come with a sponge with a special texture that significantly impacts the granite style finish that you will achieve.

Cut off a small sponge (1-1/2 inch) of the sponge, then apply it to 2-3 inches of your countertop to see its results.

Before dipping the sponge in the paint, soak it in water, then wring it out. The remaining moisture will prevent the sponge from soaking up too much mineral paint.

Paint your surfaces following the instructions given on the kit. You should note that to achieve the granite look, you must apply the paints in the order indicated on the packaging.

Begin with shaking the paint and pouring a small amount onto a paper plate. Then holding the flat, cut edge of the larger sponge in your hand, blot its un-cut, textured side in the mineral.

You should then dab the sponge on the second paper plate to remove any excess paint, then lightly stamp the coated side of the sponge onto your countertops using quick, up and down movements.

You should then blot the sponge randomly over the countertop surface, taking care not to make sideways swipes. This is because the swipes leave brush-type marks that don’t look like natural granite.

For the best outcome, stick to vertical, up, and down stamping. When doing it, press the sponge firmly, so that sponge’s face makes full contact with the countertop.

Once in a while, turn the sponge to stamp with a different part of the face to mix up the pattern and achieve more uniform results.

Protect the surfaces

You need to protect your faux granite countertops NC from moisture and wear. One of the excellent ways to do it is to seal the surfaces. After sealing, give the surfaces time to cure before using them.

You also should avoid cutting or chopping directly on your surfaces.

5 Things You Should Know About Faux Granite Countertops

If you love the look and feel of real granite but can’t afford it, you should try out faux granite countertops. These countertops are almost identical to the real expensive and elegant stone, but cheaper.

They are made by applying a primer and a few paint coats in multiple layers. Once the paint has completely dried, the manufacturers apply multiple layers of sealant to provide a protective layer.

Are you considering installing the countertops? Here are 5 things you should know about them:

You have a few installation options.

When installing the countertops, you should know that you don’t have plenty of options or transformations to play around with.

One option involves applying a contact paper-like product to a completely smoothed and cleared surface. Here you need to measure, cut, and carefully apply the material of choice to the countertops, then smooth it into place.

You can also use primers, sponges, paintbrushes, acrylic paints, and epoxy. This process involves painting the look of granite onto the countertop. To achieve ideal results, you need to get involved, have a keen eye for detail, and invest a lot of time into the project.

You can do the installation by yourself or hire a professional to help you out. Obviously, you are better off hiring a professional as they tend to do a better job.

Although, you are limited to the installation methods, faux countertop installation is an easy project to execute.

One of the most important things you should do is have a clear idea of how you want the countertops to look like once you are done.

The fake countertops look similar to the real stone.

Many homeowners are cautious about installing fake countertops as they have the impression they will give their kitchen counters a cheap look, but this isn’t the case.

As long as the countertops are carefully and professionally installed, they will look the same, if not better, than the real stone.

To ensure the countertop maintains the look of real granite, have it installed by experts. Remember that some contractors say they are experts while they are not. To avoid making the wrong choice, take time when hiring.

Interview a few contractors while comparing their experiences and expertise.

While you can easily replace the countertops when they get damaged, it’s wise to protect them from damage. This saves you money and, at the same time, keeps your countertops looking spectacular.

When cutting vegetables and other items, always use a chopping board. You should never cut directly on the countertops. You also shouldn’t place hot items directly on the counters. Instead, use a hot pad or placement to protect the surfaces.

When it comes to cleaning, use mild non-abrasive cleaners. Clean the faux granite counters gently with a clean rag and a small amount of water in addition to the cleaner. When spills happen, wipe them away immediately.

Even with the best care, it’s common for scratches to come about. When they show up, buff them out with small baking soda rubbed into the surface with a soft cloth. For deeper scratches, consult your manufacturer on how to handle them.

You need to give tender and caring love to the countertops.

Since the faux granite isn’t as tough as the real stone, you need to give it more tender loving care. Remember, the countertop is more susceptible to cuts, burns, and scrapes, so be cautious when handling it. Use the tips we have given above to keep your counters in good condition.

Faux granite won’t last as long as a real stone.

Although the countertop’s durability depends on the installation and maintenance, there is no way the faux granite will last as long as the real stone. Thankfully, you can extend the countertops’ life to even several years by taking good care of it.

Again, use the above tips to keep your counters in the best shape possible.

You have plenty of colors and designs to choose from

One of the best things about the countertops is you have plenty of varieties to choose from. You get to choose the color and all the secondary colors you want, and feel will give your counters the look you want. As we have been saying, for excellent results, work with expert granite contractors Raleigh.

6 Cheap Kitchen Countertops Alternatives

kitchen countertops

When homeowners hear about updating their countertops, they imagine they have to spend several tens of thousands of dollars.

While some countertop materials will cost this much, there are plenty of other cheaper alternatives. Are you on a budget? Here are six cheap kitchen countertops alternatives you should try out:

Paint

Just as paint transforms a wall, it can also transform your counters. If you don’t like the current look of the countertops, find a paint that will match your cabinets, floor, and cover the damaged areas of the counters.

Regardless of whether you have tile, laminate, cultured marble, or solid surface counters, you will find a paint that will give the surfaces a new look.

If you have the skills, you can paint the surfaces by yourself, but if you have never done it before, let an expert handle it. For perfect results, first prime the counters then paint them. Finish the look by sealing the counters.

Concrete

Concrete countertops are durable, affordable, and cool looking. Ages ago, concrete contractors used to pour the concrete on the site. This often didn’t produce great-looking results.

Fortunately, things have changed. Currently, thanks to advancements in technology, there are plenty of precast concrete countertops that are more attractive.

Concrete counters resemble natural stone slabs. Unless you are too keen, you can pass them for granite or any other natural stone countertops.

Since the precast concrete countertops are cured and finished in the factory, they are easy to install as they come ready to use. The countertops are usually 1.5 inches thick, and when poured and cured, they come out smooth and flat.

They come in lengths of up to 10 feet, so they don’t produce any unsightly seams.

While these countertops are beautiful, unique, and affordable, they easily chip and scratch, so you should be cautious about how you handle them. As a rule of thumb, avoid being rough with them.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles give you the durability of natural stone, but at a much lower price. The tiles also come in many designs, including the natural-toned designs that give your kitchen or bathroom a natural look.

To make your countertops more attractive, use more expensive tiles with interesting designs at the borders.

While the tiles are tough hence allowing you to place even hot pots on them, you should take care as they tend to crack and chip easily. The grout between the tiles also stains easily, so you have to pay close attention to it to maintain the look.

Laminate

Popularly known as Formica, plastic laminate is highly versatile and affordable. Laminate is also resilient and comes in many colors, textures, and patterns. The material is also easy to install. Even if you are a beginner, you can install the countertops.

They come in sizes of 2 x 4 feet or 4 x 8 feet, but if you have longer counters, visit the company, and they will cut customized sizes.

Although, made from plastic, advanced printing techniques make the countertops resemble natural stone or wood.

When they were coming out, laminate used to scratch easily, but now advanced sealing techniques make these countertops tough and almost scratch proof.

Wood

Wood is significantly cheaper than natural stone making it an ideal choice for people operating on a budget. Two of the popular wood choices are maple and bamboo.

If you opt for these countertops, you should note that they require high levels of maintenance. To prevent them from getting damaged by water, regularly seal them with epoxy. Also, remember to oil them every two to three years.

Faux granite

Every homeowner wants granite countertops, but they don’t come cheap. If you love the look of natural stone but don’t have the money to buy real granite, go for faux granite countertops Raleigh.

All you need to do is to find an experienced contractor who will help you find the right countertops and paint them to give them the look of real granite.

While the countertops will look like real granite, they can’t take the abuse of real granite, so you need to handle them with care.

The Most Common Granite Countertop Questions: Answered!

kitchen counter

Granite is the first name that comes in mind when homeowners think about countertop replacement. Be it bathroom countertop or kitchen countertop, granite is the first choice of homeowners. Granite is popular countertop choice because of obvious reasons. This material has plenty of benefits. Even the availability of plenty of natural stone and manmade countertop materials is not able to decrease the popularity of granite countertops. Still many people have many doubts regarding kitchen countertop replacement.

Is granite a good kitchen and bathroom countertop?

Granite is apt material for kitchen and bathroom countertop. This material is heat and scratch resistant. It means granite can withstand hot pans, knives, flat iron etc. They can be installed above kitchen cabinets as well as on bathroom vanity. Granite countertops are available in plenty of colors and textures, which look good in both kinds of settings.

What are the alternatives to granite countertops?

There are many alternatives available on the market for granite countertops, such as marble, tile, bamboo, silestone and quartz. Each material has its own benefits. You should consider pros and cons of every material before finalizing any material for your kitchen or bathroom countertop.

How granite countertops different?

Granite is a natural stone. Each and every slate of granite is different from other. It means no two granite countertops will have similar designs. This material is heat resistant, germ resistant, scratch resistant, and low maintenance. It is not possible to get all these benefits in one countertop option.

What are faux granite countertops?

Faux granite countertops are not actually the granite countertops. It is the cheap solution to get look and feel of the granite countertop. Actually, you can paint your old countertop with certain solution to make existing countertop look like granite. It can be one of the cheapest countertop replacement techniques, as you neither need to purchase the new countertop nor need to invest time and money on the countertop installation. But at the end you will get the new countertop. So, if your existing countertop looks old or you want to give fresh look to your kitchen, faux granite is the solution.

Is granite an expensive kitchen countertop option?

Yes, granite is an expensive countertop material. Its price is higher than the most of the countertops available on the market. However, this countertop worth every penny you spent. Consider purchasing countertop from reputable and trustworthy countertop company.

Where can I find quality countertop resurfacing?

The Countertop Factory in North Carolina offers the widest range of solid surface countertops in Raleigh, NC. The types of countertops we offer range from laminate countertops and prefabricated granite countertops to quartz countertops, soapstone countertops and marble countertops! Our most popular product is granite countertop because of its versatility. There are a variety of granite countertops colors and styles available to fit your individual needs.

Visit our main website to learn more about Corian countertops, butcher block countertops, concrete countertops, glass countertops and stainless steel countertops. Currently some of our other most popular products are recycled countertops, wood countertops and faux granite countertops. Give us a call today to learn more about our granite countertops prices!