Painting Kitchen Countertops

When you're low on funds, but want a way to inject new life into your kitchen, painting the countertops of your kitchen is a solution to consider. Remodeling can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming whereas painting can transform a dull workplace in no time, but, at a fraction of the cost. With innovations in painting techniques, there's a plethora of options for every possible finish you could desire and enough shades to ensure you get it just right. Countertop painting needs a little preparation, a few materials and lots of patience, but armed with these, you're good to go.

How to Paint Kitchen Countertops

There are a number of considerations to take into account when decorating your kitchen, one of the most important being the finish you desire. Depending on the surface you're starting off with, the painting techniques will differ with regards to preparation and tools to achieve the desired look. Laminate, wood and Formica can all benefit from a coat of paint. There are even ways of faux painting to give your countertop a stone look. The following are steps to get you started:

1. The first step when painting anything is to ensure that the surface is clean. If you miss out on this step, or if the surface isn't completely clean, the paint will cover the dirt in splotches, or worse still, not adhere at all, giving you a patchy finish. Ideally, using a cleaning agent like TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) will take care of this step best, however, as long as the surface is clean, you're ready for step two.
2. Use masking tape to cover any surfaces that you don't want the paint getting to.
3. Now, use a medium-grade sandpaper and some good old elbow grease. Sand down the surface and then vacuum the dust off the top.
4. Next on the list is the application of primer. Primer prepares the surface for painting, so while it may seem like a pointless exercise, skipping this step will result in a far from perfect finish. While most primers come in base, neutral colors, use a primer that's tinted with the shade you're painting with, for best results. Let it dry completely.
5. Once dry, sand the primed surface very gently to ensure a completely smooth and bump free finish. Your countertops are now ready to take on paint.

Different Methods
There are innumerable methods to choose from, when it comes to painting countertops. If you are among the creative ones, then let your imagination flow and experiment with different painting methods for different types of looks. If not, then there's nothing to worry. Listed below are a few methods which are sure to make your kitchen look beautiful and new.

The Granite Look
Painting Formica countertops to look like granite is a great way to completely transform your kitchen. It's fairly simple to do - sponge on a combination of black and white acrylic paint using a sample picture as a guide. Let this dry completely and then follow with four or five coats of clear floor polyurethane, letting each coat dry completely before you start on the next.

Spray Painting
While you may be apprehensive about this method, the following spray painting tips and techniques should help quell your fears. Follow the same steps above to prepare for spray painting. Shake the can of spray paint well, then holding it about 12 inches from the surface, gently spray it over the countertop, using a slow back and forth motion, to cover the entire surface. Repeat this process at least 3 times, to ensure that you don't miss out on any spots, then wait for it to dry completely. Once dry, use a clear protective spray to finish.

Painting Tile
Painting tile is a bit more cumbersome than other surfaces because of the surface depth differences. To begin with you have to repair any cracks or imperfections in the tile, and wait for it to dry completely. Use semi gloss or high gloss oil based paints for ceramic tile painting, and use at least 2 to 3 coats. Wait till each one is completely dry before you start on the next. Finish with two coats of clear polyurethane. Tile is also a great surface for stenciling, so all you need is a pretty design and you're good to go.

Painting countertops is a great way to give your kitchen a new lease on life on a shoestring budget. All you have to do is get together some painting supplies, throw on some old clothes, and let your creative side loose. You may well be pleasantly surprised with the results!