By painting your countertops, you afford yourself the creative freedom to choose from thousands of colors.
Solid surface materials, too, work better when they are sanded down and buffed instead of being painted.
If a solid surface or quartz countertop is chipped or scratched, the material can be sanded down.
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A lightly used painted bathroom counter can last about two years before freshening up with another coat of paint.
Extra care must be taken when cutting on top of painted countertops.
Be sure to always use a cutting board.
Also, be careful about sliding rough items across painted countertops.
Extreme heat, too, can damage the paint.
Never put hot pans on painted countertops.
If one layer happens to get scratched, there are other layers underneath.
Furthermore, the paint will be topped with a coat of hard, transparent oil-based polyurethane.
Safety Considerations
When using spray paint and spray coatings, always work in a well-ventilated area.
Breathe safely by wearing a NIOSH approved cartridge-style air respirator.
Paper dust masks are inadequate for this project.
If an item cannot be removed, wrap it with painter’s tape to keep it clean.
Clean the Surface
If the countertop is greasy or especially dirty,clean it before sanding.
Use TSP and warm water to clean.
Let the countertop thoroughly dry before proceeding with sanding.
Sand the Surface Twice
Paint the Countertop
Paint the countertop with the spray paint.
Spray with only a light coat.
Heavy coats take longer to dry and often result in bumpy or bubbled paint.
Establish a routine of lightly painting the countertop, letting it cure, then painting again.
Matte sheen spray paint both dries and cures fairly quicklywithin an hour.
Aim for at least six coats of paint.
Apply the Top Coating
Spray the top with clear polyurethane spray.
Oil-based coatings take a long time to fully cure.
In warm, dry conditions, expect to wait at least four hours before spraying another coat.
A layer must be solid and tack-free before you apply additional coats.
Sand after every two coats to eliminate bubbles and peaks.
Apply a minimum of three coats of polyurethane.
Finish with one final sanding with #320 grit sandpaper for a satin finish.
Painting is not recommended forquartz countertopsbecause it is difficult to get the paint to adhere.
If youre looking to remove surface imperfections, you might sand and buff the quartz.
Toclean quartz countertopsand maintain their shine, use a cleaning solution of dish soap and water.
Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove many types of stains.
Adhesive or pigmented epoxy can be applied to fix minor chips and cracks.
you’re able to paint many countertop materials to change their look and hide some surface imperfections.
You also can tile the countertops or get agranite or quartz overlayto completely change the appearance.
