Last Updated on November 3, 2021 by Kravelv
Laminate countertops are gorgeous and can make your space look clean and inviting to work on. However, scratches, chips, and gouges can turn all this beauty into a dull and uninteresting working space which is demoralizing.
The good news is, there is a remedy to that old countertop that has worn out and started to chip. When it comes to laminate countertop burn repairs or removing annoying old stains, cleaning the laminate can work to remove these marks.
Here’s what you need to know to facilitate your laminate countertop repair.
How To Repair a Laminate Countertop
First Things First
Once the idea of repairing the countertop comes up, check everything that will cost you and set a budget. Having a budget will help you know what you can do and what you won’t be able to.
Repairing laminate kitchen countertops will not cost you an arm and a leg. A budget of $300 will work well. If you plan well, you will even spend less than this. The amount you pay will depend on factors like the material of the countertop you buy and labor.
The cheapest method of renovating your countertop is by repainting it. Be creative when doing the painting. You can make the patterns resemble granite or use innovative designs and finishes to make your kitchen top stand out.
You Can Fix Minor Damages
Fix minor scratches, gouges, and chips using a laminate repair paste. You can also use a color-matched repair pen to mend the scratches. The color repair pens are sold in many hardware stores at affordable prices. Check for them in home-improvement stores too.
When buying a color repair pen, consider the color that matches your countertop. Mixing the colors will mess around with the original look of the countertop and the entire kitchen theme’s color, which is a significant disadvantage.
Ensure you fill the blemishes carefully, and level them up before it hardens. If you overfill the holes and leave the laminate to harden, you will damage the surrounding laminate when sanding. Remember, your goal is to camouflage all the cracks and not increase damages.
Do not panic when you stain the countertop during refilling because you can fix it. Mix baking soda with water to make a paste. Apply the paste on the stain and let it sit for hours without rubbing it. Use a paper towel to wipe off the paste. It will come out.
If the stain is too stubborn and does not come out after applying the baking soda paste, use nail polish remover. Wipe the stain off using a white rag. A white rag ensures the fabric does not leave color on the countertop.
The remover also dissolves the fabric’s color. The other solvents you can use are paint thinner, acetone, and denatured alcohol.
Paint the Laminate
Some countertops need repainting to bring them back to life. If the pink color you have seen on the kitchen laminated countertop since you were young bothers you now, get a color of your choice and paint the top. Repainting is a way to showcase your DIY skills.
Most homeowners go for a faux marble, granite or quartz look to bring the best out of their countertops. These DIY projects are cheap and easy to do. You only require a sponge that you move in a dabbing motion. You can repeat the action until you are satisfied with the look.
Click here for more information on granite and quartz countertops.
How to Clean the Top for Painting
- Remove dirt and smudges using soap and water. Although Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) does an excellent job cleaning, it is not the best choice because it’s not environmentally friendly.
You can make your cleaner by mixing warm water with vinegar.
- Once you wipe the top using the cleanser, go in again with denatured alcohol. Ensure you don’t touch the countertops because your fingertips are always oily.
- Also, keep all the pets, including cats, away from this place. Your little kid should also not come closer to the countertop lest you find them climbing and stepping all over.
- Remove the caulking around sinks and faucets. Look for any chips and large cracks and cover them up with putty. Ensure you sand the putty smooth after it dries.
- Before beginning to paint, first, cover all the areas that you don’t want the paint to touch. Ensure all the little places have good adhesion. Pay more attention to ensure the faucet base touches the countertop. Bringing it very close can have it easily stained.
- Apply a primer on the top before beginning the repainting. You can use an oil-based cleaner and let it sit for about 4 hours.
If you want to get a granite look, you can play around with three shades of paint applying from light to dark. Use a sponge to add layers to the rest of the countertop.
When repainting, don’t wait for one layer to dry to add another coat. Apply the paint while the previous layer is still dumped. Add some sprinkles of gold or silver.
When the painting dries up, go in with two topcoats of acrylic polyurethane using a foam roller. Ensuring you have all the painting tools makes the work a lot easier, especially for DIYs. You can buy a pre-assembled kit that contains all the repainting equipment.
The kit also comes with preselected paints to ensure the colors blend in with their counterparts.
Total Cost
The priciest laminated countertop coating is armor garage. Armor kits colors are not readily available. It can cost you $270 to $320, with the price depending on the color of the finish.
There are many countertop colors to choose from, and your choice depends on the look you want to create. A paint kit with the topcoat, color layers, and protective finishes cost $70.
Final Words
Stains, scratches, and chips do not mean that it is the end of your laminate countertops. You can change the top to the color, finish, and texture of your choice. Laminate countertop repair is easy to DIY, although some complicated repairs need an expert.