Our Guide to Countertop Refinishing – What Factors to Consider

Our Guide to Countertop Refinishing – What Factors to Consider.

You might be considering countertop refinishing, which entails resurfacing your countertop with a liquid bonding agent. Apart from enhancing the functionality and aesthetics of your countertop, refinishing is an excellent way to preserve your existing countertop and ensure that it will last for as long as possible. However, there are a few considerations to make for your countertop refinishing.

As a guide, here are four factors to consider when refinishing your countertop. Keep on reading to see if it’s best to take the DIY route or if you should hire counter refinishing servicesin Baltimore, MD.

1. The Process

The first factor to consider is the process of counter refinishing, which is the process of using proprietary bonding agents—and not mere paint—to resurface your countertop. An example of a bonding agent is the MM-4 bonding agent that creates a chemical bond between the old and new surfaces. The entire process involves cleaning the counter, filling the nicks, gouges, and scratches, drying, sanding, applying the bonding agent, and finally, putting the actual surfacing material. 

When it comes to this, you have two routes to take:

  • DIY Refinishing: You can do it yourself by using special kits. This all-inclusive kit consists of a base coat, wetting agent, decorative chips, and a protective top layer, allowing you to resurface about 50 square feet of your countertop.
  • Professional Service: If you are unsure on how to resurface your countertop, then hiring a counter refinishing service can be your best option.

2. Timeline for countertop resurfacing

The timeline is one determining factor to see if you would like to have a complete replacement or a simple refinishing. Take note of the following:

  • Replacement: It can take up to six weeks for you to have a new countertop installed, depending on the availability of materials. Once they are readily available, the actual process can take about a day or two.
  • Refinishing: This can be a lot faster than a replacement, as you do not need to wait for the base materials. As long as you have the bonding agents and special kits, you can complete this process in a couple of days.

3. Base countertop materials

You have to consider the base materials for your countertops, as refinishing doesn’t work on all materials in all conditions. Know, however, that countertop refinishing can work for the following surfaces:

  • Laminate surfaces
  • Ceramic and porcelain tile
  • Solid surfaces such as Corian
  • Cultured stone or natural stone

On the other hand, the following surfaces are not suited countertop refinishing:

  • Wood 
  • Reclaimed wood
  • Stainless steel 
  • Zinc
  • Epoxy

4. Cost of countertop refinishing

When it comes to the overall cost, countertop refinishing is affordable. In fact, it is a lot cheaper than a replacement by up to 50 percent. What’s good about a refinished countertop is that it lasts between five and seven years. Ultimately, it’s a worthy investment.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know what a countertop refinishing entails and what factors to consider—the process, timeline, base materials, and overall cost. It’s best to consider getting a counter refinishing servicefor a satisfactory result.

If you’re specifically looking for counter refinishing services in Baltimore, MD, get in touch with us today at Everglaze Coatings to see how we can help.