Kitchen Countertop Refinishing

Give Your Kitchen New Life with Kitchen Countertop Refinishing

Is your kitchen looking a little dull? Take a look at your countertops. Chances are, they could do with some upkeep. Kitchen countertop refinishing is a great idea for those who don't want to replace kitchen counters, only give them new life.

If you wood countertops like many people, then kitchen countertop refinishing is a fairly easy project that you can tackle on your own over the weekend. Let's take a look at the steps involved in kitchen countertop refinishing for wood countertops:

** Refinishing Tip ** Kitchen refinishing is certainly a very enticing project, but make sure you go about it with a mind to keeping the costs in check; most homeowners are naturally worried about the financial aspect of this type of project. Kitchen refinishing costs are always likely to be an obstacle to getting the dream kitchen you have always wanted. A fully equipped kitchen with that old world feel using lots of real wood and marble and effective use of lighting with masses of storage space may be something that stays a dream.

Firstly, protect your kitchen floors with a large tarp or plastic sheeting. Make sure the kitchen is well ventilated so that you won't breathe in harmful fumes. Next, apply a gel-based paint stripper to your counters. Always go in the direction of the wood grain and brush evenly onto small sections. Let the gel sit on your countertops for around 20 minutes.

Next, gently scrape the gel off with a putty knife, once more working in the direction of the wood grain. Clean off any excess thinner with steel wool.

This is followed by sanding. Use both 150-grit and 220-grit to sand the countertops, going in the direction of the grain. Use a cloth to remove excess grit after sanding. To fill in scratches or dents that sanding doesn't take care of, use a wood filler.

Then, you'll need to stain the wood. Apply one to three coats of the stain of your choice, followed by three coats of an oil based polyurethane for protection and shine. Allow each coat to dry before applying another, and as always, make sure you've got plenty of ventilation and fresh air in your kitchen.

** Refinishing Tip ** On bathrooms tiles... I have to say that it is in the classic black on white style that I find the most appealing and timeless. If you use these tiles around a clean white Victorian style bath tub on four feet with chrome fittings you can imagine how striking this looks. Not everyone is happy with lots of shiny things because they have to be wiped constantly owing to the fingerprints that show so readily on them. This is something particularly relevant if you have young children, so may not be the best style for you. But it is the classic white tile with small black squares which is my favorite which has a much cleaner look and is normally available without having to place a special order. Those who want to spend a little more on the bathroom tile design can opt for beautiful marble accents that pull the whole look together.

And it's done! You'll be surprised at how simple it is to perform kitchen countertop refinishing on your own. Refinished counters add beauty and value to your home, and provide a durable, beautiful counter area to perform all your kitchen activities. If you don't want to do the job yourself, there are many contractors out there who can do it for you for a reasonable price.

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