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local denizen
Citizen
Username: Local_denizen
Post Number: 91
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:04 am: | 
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I'm looking to low budget spruce up on my kitchen and I'd love some down and dirty ideas for the countertop, which is formica with a lot of miles on it.
One thought was to tile right over the formica. Will the mastic adhere if I scuff it well?
Another thought was to scuff it and paint it and then pour some of that liquid plastic stuff they use for bar countertops. Don't know how well that could handle heat though.
I have a friend who's parents had simply glued and hammered sheet zinc over plywood, which looked great. Though I bet that's not cheap, or easy to do on an already installed top.
Anyway, I'm obviously open to "artistic" approaches, especially those that don't require removal of the counter. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 135
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:11 am: |
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You can use granite tile which is way cheaper than anything solid. You can cover it with stainless steel sheeting, or copper or the zinc. You can make forms and use poured concrete. You maybe could even use peel and stick flooring. Or maybe even real tongue and groove flooring and oil it. Sort of like butcher block. If I think of more things, I'll send another note. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1907
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 10:06 am: |
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If the original formica is in good shape, and more importantly the sub surface is solid & even, yes you can tile on top of it. If you prime it, yes, you can paint it, too.
Depends on whether this is an interim fix to last you short term (where the paint might be a good choice) or something you want to last a while (where ceramic or even granite tile would be better).
Not sure what your taste is -- but other fairly inexpensive options are new pre-fab laminate counters from Lowes or Home Depot (they have a couple of very good looking ones) or butcher block from IKEA -- which can be a great look, too.
Removing the counters is not that difficult. Once you go underneath the cabinets and unscrew the old counters(and sometimes there is also silicone) -- they'll come off pretty easily. You need a couple of people, though, if you don't want to damage your existing cabinets.
BTW -- if you need help, Sherri's husband is Rich, the "Honey Do" guy -- I would think he could help you with some/all of your project, if DIY isn't possible for it all. (I'm a satisfied customer...)
Pete |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7364
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
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Warning: this is how we ended up doing a major gut & renovation.
I'll just paint the cupboards and change the door hardware..... an inexpensive floor since the old one is cracked and broken .... the counter will look old and dated.... maybe just a cheap HD prefab counter.... the oven is 40 years old..... maybe we do need a contractor for some of these things.....
When the planned $1000 (I was in my Trading Spaces period) started approaching $8k on paper for a kitchen that we knew would need to be completely redone within 5 years, we bit the bullet.
Seriously, if your kitchen is really old, think it through. You could end up spending a lot more than you planned and end up ripping it out sooner rather than later. |
tb0010
Citizen
Username: Tb0010
Post Number: 24
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 1:53 pm: |
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would defintely agree with Greenetree, you can either pay now or pay later |
Jennifer Pickett
Citizen
Username: Jpickett
Post Number: 204
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 2:06 pm: |
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I wouldn't recommend painting it- my sister painted hers and it looked good initially, but the paint just doesn't hold up to dropped silverware, etc, and gets nicks in it over time, exposing the original color. We removed our own counter, it was easy. Custom laminate is not too cheap (although cheaper than other all-new counters), but as peteglider suggests, if you can use the preform laminates available at HD and Lowes, you can get a new counter for little money. It requires a simple layout (we had a pipe chase, which made this option impossible). Other than that, I like the tile idea, especially granite tile.
And I agree with Greenetree- I started where you are and ended up with an 8K reno. Because once the new stove was in, there was a gap, so we needed a new counter. And the sink was too old to look good with a new counter, and the floor was in bad shape too... |
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 173
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 2:08 pm: |
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I would seriously weigh my options and would probably suggest tiling as the lesser of the evils.Forget covering with any kind of sheathing[copper,stainless zinc]as the cost would outway the return.You did say a low budget spruce up,right? Concrete is A.not a d.i.y. project what with rebar and mesh placement,possible dying for color,finishing the surface and front edge,and the re-inforcing of base cabinets to handle the weight,and B.,the lead time involved,chances for failure,and having to have an alternate plan.Replacing your counters could work if you dont have a tile splash or 4"formica splash as this usually adds a level of difficulty to the removal,plus you dont want to do any more damage to the walls than you have to.Whatever you do,youll probably need a new sink,faucet,etc.,and any homeowner can tell you how one thing leads to another. |
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