A Stone Kitchen Countertop for Less Than $75

One of today’s kitchen dÃ?©cor trends is the stone countertop. Unfortunately for those whose kitchens are badly in need of remodeling, a stone kitchen countertop is not usually in the price range. A true stone countertop can cost upward of $1,000 (likely closer to $5,000). However, it is possible to get the look of stone in your kitchen for less than $75. All it takes is some time and a little ingenuity.

You can actually paint your kitchen countertop to look like stone. It will give a whole new feel to your kitchen, without destroying your wallet. The first thing you need, however, is practice. Look online, or at your local library, for information on faux painting. You won’t even have to buy the information if you arrange matters correctly. Look through the information until you find the stone look that you like. Most tutorials of this sort will help you figure out which paint colors you will need, the brushes that will help you create the effect, and the proper technique. Then get to work on some cardboard. After all of your practice is complete, and you have succeeded in painting the cardboard to look like stone, it is time to really get down to business.

Before painting your countertop, you need to prepare the surface. Do not remove whatever you already have. The primer goes on top of your current surface. Do not skimp on this step. Even expensive primer will still result in spending less than $75 for your countertop. You should use a primer that is made especially for surfaces that are non-porous. Most home improvement and hardware stores have these types of primer. Do not be afraid to ask for help when making this purchase. You want to be sure that the primer is for non-porous surfaces. Let the primer dry thoroughly before you begin painting.

Next, it is time to paint your countertop! Do it just like you practiced with the cardboard, and allow at least 24 hours for the paint to thoroughly dry. After the paint has dried, it is time to apply four or five coats of polyurethane. Make sure that it is water-based. Again, if you want, ask the attendants at the hardware or home improvement store for help getting the right kind of polyurethane.

Your countertop is unlikely to chip with all of that polyurethane, but save some of the original paint, just in case. Then you can get rid of the chips very easily. Once the polyurethane is dry, you will be able to enjoy your countertop for years, enjoying the look of stone, knowing that you didn’t have to mortgage your house to improve your kitchen.