Kitchen Countertop Refinishing for a Spanking New Kitchen Look
When you feel like your kitchen appears a little dreary, take a look at your countertops. Chances are, they could use with some upkeep. Kitchen countertop refinishing is a great idea for those who prefer to give their kitchen counters a new life, not to replace it.
Quite a number of people have wood countertops in their homes, and if this is the case for you, then kitchen countertop refinishing is a fairly easy project that you can tackle on your own in the course of a weekend. Basically there are four main steps involved in kitchen countertop refinishing for wood countertops.
First of all, you need to protect your kitchen floors with a large tarp or plastic sheeting. Make sure you have the windows open 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.
Second, gently scrape the gel off with a putty knife, again working in the direction of the wood grain. Clean off any excess thinner with steel wool.
The third step is sanding, where you’ll be using 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.
Fourth and final step, you'll want 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. You'll want to 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.
You have just given your kitchen countertop a nice refinishing job! You'll be surprised at how simple it is to do 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.
Copyright 2006 Ned Stevenson - All Rights Reserved
