kitchen countertop - a spray paint affair

Hello again!

Back in December I posted about the mini kitchen redo I did. If you missed the post, you can check it out here.

As a reminder, here is the before and after:

Quite the difference! Here is a closeup of the countertop before and after:

Doesn't that before and after just make you want to squeal?

Cause I know I did!

I was so happy with the way the finished project looked. Here is a super quick walkthrough of what I did. I forgot to take pictures of the whole process, so bear with me.

I decided to use Krylon's Make it Stone spray paint on the countertops. I went to my local Canadian Tire and bought 5 cans of the black granite. I belive they were about $7 a can. I also bought 2 cans of the Make it Stone sealer spray paint (check later in the post for more info about this).

First thing I did was put up newspaper over the cabinets to protect the new paint. As well as taping off the window, outlets and moving the appliances.

After I started to spray paint. I did many small coats in an overlapping fashion. I started in the back corner and worked my way across the kitchen. We decided to do the backsplash as well, instead of trying to take the plastic down.

After a few hours of many coats, I went back and did some blending. I used all seven cans and I think I acheived a fairly even coating.

The above picture still had another coat in its future, but you get the idea. After 24 hours of drying, I used the sealer on the counter.

The after:

Do you hear the harps and angels singing?

Now - The review

After about 2 months, the paint was almost completely gone from around the sink. The sealer that was recommended to use in unision with the Make it Stone paint did not work. Even with 4 coats of it.

Every time a little water got on the paint, it would come right off. So you could see the brown paint peeking through where the paint had wiped away. I wish I had taken a picture to show you guys.

Not impressed.

Two weeks ago the hubby and I bought 2 more cans of the Make it Stone spray paint and fixed all the bare spots on the counter.

We then invested in 2 boxes of the Rustoleum Stone Effects Step 3 counter top coating. This was not cheap at $50 per box. One box covered about 28 square feet, and we used both boxes and had just enough.

WOW! Does this stuff ever make the difference. It is a food-grade epoxy that it to be used specifically for countertops. I would completely recommend this route.

In the end, I believe the total cost was about $200. Way cheaper than a new countertop!

So, have you guys done any kitchen redo's?

***Update - Check here for a post about how these counters did over three years***

K.

Linking to:

Home Stories A to Z 

HOH #93 

Thrifty Decor Chick - Spray Paint Party 

Thrifty Decor Chick - April Before & After