If you are using color, youll want to experiment with how much pigment to add to get the exact shade you want. As soon as you have covered the entire surface and gotten it evenly spread, use a heat gun or blow dryer to target any bubbles. Plus, the glossy sheen you get after the liquid hardens will stay that brilliant for years. One of the biggest downfalls of laminate and even expensive granite and marble is that, with a big enough counter, you will get seam lines. But, because epoxy has such a hard, non-porous surface, deep cleaning is rarely required. There are several photos of different examples of epoxy countertops to give you an idea of the kind of thing thats possible and as the blogger writes, its easier than you might imagine. This beautifulgalaxy-style counteruses black color pigment and three different metallic powders. Remove all dust and debris from your countertops. And then youll need to replicate that amount exactly for each coat. A unique countertop is a conversational piece and will definitely show your craft skills and creative ideas. You can use a single, solid color, or get creative by mixing in stripes or splotches of other colors. You can use painters tape to mask off areas, as well. It will be just fine. Of course, if you want to take a different approach and create a matte or textured counter, you absolutely can with this versatile product. Make sure you covered the floor with protective polyethylene. That means you dont have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food from the finish or any toxic glue finding its way onto your plate. Thismodern counterfeatures a white base with black, grey, and rust accents. If youre looking for an introduction to making a DIY epoxy countertop, this plan is a great place to start. Keep gluing the coins until the whole surface is covered. The amount of work required is also considerably less, and if youre looking for an introduction to the basics of mixing and applying it, check out this useful video for all the info you need. Hickory Kitchen Cabinets (Types & Pros and Cons), Platform Bed Vs Box Spring(Comparison & Pros and Cons), What Is A Cantilever Umbrella(Benefits & How It Works), Leather Colors (Shade Variations & Dyed Options), Types Of Cedar Fences (Wood Varieties, Grades & Styles), Litter Box Sizes(Average Dimensions & Size to Get), Deep Pantry Organization (Best Storage Tips & Ideas), Wood Tile Backsplash (Styles, Patterns & Pros and Cons), Frameless Cabinets (Different Types & Styles), Kitchen Wall Sconces (Designs, Materials & Placement), Built In Cutting Board (Sizes & Kitchen Countertop Ideas), Brick Walkway (Patterns, Materials & Designs), 125 Best Man Cave Ideas (Furniture & Decor Pictures), 129 Fence Designs & Ideas [Front & Backyard Styles]. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at epoxy resin countertops, the advantages and disadvantages of them, as well as what it takes to DIY your own. Apply a little acetone or paint thinner to a cloth and gently rub the stain in a circular motion. But there are some downfalls to this cheap yet durable productmost having to do with the installation process. Then smooth it out using a trowel or paint roller. To make this 3D coin countertop you need to make sure that your coins are the same size. Just be sure to avoid abrasive cleaners and powders. Luckily, as long as the spill is addressed quickly, there shouldnt be any evidence left behind. However, sometimes making mistakes can be costly, which means you often can save yourself some money by learning from other peoples mistakes instead. Epoxy resin is a great option for restoring old, dated kitchen and bathroom countertops and even some types of flooring. Place your countertop on a stand. Use a long ruler or a builders level along the countertop to make sure your coin row is aligned and that the coins will stay in place and not fall off. It is not difficult to craft epoxy countertops, once you have decided what the design would be. That being the case, youd do well to watch this video about this YouTubers mistakes when working with epoxy so you dont make the same ones when its your turn to try. Are you looking for a cheap but effective way to refinish your outdated bathroom or kitchen countertops? Admittedly, these guys are pros, so these techniques might be a little ambitious for DIYers but at least this video should get you thinking about what you might like to try. More stubborn stains may require treatment with acetone. Stains are something you are much more likely to have to deal with on an epoxy surface. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are prepared with all the materials, measurements, and have practiced the techniques beforehand. Lastly, epoxy resin countertops are incredibly easy to care for. By gently moving heat over the surface of the wet epoxy, you can coax the bubbles to the surface where they will disappear. Higher-quality products, on the other hand, will cost about $8 per square foot. Modern building materials appear on the market every day and there are so many ideas for home decoration or craft ideas that many people cannot follow them. Well also show you some great examples of different epoxy countertop projects so you can start planning for your own home. Getting all surfaces level and fully coating the edges of your counters means that epoxy will get everywhere. (Tips to Store for Long Time), How Long Does Almond Flour Last? The next step will require a place where kids access is limited. Thoroughly clean your coins from oxides and dirt. To do this, apply polishing paste to the affected area and use a buffing pad on a drill. DIY Marble Countertop Transformation Epoxy How-To, 11. For anyone who wants to try, weve searched online to see what other people have been doing and here are our top 17 plans for making a DIY epoxy countertop. Typically, using a food-safe surface cleaner and rag will suffice. DIY Epoxy Countertops The Perfect Solution for Resin Worktops, 7. Its heat-resistant, stain-resistant and impact-resistant and it also costs a whole lot less than something like granite. But the entire process of creating and finishing the epoxy countertops will be done in your home. You could use various coins that you brought from different countries while you travelled, for example. What to do with cherry pits? If you have a high-gloss finish, youll probably want to find a good streak-free cleaner to keep on hand. DIY epoxy countertops are a fun and beautiful way to revive your outdated kitchen or bathroom. Sauces, red wine, and other deeply colored liquids that are left on the counter long enough to soak through the hard surface, however, could leave their mark indefinitely. After another 48 hours, your epoxy should be fully cured. Because creating epoxy requires a heat-driven chemical reaction, the materials do put off a lot of VOCs during the installation process. Adding 4 to 5 coats of polyurethane on top of it will help protect the shine and add to the durability of your new counter. With a manual gas burner heat the surface of the liquid epoxy resin. Go too thin and youll be at it for weeks. Use a strong glue to stick the coins to the surface. But, once the resin has cured, it is completely non-toxic and food-safe. As this blog tells us, epoxy is such a great material because its relatively inexpensive and is easy enough for DIYers to apply themselves, achieving great results without the need to call in the pros. If youre thinking about installing epoxy countertops but are unsure about whether to take the plunge, this is a plan that will help you make up your mind. Make sure to take the time to put plastic down and move all portable appliances out of the room before you begin. Any particles left could cause bumps in your final product. Epoxy resin countertops are fairly easy to care for but do require some maintenance. Your surface should be fully hardened after 48 hours. Again, this is why covering surfaces with plastic and covering your skin is so important. You can even use this method to recreate the look of granite or marble. Apply this to the stained area and wait at least five minutes. If you are using color pigment, measure out the powder or liquid very carefully so you can use it in the same ratio for each mix you create. You can use any type of cleaner on them without worrying about doing damage to the finish. In that case, this blog is highly recommended since it gives you a detailed overview of everything you need to know. All opinions are our own we pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. Ideally, youll want about an eighth of an inch of epoxy total. In this fascinating video, you get to see some of the things that are possible when working with epoxy. If a DIY job sounds like too much to take on, having a professional do your install is another great option. You can also use secondary colored epoxies to emulate the look of natural stone, like this simplemarble finishor this very flashygranite finish. Most contractors who offer epoxy work charge around $50 per hour, with some charging a little less, and some much more. That means you should think carefully before you begin, weighing up the pros and the cons as well as looking at other alternatives. Her search led her to epoxy, and it was love at first sight. When you consider the additional cost of materials, this comes out to about $100 per square foot, according toCaesarstone. If you are adding additional colors, now would be the time to do that. As this YouTuber tells us, she decided to use epoxy as a way of replicating the look of marble without spending the time or the money that would be required to install the real thing. Epoxy resin is actually a liquidwell two liquids, reallythat must be poured in place on top of an existing countertop. When you add multiple colors to the mix, there are no rules to how carried away you can get. Epoxy Resin Countertops The Complete Guide, The Advantages of an Epoxy Resin Countertop, The Disadvantages of an Epoxy Resin Countertop, The Process for Making Epoxy Resin Countertops. The crafty DIYers fromFarmhouseishused chalk paper and painted it to look like granite. It has an eye-catching and beautiful look that even the novice epoxy DIYer could accomplish with a little practice. Essential Home and Garden is a one-stop guide for homeowners. We have chosen a magnificent countertop which is made of coins and looks absolutely great. Allow at least 12 hours for the poly to dry before using the surface. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Then used clear epoxy to give it the right sheen and durability to rival that expensive rock. If you really want to add some serious pizzazz to your counters, color pigments are the way to go. Contact Us, Reclaimed Wood Countertops (Buying Guide), 29 Beautiful Cream Kitchen Cabinets (Design Ideas). As this blogger writes, she was on the lookout for something that would look shiny and new for her sunroom. Clear epoxy can also be used to immortalize objects, like thisbar top filled with beer caps. Because epoxy goes on as a liquid, there are no seam lines. While it is unlikely that you will scratch your epoxy, it isnt completely unheard of. This ratio differs based on the brand of product you are using, so be sure to reference the bottle labels. Theres no doubt that lots of people will see this and decide right away that they want something similar, and if youre one of them, all you need to do is read on to find out how to do it. (Tips to Store for Long Time), How Long Does Baking Soda Last? Make sure you have enough epoxy resin to cover all the surface of the countertop. There is no texture for food particles or liquids to get caught in. Add epoxy so that it covers all the surface of the countertop with a layer of about 4-6 mm. And, even worse, if you are using a clear epoxy, debris left behind will be visible forever. Pro tip:To prep laminate countertops, youll need to sand the surface to remove the top sheen layer. They are durable, heat and scratch-resistant, and come in a huge variety of designs and colors. Youll also want gloves and protective clothing for yourself. Any bubbles that remain in the liquid at this point will be trapped, so make sure you work quickly and diligently. First, you have to measure the resin and hardener accurately in order to produce a rock-hard finished product. Whenever attempting a DIY project, its always a good idea to check out what the pros do before you start which is why this YouTube video is so useful. In it, we get to see professionals installing an epoxy countertop, talking us through what they do at each step of the process and allowing us to learn about how to achieve similar results. This is true whether it is on your carpet or your cabinets. It comes from the Instructables site, and like all the plans from there, it includes clear instructions that explain what you need to do at each step, along with plenty of photos to help you understand the process. (Tips to Store for Long Time). The rest of the tutorial is quite long, so make sure you have plenty of time to watch it but it contains all kinds of useful info, so its sure to be time well spent. Dos and Donts for Epoxy Countertop Resurfacing, 17 Easy Homemade Cooling Rack & Substitute Ideas, How Long Does Sriracha Last? This will assure the epoxy adheres to the surface correctly. Once cured, it has a strength of over10,000 psi, meaning it can withstand 10,000 pounds of pressure concentrated on a single square inch. By using epoxy, you can give your surfaces a makeover, leaving them looking unrecognizable from before and it will cost you very little to do it compared to many other options. Unlike laminate, granite, or Corian, epoxy countertops are not something you can buy off the rack from a home improvement store. Move in a circular motion over the scratch. In fact, you could prepare your meal directly on the countertop surface and not have to worry about toxins or scratching the counter. Rubbing your counters down with mineral oil every few months will help them keep their brilliant sheen. DIY Epoxy Countertop How-To Lessons Learned and Tips, 13. Not only is this finish gorgeous, but it is super easy to keep clean. Epoxy resin countertops are a beautiful way to transform your kitchen and bath. This is doubly true for wood surfaces that you want to make more durable. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can also add white or colored pigments to create opaque epoxy to hide blemished and worn countertops. In general, supplies will cost you around $5 per square foot. The resin and hardener need to be mixed at the right ratio in order for the final product to cure correctly. Use the same technique to pour your second layer, but feel free to make this one a touch thicker now that a level surface has been established. If youre new to the idea of epoxy countertops, youll probably want to learn all about the possibilities of working in this material before deciding that this is something you want to use. And once it does start to dull, you can bring it back to life by applying a simple coat of mineral oil. If your countertops are in your kitchen, make sure to use non-toxic cleaners only. Note:For some multi-color techniques, you will apply a clear coat as your final layer. Epoxy resin countertops are becoming more and more popular. Even if you do get everything right, you will still make a mess. None of this is to say that doing your own epoxy countertop is impossible, but you should educate yourself on the process. We love the introduction to this video as it demonstrates very clearly and dramatically all the advantages of epoxy. What you need would be lots of coins. When we mean one-stop, we mean everything. Epoxy is made by mixing a liquid resin with a liquid hardener. Or maybe you have stained or worn laminate that you would love to cover up instead of replacing. If you have any questions about epoxy countertops or want to share pictures of your own work, please leave a comment below! The title of this video makes a big claim, but its well worth checking out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My name is Maia, Editor, and Writer of Lucky Belly. In addition to the materials for the epoxy, you will also need to consider the expense associated with prepping your counter surface and protecting your cabinets and floor. These two materials begin a chemical reaction when mixed together. The difference is huge too, and when its finished, their new kitchen looks amazing. It doesnt include a plan for how to do it, but after reading this, youll have a much better idea about working with epoxy, allowing you to make a much better job of it when you start your own project. To finish, heres a super useful blog post with a list of dos and donts that everyone should know before they start their epoxy countertop project. Disclosure statement. Heres a simple and to-the-point plan that will tell you everything you need to know if you are thinking of using epoxy to give your countertops a makeover. Spilling boiling water or hot food on them wont damage the finish. One simple method for utilizing colored epoxy for a countertop is to add metallic powder to a uniform base. For more info see ourdisclosure statement. This is one of our favorite sites whenever we need ideas for a new project, and this is another plan that didnt let us down. The epoxy will begin to harden within 20 to 30 minutes. Weve enjoyed collecting these plans for you because weve learned so much about using epoxy, so we hope youve learned a lot too and above all, we hope weve helped you find the plan you needed to get started on your DIY epoxy countertop project. There are special solutions which will cope with this task for a few seconds. The simplest way to remove stains is by combining water and baking soda to create a paste. You can begin removing the tape and plastic from your space as soon as the final layer begins to set. It begins with a range of stunning epoxy tops that are sure to have you wondering about the possibilities for your home, and it then goes on to demonstrate the techniques used to create those designs. The best way to learn something is often just by jumping in and doing it yourself, but its always helpful to know what to do and what to avoid so this is a must-read for anyone preparing to give their countertops an epoxy makeover. Epoxy is such a great material because you can use it to create the look of granite or marble for a fraction of the price. Finally, we leave you with thisbeach-style bar top, just to prove there is nothing you cant do with epoxy. A more classic take on this technique is to put clear epoxy over wood or butcher block to preserve and enhance the beauty of the wood, like thisbeautiful kitchen island. Make sure to cover the edges as needed. If you have a rounded edge, you will need to bend the coins using these simple tools a steel ring and pliers. If your old countertops are fine to look at but are in need of a facelift, a clear epoxy finish is a great choice. This moreadvanced designhas an awesome marine vibe and brings a lot of bright colors to the room. The rock-hard nature of epoxy is an awesome feature until you get it somewhere you dont want it. So take your time and really scrub the tops, sides, and undersides of every surface the epoxy will touch. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Epoxy Countertops, 17. Using epoxy is a great way to give your kitchen or other room the classy look of something like marble for around a tenth of the price and this is a plan that will show you how to do it. That extra hard finish also means epoxy wont scratch or chip easily. The simplest way to use epoxy resin is as a clear, gloss finish. Otherwise, you may end up with one pour being darker than the next. Epoxy Dirty Pour Technique on Custom Countertops Tutorial, 12. With clear epoxy, you can use just about anything as the base for your countertop design. Continue adding pressure until the stain comes out. You can typically accomplish this with just two coats. Unofficial Guide to DIY Epoxy Countertop Resurfacing, 5. Not only do these seams disrupt the pattern of the counter, but they provide an annoying crack for food and debris to hide in. Pour more than half of the epoxy resin into the center and carefully spread it over the surface with the help of a wooden or plastic stick. It goes into lots of detail about everything to do with epoxy, including an extensive section on how to go about the installation process. The first layer should feel hard to the touch. Go too thick and the chemical reaction will leave you with bubbles and an uneven surface. Your goal with this first layer is to go as thin as possible to create a solid seal between the epoxy and the counter surface. The last thing you want is that drip of tomato sauce to be eternally entombed in your otherwise pristine new counters. Your email address will not be published. Weve mentioned several times that epoxy is a relatively inexpensive material to work with but it will still cost you a certain amount of money, so youll want to be sure about using it before you buy the equipment and start the installation process. Its fun to watch because it clearly demonstrates the potential of epoxy, even when in the hands of non-professionals. How to Install Epoxy Over Old Countertops Ultimate Guide, 9. Adding glitter or metallic resin adds yet another design option. So, you will need coins, glue, a ruler and of course, epoxy resin. Of course, if you are dreaming of an elaborate epoxy design, a skilled contractor will be more than worth the extra money. Its fascinating to watch as they do the work and were sure it will inspire lots of other people to try something similar. Even for the highest-quality mixes, you will spend less than you would with granite or marble but will be getting a similarly durable and beautiful product. Popsicle Stick Crafts for Adults 5 Fun Projects to Try This Weekend, How to Upcycle Tin Cans and Give Them a New Life 5 Creative Ideas, Creative Ways to Enhance Your Look with DIY Accessories, 5 Tips and Tricks How to Improve Your Bullet Journaling with a Craft Knife, DIY Tic Tac Toe Rocks Fun Craft Projects for Kids and Adults. Too much of one or the other can lead to a finish that is tacky to the touch. Or for use over patterned contact paper, painted counters, or other surfaces you want to be seen. Here are 5 smart tips to reuse them! This includes your sink, any appliances in the way, and the floor. If you are interested in doing the job yourself, the steps below will give you an idea of the process. Pour your mix (or base mix if you are using multiple colors) over your counter in a uniform pattern. Heres a video we enjoyed watching a lot. Once hardened, epoxy resin is nearly impossible to remove. To avoid any problems, always get your resin and epoxy from the same company. Even setting a hot pan down on these counters isnt likely to cause a problem. While heavy pains and sharp knives wont phase a well-cured epoxy counter, dark liquids definitely can. A great tutorial and recommended reading for anything thinking of having a go. These features make epoxy the perfect candidate for use on countertops. You will also need to protect every surface not receiving epoxy with plastic sheeting. There is a lot to love about epoxy counters. Getting an expert to do your countertop refinish for you is a great way to save on time, but you can expect to pay a lot more for the overall project. In it, we see these YouTubers regular homeowners upgrading their kitchen by applying an epoxy layer to their worn-out Formica tops. If youre thinking this might be the solution for you, theres loads of info to help you decide and when youre ready to start work, theres also a simple plan for you to follow. Luckily, it is fairly simple to buff out scratches on this kind of surface. You can even mix colors together during the application process to create art or imitate natural finishes. Pouring one color of epoxy in a pattern on top of a different colored base will give you a unique piece of art. Its also packed full of all the useful hints, tips and advice you need to ensure your epoxy project turns out just the way you want it to. This is necessary to ensure that air bubbles that appear after pouring will disappear.
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