How to Repair Kitchen Counter Tops
Damage done to laminate kitchen countertops is difficult to repair to a quality appearance. Rather than patching kitchen countertops or covering up a damaged area with an awkwardly placed plant, repair them by adding a new design element. Removing the damaged countertop and replacing it with a tile countertop insert will give you a beautiful and functional way to do your own kitchen counter repairs. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tile
- Router
- Paintbrush
- Polyurethane
- ¼-inch trowel
- Thinset mortar
- Putty knife
- Tile spacers
- Grout
- Water
- Rag
Instructions
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1
Choose the tile for your kitchen counter repair. Smaller tile works well on a kitchen countertop, eliminating the need for cuts. Choose a style that matches your décor while bringing out some of your favorite design elements.
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2
Lay your tile out on the countertop in the damaged area to create a design. Doing so before you do anything else will let you know how much countertop you need to cut, and where to make cuts. Create a design that avoids cutting any tiles; cut tiles stick out as a sign that a repair was needed.
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3
Cut the damaged laminate out of your countertop using a router. Set the router depth at 1/16 of an inch greater than the thickness of your tile. Cut a hole in your laminate countertop matching the design you created when you laid out the tile.
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4
Waterproof with a coat of polyurethane, applied with a paintbrush, to the exposed particleboard underneath the laminate countertops. Allow the sealant to dry at least 24 hours before installing tile.
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5
Use a ¼-inch trowel to spread a thin layer of thinset mortar along the bottom and sides of the exposed particleboard. Use a putty knife, if needed, to spread thinset mortar in the corners and in small areas.
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6
Press your tile down into the thinset mortar in the pattern that you determined earlier. Place spacers between each tile so they are the same distance apart. Let your tile sit for 24 hours, then remove the spacers.
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7
Mix water with sanded grout, and then add grout across your tiles, filling the spaces between each tile.
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8
Wipe the surface of your tile insert with a wet rag to remove excess grout. Allow grout to dry for 24 hours.
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