DIY Refinishing Bathroom Counters

Give your bathroom counters new life with paint.

Your bathroom is one of the most often used rooms of your house. The counters in your bathroom are the landing place for spilled toothpaste, water and makeup. It is no surprise if your counters are starting to look a little worse for wear. Bathroom counters are typically covered with a solid surface or with tile. Either one can be refinished with a little paint.

Solid Surfaces

Solid surfaces like laminate are easily updated with a little paint. As with any paint project, the most important step is the prep work leading up to the actual painting. Clean the counters thoroughly using an ammonia-based cleaner. Grime and residue left on the counter will interfere with the paint and cause the paint to chip and peel over time. After cleaning, sand the counters to create some texture. The roughed up texture on the counter will give the paint something to grab onto and will make the final product more durable. Using a palm sander will make the job go much faster and because the sander vibrates, will also provide a more consistent sanded surface.

Choose a primer that is formulated for slick surfaces. The label on the primer should say that the product will work on plastic or laminate. Glidden Gripper is a good product and will bond to almost anything. Your paint should be a water-based acrylic or latex paint. Apply both the paint and the primer using a smooth foam roller. Foam rollers are good for projects like this because they go on smooth and even. Multiple thin coats of paint and primer will be more durable than one thick coat.

Use polyurethane topcoat on the counters once the paint and primer have dried. Polyurethane will provide an extra layer of protection from moisture and scratches. Topcoat comes in matte, satin or gloss. Any of the finishes will provide similar protection. The choice is more a matter of preference. Choose the finished appearance that you like the best.

Tile

Tile is a little trickier than solid surface mainly because of the grout lines. It is also a bit more complicated because the glaze put on ceramic tiles is very slick, meaning that the paint will not want to stick. Prep the tile surface by cleaning thoroughly and sanding really well. Sheets of sandpaper will work for laminate but tile will require a palm sander. Palm sanders can be purchased at most home improvement stores for around $30. Work methodically from one corner of the counter to the other so that you don't skip any tiles.

Paint the tiles using an enamel paint and an acrylic topcoat. Enamel paint is good for this application because it is extremely durable and comes in a wide range of colors. Use a good quality brush to apply the paint. Get enough paint on your brush to avoid brush strokes but not so much that you create puddles of paint. Avoid lines and brush strokes as much as possible. You can choose to paint the grout lines or paint only the tops of the tiles. You will need 2 to 3 coats of paint and 1 to 2 coats of topcoats. Apply the acrylic topcoat in the same way that you applied the paint.

Hiring a Professional

Painting laminate is not a job that requires a professional painter. You will have no problem completing that paint job yourself with great results. However, refinishing tile is sometimes better left to a professional. A professional tile refinishing contractor will bring a high-powered sprayer into your bathroom. The finish will be almost perfect. Choose a licensed contractor and ask for references.

References

• Repair-Home: Refinish Your Tile
• Washington Post: If You Can't Love Your Laminate, Paint 'Em