Miracle Methods for Refurbishing Countertops

Repair Loose Laminate

• Laminate countertops begin to look old when the adhesive bond breaks down between the laminate and the countertop's wood base. Apply wood glue between the laminate and the base and clamp tightly until the glue thoroughly dries. Repair the countertop at the first sign of this adhesive breakdown to prevent more damage and costly repairs later on.

Paint Over Laminate or Formica

• Painting provides a quick and easy update for a countertop in good condition. Select a primer formulated for the glazed surfaces of laminate, tile or wood. Sand the countertop to roughen its surface and remove some of the glaze. Apply two coats of primer, then paint.

  Paint a solid paint finish for a clean, streamlined look, or apply a faux, natural-stone paint design using sponge techniques and painting veins to imitate the natural look of stone.

  Protect the painted surface with several coats of polyurethane. It adds durability to the finish as a barrier against moisture and daily cleanups.

Remove the Laminate

• Peel away the layer of laminate to expose the countertop's wood base. As long as there are no signs of water damage, and the wood is in good to excellent condition, the wood base becomes a clean-slate backbone for several countertop finishing options. Consider tiling the countertop in granite, marble, slate, porcelain or tumbled stone, or smooth over the wood base with a thick layer of tinted concrete.

  Leave the wood base bare, sand it smooth, stain it and apply several coats of polyurethane to create a rustic, country countertop. While the grade of wood is less than prime, the natural character of any wood grade, and its already-proven durable quality, make refinishing it a worthwhile option. Edge the countertop with decorative wood trim wide enough to cover the complete thickness of the countertop. The wood trim hides the rough, layered and unfinished edges of the countertop.

  It would be near impossible to match the color of existing cabinetry, so select a stain that complements the kitchen's cabinetry well -- contrast it with other wood tones, or play it against existing cabinetry with a painted finish. Several coats of polyurethane forms a water-tight seal over the wood, and bi-yearly, one-coat applications maintain this protection, year after year.

Refurbish Butcher Block

• Salvaged butcher block finds purpose as an update in a kitchen rejuvenation. While prepping the butcher block for its new home requires only a good cleaning, a sanding and a mineral oil seasoning, the character of its years of use only adds to the rich, warm feel of the kitchen countertop makeover.

Beat It Up

• Countertops take a beating, but what looks like damage can also looks like character. For concrete countertops, beat up the edges and some select areas of the surface to transform its signs of wear and tear into a custom, rustic work surface.

  Uplift a chipped-stone countertop's appearance by hiring a professional countertop specialist to either fill in and repair the damage or assess the integrity of the countertop's surface and edges for a chisel technique. The chisel technique adds rustic character to the stone countertop by using a pneumatic chisel to break off small chunks of the stone's edge to look like a piece directly from nature. After attaining the desired look, seal the chiseled countertop to make it a non-porous surface and to protect the finish against daily use.