Can I Use Liquid Acrylic to Make a Countertop?

Materials

• Acrylic countertops are made with an acrylic resin, which is basically a liquid plastic that hardens when mixed with the proper materials. One of the advantages to acrylic is that it can be used to refinish an existing countertop or it can be used for a completely new countertop. Some acrylics are blended with a concrete mixture to create a durable structure with a decorative touch. Acrylic is lighter than natural stone materials and is fairly easy to install.

Measuring and Cutting

• The process of preparing an acrylic countertop for installation involves creating a mold to shape the countertop to meet the specifications for your kitchen. Building a wooden mold to frame the acrylic countertop allows the resin to harden in place. You don't have to have an exact fit when pouring the resin into the mold, but the closer you are on your measurements to begin with, the less cutting you will have to do later. You can either create a mold and then lift the countertop into place once dry or build a mold in place where the countertop sits and later remove the wood frame.

Mixing

• Mixing the acrylic resin is a matter of getting the right combination of water, acrylic, hardener and whatever other materials you use. If combining the acrylic with a concrete mixture, the acrylic should account for about 30 percent of the liquid and water should account for the remaining 70 percent. Mix them together in the same way normal concrete is poured. If the manufacturer of the acrylic calls for a catalyst or hardener to make the acrylic dry harder and faster, this needs to be applied as well.

  Acrylic also can be used as a layer over other materials, such as natural stone. Place the acrylic and the stone inside the wooden countertop mold, and cover it with layers of acrylic resin until you reach the top of the mold, leaving a smooth and hardened layer on top.

Finishing

• One of the advantages to using acrylic is that it dries with a fairly smooth and polished finish. This finish eliminates the need for any additional finishes to the acrylic. However, the acrylic may not necessarily dry as smoothly as you wish. Using a fine sandpaper to lightly buff out any imperfections helps give the countertop a finished look.