How to Resurface Kitchen Counters for a Real Granite Look

Wash the laminate surface with water and a mild, nonabrasive cleanser. Rinse the countertop with water to remove all cleaning products and residue. Wipe the laminate surface with a clean, dry towel. Let the surface air-dry for a minimum of one hour.

Attach painter's tape and drop cloths around the counter edges to prevent spills or paint accidents on other surfaces.

Rough the surface of the laminate countertop by manually sanding it lightly with 150-grit sandpaper. Use caution to prevent gouging or removing too much of the surface if you use an electric sander. Remove the sanding dust with a damp towel and let the countertop air-dry for one hour.

Paint a single coat of flash bond primer smoothly across the laminate surface. Air-dry the primer for a minimum of four hours before applying a second coat in the same manner.

Paint a single coat of semi-gloss latex for glass surfaces over the laminate surface after letting the primer dry completely. Air-dry the latex paint for a minimum of 24 hours before applying the granite-coloring paints.

Test your granite painting technique on a clean piece of wood or cardboard. Dip a crumpled piece of paper lightly into one contrasting latex paint color. Gently dab the paper onto the surface to create a granite effect. Let the paint dry completely and repeat the process with a second contrasting color.

Apply the two contrasting paint colors to the laminate surface, using the same crumpled paper technique on your test piece. Let the faux granite paint application dry for a minimum of 24 hours before sealing it.

Seal the granite painted laminate surface with a clear acrylic. Let the acrylic sealer air-dry for a minimum of 48 hours before using the counter.