what to use to make epoxy resin countertops

Are you lot looking for a cheap only effective way to refinish your outdated bath or kitchen countertops? Or maybe y'all have stained or worn laminate that you would love to cover upwardly instead of replacing.

Epoxy resin is a great option for restoring one-time, dated kitchen and bathroom countertops and fifty-fifty some types of flooring.

But doing your own DIY epoxy task can be difficult and fourth dimension-consuming.

In this article, we will take an in-depth await at epoxy resin countertops, the advantages and disadvantages of them, besides every bit what it takes to DIY your own. We'll as well show you some peachy examples of different epoxy countertop projects and so you lot tin can start planning for your own home.

Disclosure:It is important yous understand that we may receive commissions when you lot click our links and make purchases. Nonetheless, this does non impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own nosotros pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info meet our disclosure argument.

What Is an Epoxy Resin Countertop

Unlike laminate, granite, or Corian, epoxy countertops are non something you can buy off the rack from a home improvement store.

Epoxy resin is actually a liquid–well ii liquids, actually–that must be poured in place on top of an existing countertop. This can be washed as a DIY projection or completed by a professional. Simply the entire procedure of creating and finishing the epoxy countertops will be washed in your home.

Epoxy is made by mixing a liquid resin with a liquid hardener.

These two materials begin a chemical reaction when mixed together. The product of this chemic reaction is a stone-hard substance that can stand up to rut, scratches, and other types of damage.

These features brand epoxy the perfect candidate for utilize on countertops.

Colors and Patterns

Some other nifty feature of this substance is that it comes in a broad variety of colors and tints.

Past mixing plain resin and hardener, you will become a articulate, glossy stop. This blazon of epoxy is perfect for sealing or restoring wood countertops and cement. Or for use over patterned contact paper, painted counters, or other surfaces you desire to be seen.

You can besides add white or colored pigments to create opaque epoxy to hibernate blemished and worn countertops.

Pouring one color of epoxy in a pattern on top of a different colored base volition give you a unique piece of art. Y'all can even utilise this method to recreate the look of granite or marble.

Considering resins come in hundreds of colors, and unlike finishing techniques allow for unlike sheens and textures, there is no limit to what epoxy countertops can look like.

The Advantages of an Epoxy Resin Countertop

Epoxy resin countertops are becoming more and more popular. And that'southward largely because of all the advantages this type of counter has to offering.

Durable and Long Lasting

Epoxy resin is durable.

One time cured, information technology has a force of over 10,000 psi, meaning it can withstand x,000 pounds of pressure concentrated on a unmarried square inch.

So don't worry about dropping your cast atomic number 26 frying pan or favorite soup pot on this surface. It will be only fine.

That extra difficult cease also ways epoxy won't scratch or chip easily. And that ultra-glossy finish will stay brilliant for years.

Seamless

1 of the biggest downfalls of laminate and even expensive granite and marble is that, with a big enough counter, you volition become seam lines.

Non only do these seams disrupt the pattern of the counter, but they provide an abrasive scissure for food and debris to hide in.

Because epoxy goes on as a liquid, there are no seam lines. So no thing how huge your counter, you end up with a single continuous slice from 1 terminate to the other.

High-Gloss Finish

Yous know that cute, high-gloss stop of a true marble countertop? You can emulate information technology perfectly with epoxy resin.

Once cured, epoxy shines like nix else. Not only is this stop gorgeous, but it is super like shooting fish in a barrel to keep clean. In that location is no texture for food particles or liquids to go caught in.

Of class, if yous want to take a different approach and create a matte or textured counter, you lot absolutely can with this versatile product.

Space Pattern Options

The simplest way to use epoxy resin is equally a clear, gloss stop. In fact, cypher beats the look you tin can become from an epoxy resin for wood countertops. But that is non by any means the merely way to use it.

Color resins provide an opaque stop to match whatsoever kitchen aesthetic. Yous can even mix colors together during the application process to create fine art or imitate natural finishes.

Adding glitter or metallic resin adds yet another design option.

All of these options hateful epoxy resin provides the widest array of design choices of all counter material types.

Heat Resistant

In addition to existence resistant to cracks and scratches, epoxy resin countertops are too resistant to estrus.

Spilling boiling water or hot food on them won't damage the terminate. Even setting a hot pan down on these counters isn't probable to cause a problem.

Still, it is best to avoid whatsoever prolonged contact with hot objects. Don't make a addiction of leaving hot pans on the epoxy for long periods and make certain yous clean upwardly whatsoever hot spills every bit presently as they happen.

Non-Toxic

Because creating epoxy requires a heat-driven chemical reaction, the materials practice put off a lot of VOCs during the installation process.

But, once the resin has cured, it is completely non-toxic and food-safe.

That means y'all don't have to worry about any chemicals leaching into your food from the terminate or any toxic glue finding its way onto your plate. In fact, you lot could prepare your meal directly on the countertop surface and non take to worry about toxins or scratching the counter.

Piece of cake to Intendance For

Lastly, epoxy resin countertops are incredibly easy to care for.

You tin can apply whatever type of cleaner on them without worrying about doing damage to the end. But, considering epoxy has such a hard, not-porous surface, deep cleaning is rarely required. Typically, using a nutrient-safety surface cleaner and rag will suffice.

Plus, the glossy sheen you go afterward the liquid hardens will stay that bright for years. And in one case it does commencement to dull, yous can bring it back to life by applying a simple coat of mineral oil.

The Disadvantages of an Epoxy Resin Countertop

There is a lot to love about epoxy counters. But there are some downfalls to this cheap yet durable product–most having to do with the installation process.

Not Stain-Proof

While heavy pains and sharp knives won't phase a well-cured epoxy counter, dark liquids definitely can.

Luckily, equally long as the spill is addressed quickly, at that place shouldn't be any evidence left behind. Sauces, red wine, and other securely colored liquids that are left on the counter long enough to soak through the difficult surface, still, could exit their marking indefinitely.

Challenging to Get Perfect

Getting a beautiful, brag-worthy epoxy counter takes some skill.

First, you lot have to measure the resin and hardener accurately in order to produce a rock-hard finished product. Too much of one or the other tin lead to a terminate that is tacky to the touch.
If you are using color, y'all'll want to experiment with how much pigment to add to become the exact shade you desire. And then you'll need to replicate that corporeality exactly for each coat.
Lastly, you'll need to apply the liquid in sparse, even coats. Go likewise thick and the chemical reaction will leave you with bubbles and an uneven surface. Get as well sparse and yous'll be at it for weeks.

None of this is to say that doing your own epoxy countertop is impossible, but yous should educate yourself on the process. If you want to go this route, have a look at this DIY epoxy countertops tutorial, get-go.

Messy Application Process

Even if you practice get everything right, you volition still brand a mess.

Getting all surfaces level and fully coating the edges of your counters means that epoxy will become everywhere.

Make certain to take the time to put plastic down and move all portable appliances out of the room earlier you brainstorm. You'll as well desire gloves and protective clothing for yourself.

Very Difficult to Remove

The rock-hard nature of epoxy is an awesome characteristic… until y'all become it somewhere you don't desire it.

Once hardened, epoxy resin is nearly impossible to remove. This is true whether it is on your carpet or your cabinets. Once more, this is why roofing surfaces with plastic and covering your peel is so important.

This too means that if you let your epoxy counters harden and then alter your mind, the merely way you are getting rid of them is by ripping out the counters themselves.

The Process for Making Epoxy Resin Countertops

DIY epoxy countertops are a fun and beautiful way to revive your outdated kitchen or bathroom. Merely they can exist a claiming.

If yous are interested in doing the chore yourself, the steps beneath will requite you an thought of the process. If you aren't so sure of your skill and would rather guarantee an attractive consequence, hiring a professional person may be the better fashion to get.

Clean and Prep Your Surface

Remove all dust and debris from your countertops. Any particles left could cause bumps in your terminal production. And, even worse, if you are using a articulate epoxy, debris left behind volition be visible forever.

The concluding affair you lot desire is that drip of tomato plant sauce to be eternally entombed in your otherwise pristine new counters.

So take your time and actually scrub the tops, sides, and undersides of every surface the epoxy volition touch.

Yous will as well need to protect every surface not receiving epoxy with plastic sheeting. This includes your sink, whatsoever appliances in the way, and the floor. Yous can use painter's tape to mask off areas, too.

Pro tip:To prep laminate countertops, you'll need to sand the surface to remove the height sheen layer. This will clinch the epoxy adheres to the surface correctly.

Choose Your Pattern

If your former countertops are fine to look at but are in demand of a facelift, a articulate epoxy finish is a bully option. This is doubly truthful for wood surfaces that y'all desire to make more durable.

But if your counters are damaged, stained, or are covered in laminate, you'll need to choose a colour pigment to add to your mix.

You can utilise a single, solid color, or get creative by mixing in stripes or splotches of other colors.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are prepared with all the materials, measurements, and take practiced the techniques beforehand.

Mix Your Epoxy

The resin and hardener need to be mixed at the right ratio in lodge for the concluding product to cure correctly.

This ratio differs based on the brand of product you are using, and so be sure to reference the canteen labels. To avoid any problems, always go your resin and epoxy from the same company.

If yous are using color pigment, measure out out the powder or liquid very carefully so you can use it in the same ratio for each mix you lot create. Otherwise, you may end up with 1 pour being darker than the next.

If you are using more than one color, mix each in their own container and exist certain you lot have enough of each to complete the offset coat.

Pro Tip: Epoxy takes virtually xx minutes to begin hardening, which means you will need to create your mixes right before yous begin the pouring process.

Pour Your First Layer

Pour your mix (or base mix if you are using multiple colors) over your counter in a uniform blueprint. Then smooth it out using a trowel or pigment roller.

Make certain to cover the edges every bit needed. Y'all tin can catch any runoff with your epoxy container and re-pour information technology on other areas of the counter.

If you are adding additional colors, at present would exist the time to do that.

Your goal with this commencement layer is to become equally thin as possible to create a solid seal betwixt the epoxy and the counter surface.

Allow Time to Cure

As presently as you have covered the unabridged surface and gotten it evenly spread, employ a heat gun or blow dryer to target whatever bubbles.

Past gently moving oestrus over the surface of the moisture epoxy, you lot tin can coax the bubbling to the surface where they will disappear.

The epoxy will begin to harden inside 20 to xxx minutes. Whatsoever bubbles that remain in the liquid at this signal will be trapped, then make sure you work quickly and diligently.

Your surface should exist fully hardened after 48 hours.

Apply the Adjacent Layer

Double-check the instructions on your specific production, merely you should be good to add your next layer after 48 hours.

The start layer should feel difficult to the affect. If it is still tacky, you'll want to wait a lilliputian longer.

Employ the same technique to pour your second layer, but experience gratis to make this 1 a touch thicker now that a level surface has been established. Ideally, y'all'll want nearly an eighth of an inch of epoxy full. You lot can typically reach this with just ii coats.

Note: For some multi-color techniques, you will apply a clear coat every bit your final layer.

Stop with Polyurethane

You lot tin brainstorm removing the tape and plastic from your space as soon as the final layer begins to fix.

Later on another 48 hours, your epoxy should be fully cured.

Adding four to 5 coats of polyurethane on top of it will help protect the shine and add to the durability of your new counter.

Allow at least 12 hours for the poly to dry earlier using the surface.

Epoxy Countertop Ideas

The number of ways to use epoxy to refinish your counters is truly countless.

To help yous navigate through all the possibilities, we have compiled a number of beautiful finished project ideas to give you some inspiration.

Clear Epoxy

With clear epoxy, you tin can utilize just almost anything as the base for your countertop design.

The crafty DIYers from Farmhouseish used chalk paper and painted information technology to look like granite. Then used articulate epoxy to requite it the correct sheen and durability to rival that expensive rock.

Clear epoxy tin besides be used to immortalize objects, like this bar summit filled with beer caps.

A more archetype take on this technique is to put clear epoxy over forest or butcher cake to preserve and enhance the beauty of the wood, like this beautiful kitchen isle.

Pigmented Epoxy

If you really want to add some serious pizzazz to your counters, colour pigments are the way to go.

One elementary method for utilizing colored epoxy for a countertop is to add together metallic powder to a uniform base. This cute galaxy-style counter uses blackness colour pigment and three different metal powders.

Yous can also employ secondary colored epoxies to emulate the look of natural stone, similar this simple marble stop or this very flashy granite finish.

When you add multiple colors to the mix, there are no rules to how carried abroad y'all can get.

This modern counter features a white base of operations with black, grey, and rust accents. It has an heart-catching and beautiful expect that even the novice epoxy DIYer could accomplish with a little practice.

This more than advanced design has an awesome marine vibe and brings a lot of bright colors to the room.

Finally, nosotros leave you with this beach-way bar top, just to prove at that place is zilch you can't exercise with epoxy.

Epoxy Resin Countertop Cost

Have we inspired you even so?

Before yous run to the store to first buying supplies or telephone call your local epoxy experts, information technology is a good idea to empathize how much it volition price to install epoxy countertops.

DIY Epoxy Countertops

Doing your own epoxy job will certainly salve you some coin.

In general, supplies will cost yous around $v per square foot. Lower-quality hardeners and resin will be closer to $iii per square foot, but volition not exist as durable or like shooting fish in a barrel to work with. Higher-quality products, on the other hand, will toll nearly $8 per square pes.

Even for the highest-quality mixes, yous will spend less than you would with granite or marble but will exist getting a similarly durable and beautiful product.

In improver to the materials for the epoxy, you will besides need to consider the expense associated with prepping your counter surface and protecting your cabinets and floor.

By far, the most costly part of doing your counters yourself comes with the time commitment.

Proficient Installed Epoxy Countertops

Getting an good to do your countertop refinish for yous is a corking way to save on fourth dimension, but you tin can expect to pay a lot more for the overall projection.

Near contractors who offer epoxy work accuse around $50 per hour, with some charging a fiddling less, and some much more.

When yous consider the additional cost of materials, this comes out to most $100 per square foot, according to Caesarstone.

Of course, if you are dreaming of an elaborate epoxy design, a skilled contractor will be more than than worth the extra money.

How to Intendance for Your Epoxy Countertop

Epoxy resin countertops are fairly easy to intendance for but do require some maintenance.

Daily Maintenance

Equally we mentioned, any household surface cleaner volition work on your epoxy counter. Just be sure to avert abrasive cleaners and powders.

If you take a high-gloss finish, you'll probably want to find a proficient streak-free cleaner to go on on hand. If your countertops are in your kitchen, make certain to use not-toxic cleaners only.

Dealing with Scratches and Stains

While it is unlikely that you will scratch your epoxy, it isn't completely unheard of. Luckily, information technology is fairly simple to vitrify out scratches on this kind of surface.

To do this, apply polishing paste to the affected expanse and use a buffing pad on a drill. Move in a circular move over the scratch. Start with a coarser pad and motility to a finer grade until the cease matches the rest of your counter.

Stains are something you are much more likely to have to deal with on an epoxy surface.

The simplest fashion to remove stains is by combining h2o and baking soda to create a paste. Apply this to the stained surface area and look at to the lowest degree v minutes.

Use a cloth to wipe off the paste.

More stubborn stains may require treatment with acetone.

Apply a little acetone or pigment thinner to a cloth and gently rub the stain in a circular motility. Continue adding pressure until the stain comes out.

Long Term Care

Rubbing your counters down with mineral oil every few months will help them keep their bright sheen. Beyond this, they shouldn't crave much time or attempt to maintain.

The Wrap Upwards

Epoxy resin countertops are a beautiful way to transform your kitchen and bathroom.

They are durable, heat and scratch-resistant, and come up in a huge variety of designs and colors. But they can be messy to install and difficult to practise yourself.

If a DIY job sounds like too much to take on, having a professional practice your install is another great pick.

If yous have any questions nigh epoxy countertops or want to share pictures of your own work, please leave a annotate below!

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Source: https://www.essentialhomeandgarden.com/epoxy-resin-countertops/