How should I makeover these laminate counters?
by
Elaine M
+1
These are my laminate countertops. They start under the cabinet then go to a seam then on to the rest of the counter. The other laminate countertops are one continuous piece that squares at the edge of the counter. I wanted to create a subway tile backsplash from under the cabinet to the top of the countertop. Can I sand down the laminate then use adhesive and grout to put on the tile? I cannot get new countertops yet, but am wondering if the entire laminate pieces will have to be removed in order to redo the countertops. I don't want to waste my time, energy and resources with have to be torn out and redone when I get new countertops. Just need some ideas of what to do. Not sure how new countertops will go on either on top of my laminate or ripped out first then put new ones on. Please help!
It’s possible to tile over a plastic laminate backsplash if the backsplash has square, rather than molded or rounded, edges. Here’s how to go about it:
Clean and dry the backsplash to remove any dirt or grease.
Sand the plastic laminate with coarse (50-80 grit) sandpaper, so the tile adhesive will adhere to it. An orbital sander works great for this, but be careful not to damage the countertop or wall.
Wipe down the backsplash with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
Cover the countertop with Kraft paper or plastic sheeting, held in place by painter’s tape, to prevent the tile adhesive from adhering to it.
Apply thin-set adhesive to the backsplash with a notched trowel, then tile the backsplash.
Allow the tile adhesive to cure overnight.
Apply grout, sponge off any excess, and allow to dry.
Good luck with your project,
Chalk Board Paint? That's what I'm thinking about doing with mine....
When you have new counter tops put in they take out the old counter entirely. Backsplash included. So whatever you decide to do will be taken out anyway. If you want to try it there are paint kits you can buy for kitchen/bathroom countertops. Or you can do exactly what William suggested and tile the back splash and the counter top. You might find that you like the tile and keep it instrad of replacing it. When I redid my kitchen counters and peninsula I went the poor man's route and used granite floor tiles. It came out beautiful! That was 5 years ago and it's still shiny and beautiful. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
There is a wonderful tutorial on the blog In My own style on how to update a counter top.