Countertop Update - Bathroom

Deborah Perrin
by Deborah Perrin
7 Materials
$75
4 Days
Medium

We were finishing the updates to our old house that we were trying to sell & my eyes fell on the ugly pink 90's counter. As we already needed to replace the broken sink, I figured it was a good time to do something about it as well. The pink certainly didn't go with the gray-blue tones bathroom. Painting time - 15 minutes per coat, 24 hours between coats x3 - which is why this took me 4 days to do! Total cost - around $75.

Here's the before shot - yikes! How did I live with this for 13 years?

I started by lightly sanding the linoleum, then taping the wall around - backsplash wasn't going to be replaced, so it was painted with the rest. At this point, I was using a foam roller. I used Rustoleium Counter paint - bought at Lowes for $20. Seriously smelly - have good ventilation!

First coat done! Shiney! Although you can do a second coat after 1 hour or after 24 - I decided to wait the 24.

Following the directions on the can, I sanded the first coat until it was dull - and in that process, I discovered a lot of bubbles. Thinking it was the foam roller, I switched to a soft brush for the next coat.

The second coat streaked a bit. So, I sanded one more time & decided to go with the pattern I seemed to be making. This was after the 3rd & final coat - I used a 3 inch foam brush & did it in a rough, horizontal to the wall pattern. On purpose this time. :)

After drying yet another 24 hours, I cut around the edge of the tape with a box cutter so I didn't peel my fresh paint when I took the tape off.

Final look. I waited the 3 days the directions on the paint said I needed to for curing the paint, then installed the new sink & caulked around it. I found an identical sink at our local Habitat for Humanity for $5 - and a new faucet at Lowes for $35.

As this was our house that we were selling, I can't tell you how long it lasted for long-term. I finished & we used the bathroom for 3 months before the house sold. It looked the same when we left.

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  • Debra Holland Debra Holland on Jul 18, 2019

    Don’t you wish you’d done this when you first moved in? Enjoy your new home!

  • Kathy Smith Kathy Smith on Jul 18, 2019

    Great job can u make it so it is high glass look?

  • Rochelle Peel Rochelle Peel on Jul 25, 2019

    What sand grade worked for you

    And thanks for sharing

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  • Lisa West Lisa West on Jul 25, 2019

    Very nice. Great job.

  • Barb Jenkins Barb Jenkins on Jul 25, 2019

    I have hideous 1940s or 1950s melamine type kitchen counters. Thanks for making me aware of this product. I can't wait to give them a makeover!

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