A wood covering must be thoroughly sealed or oiled for stain- and moisture-resistance. Then you add a front edge made from the same material or use a solid hardwood edge to cap the layered edges of the plywood. In short, you cut the main surface pieces to fit and glue them to the old counter (perhaps with screws driven up from below the old counter). This is a very custom makeover that requires some basic woodworking skills and tools. This material has a thicker top layer than plywood (for durability and repairs), and it comes in 4-by-8-foot sheets, just like regular plywood. Solid hardwood is more durable and repairable than plywood (with its very thin top veneer layer), but plywood comes in larger pieces and is less expensive.īamboo plywood offers the best of both worlds. You can cover your old counters with wide planks of solid hardwood or even hardwood or bamboo plywood. Apply contact cement to each surface and let them dry to tack. Separate the laminate from the base with a piece of wood as a riser. Use contact cement to reapply the laminate. If the countertop is delaminating, the tile will eventually lift up. If you've always wanted butcher block or are drawn to the beauty of a real wood countertop, now's your chance to have it. At the top, make sure that the laminate is not peeling away from the particleboard toward the edges. To minimize stains and deep-set dirt, be sure to seal the grout as soon as possible after installing the tile, and re-apply the sealer every few years, as recommended by the manufacturer. Nicks and cracks in the surface can be repaired, but concrete must be sealed regularly to protect against stains, water, and other damage, especially from highly acidic liquids. Tile is extremely durable and generally easy to clean, but the grout joints are prone to staining and collecting grime. If your counters can accommodate a little extra thickness, it's best to start with a layer of 1/4-inch cement board glued to the countertop, and lay the tile over that. When it comes to marble tile countertops, the sky’s the limit However, a few things to keep in mind before starting your project. Not only are marble tiles more budget-friendly than marble slabs, but they also offer a wide range of color options. Tile can be installed directly on top of the old counters, provided they are flat and are stable enough to prevent the new tile from cracking. Installing marble tile countertops can be a great DIY project. Natural stone tile also works for this application, but the stone must be sealed periodically to protect against stains. Your first batch will be the biggest, but you still need much less than you think. This makes your concrete mix much smoother. Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile are the most stain- and heat-resistant, plus they come in a vast range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Put water (and dye) in your bucket first and then add the concrete. Tile is great for covering all kinds of surfaces-walls, floors, and showers-and there's no reason why you can't use it to cover up your old countertop. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.Turn the screws with a cordless screwdriver to secure the strips in place. Place 1 14 in (3.2 cm) drywall screws in each hole. Drill a hole in both ends of the strips, directly over the cabinet frame. I have porcelain tiles as on of the counters in my showroom AND procelain tile all over the floors.įeel free to email me if you've any additional questions. Remember to keep the end strips 2 in (5.1 cm) from the cabinet’s edge. They haven't a clue what really works and what doesn't. Some people post their opinions, not facts, and it irks me. The tiles were porcelain and the grout had a latex additive mixed in - problem solved. Had the counters become a cleaning nightmare I would've have been put out with the garbage. Lastly, I had tile on my counters for 11 years without any problems. the great news is that grout can easily be scraped out and replaced for those areas that get stained. Use a grout that has a powdered additive already in the grout. I have installed thousands of square of tile and I promise you that the porcelain is a great choice.Ĭoncerning the grout joints, I agree that the large grout joints are installed by hacks - those that pretend to be professionals! For your application, use a 3/16" grout joint and DO NOT use those idiotic spacers! If it looks good to your eye, then it looks good to everyone. Using marble on a countertop is a HUGE mistake, it's way too porous and requires much maintenance. I have used porcelain for many applications including commercial & industrial areas. The person that stated the porcelain tile is too soft couldn't be any further from the truth. Libbie, porcelain tiles have a surface that's virtually indestructible.
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