How to Paint Your Countertops and Increase the Value of Your Home

If you're contemplating putting your house on the market you may want to make a few upgrades to increase the value of your home. Kitchen remodels are a popular and sometimes expensive way to get more out of your house, but they don't have to break the bank. There is an inexpensive and easy way to make your kitchen pop and you can do it yourself in just one weekend!

Plastic laminate counters, so popular in the 70s and 80s, fill many homes. And while structurally there may be nothing wrong with them they may lose their appeal over time. The cost of replacing counters can cost hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars depending on the amount of space you have and the type of countertops you use. A simple refinishing project can cost under $100 dollars for supplies and you can do it all yourself.

The secret is paint. That's right - you're going to paint your countertops. And for an added element of beauty you can apply stencils or a faux finish to make your counters one of a kind. The first step is preparing your tired counters. Your counters need to be cleaned thoroughly with a detergent and then stripped of any grease and oils with a denatured alcohol. All of these supplies can be found at your local home store. There are two schools of thought on the next step. Some remodelers suggest sanding the counter down with a 120 grit sandpaper, just enough to rough up the counters and smooth away any chips. Other experts say that the primer will stick to the counter without sanding. If there are any serious blemishes in your counters you should use a wood filler to fill in the cracks and then sand it down to a smooth finish.