Kitchen Countertop Repairs
What kind of kitchen countertops do you have? That’s the first question you’ll be asked when you walk into a hardware store to buy the provisions you need for kitchen countertop repairs you want to do yourself. DIY projects around the home are made much simpler if you can provide the right information to people from whom you seek advice.
They are the experts, and they can help you buy the appropriate materials and tools that will ensure you do the job right. Where kitchen countertop repairs are concerned, you’ll make your life easier by arming yourself with information.
Plastic laminate
Laminate is practical and attractive and comparatively inexpensive. One of its disadvantages, however, is that if you drop something on it hard enough, it can break, and if you put something on it that’s too hot, it can melt and/or scorch. Kitchen countertop repairs of superficial burns on laminate can occasionally be done with crème cleansers, but anything that breaks through the surface can present more of a challenge. You can try to find a matching pattern and color but ideally, you would have retained a portion of the original laminate when the kitchen was originally built. If so, you can cut the damage away and apply the new laminate using appropriate adhesives.
Lifting/peeling laminate requires more attention to detail. It usually denotes that the substrate is in need of repair. If dampness has caused rotting beneath the laminate, re-gluing won’t give effective results. You’ll need to coat the underside of the laminate, as well as the substrate, with contact cement. When tacky, join together. Follow all manufacturers’ instructions. Be sure to apply the adhesive over the entire surface on both the laminate and substrate and when you have joined them, tap with something like the handle of a screwdriver to enable any air bubbles to disperse. Apply a weight on top of the newly laminated area until bonding is complete; a few hours is advised.
Stone countertops
Yes, stone is a lovely material for the kitchen but it’s prone to staining by water and food, and can also become dull over time. When it comes time to repair your kitchen countertop, a commercial sealer or a coating of wax will offer prevention but if the surface is already stained, try to polish it with a product specially formulated for stone.
Usually it will be a non-abrasive cream. Due to stone’s porosity, some stains will be more than superficial and you’ll need to try a poultice powder which, when mixed with water, penetrates the stone, and reabsorbs the stain. Speak to your retailer or home DIY consultant as there are specific poultices for specific stains. For scratches in softer stone, you might achieve success with stone polishing creams. Harder stone surfaces like granite and slate call for substances such as pumice or honing powder, manufactured specifically for this purpose.
Damage caused by food acids requires repolishing. As with sanding prior to painting, you would start with a more abrasive substance to smooth out the etched area and then finish with a soft polishing cream. Wax to re-seal. For actual breaks,epoxy can be used to repair kitchen countertops of stone, to seal the broken piece back into place. If the stone surface is chipped and the pieces are missing, a clear or colored epoxy that is similarly colored to the stone on your countertop can be used. For large pieces that have broken away, you’re best advised to have a professional do the job for you as glue will not be successful.
Wood
Wood is, in some ways, simpler to repair than stone or laminate. Scratches can be sanded back and either refilled or just re-stained. Wood will need a repaint after a few years. If the surface was not treated appropriately in the first instance, it may be subject to swelling due to water absorption. This will need replacing. As always, consult a professional before commencing kitchen countertop repairs. Their advice will save you money and time, as well as the frustration of having to repeat any processes that you may not carry out correctly at first.
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