Improving worktops

Murmansk

A friend of mine doesn't like her fitted kitchen. She's thought of painting the units a different colour but is worried she'll then be annoyed by the worktops which are standard chipboard with a rounded edge and wood-effect surface.
Without changing all the worktops what other ways are there to improve them at reasonable cost? Are there companies that will re-cover them or maybe paint them with super-tough paint? 

FreeBear

Rustoleum do a worktop "renovation kit". But at £70 for a 1l kit, it is darned expensive. Other options are microcement or any number of resin based kits. But none of them are easy to use (including the Rustoleum kit), and it is all too easy to make a mess of it. Depending on how much worktop there is, and the budget, it may be more cost effective to buy a new one - A 2.4m worktop from B&Q is only £38 or a 3m for £80 from somewhere like Worktop Express.

silvercar

I moved into a house with a nice kitchen but the cheapest of worktops. I had new worktops fitted by one of the national companies that fit granite over your existing worktops. Totally transformed my kitchen and the work was done in a day. Not the cheapest of options but the quality was good.

MGK07

Hey Silvercar,
What was the name of the company that fitted your granite worktops? I’m looking to do this and would rather take a recommendation.
 Many thanks!

GDB2222

I've fitted a couple of new worktops, and it's easier than I expected. These were straight runs. If I needed a mitred joint, I'd have that done before delivery. 

FreeBear

FreeBear said: Other options are microcement or any number of resin based kits.

Bouncing a few ideas around with a friend on upcycling some naff furniture. One of the ideas was faux marbling or serpentine - Seems to have some traction in the USA, so plenty of how-tos & videos on doing it. For a kitchen worktop, a finishing coat of resin would be essential. Apart from the resin, paints & tools can be had for very little money (feathers & makeup brushes come in handy).

peter12345678910

Did buy 2 three metre worktops for £100. A mini circular saw around £30 you can saw one way than turn it around and saw the other side than a sander £20. It is not that expensive, a DIY builder where you supply tools or use a DIY friend or you can do it yourself. And I got 2 male female trims for about £14. I can get you the ebay link if you want.

GDB2222

I really don’t recommend a mini circular saw that can’t get through the thickness of the worktop in one cut. You’d be better off with a handsaw.

FreeBear

peter12345678910 said:  And I got 2 male female trims for about £14.

Those plastic & metal trims look piggin' ugly in any kitchen. A good spot for bacteria to breed too.

If worktops need joining, you can't beat a properly mitred joint (some online suppliers will even do it for you). For bare edges, edging strip can be glued on, and with a modicum of care, will blend in with the rest of the worktop and be a seamless continuation of the laminate surface.

knightstyle

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D-C-FIX-WHITE-BLACK-GREY-MARBLE-STICKY-BACK-PLASTIC-SELF-ADHESIVE-VINYL-FILM/172361115260?hash=item282185e67c:g:~J8AAOSw3z5ckm9x

Murmansk

knightstyle said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D-C-FIX-WHITE-BLACK-GREY-MARBLE-STICKY-BACK-PLASTIC-SELF-ADHESIVE-VINYL-FILM/172361115260?hash=item282185e67c:g:~J8AAOSw3z5ckm9x

Thanks! Not sure what she'd make of THAT!