Small Kitchen remodeling

[FastStache]

We are looking to redo the laminate countertops and to paint the cabinets in our home.

Is painting the counters with one of those kits the best way? Is it possible to do granite/quartz on a low budget?

For the cabinets they are some sort of light beige, if we were painting a similar color is it still necessary to sand everything first prior to painting?

[feelingroovy]

We just did this exact thing.

We put in granite slabs, cutting them ourselves.  6' polished slabs from Grossman's Bargain outlet (www.bargain-outlets.com/) for $179 each.  The whole thing cost about $100 more than new laminate counters.  They're beautiful.  Not perfect, but nice.

Other options: granite tiles (this would be *much* easier than cutting the slabs), butcherblock from Ikea or Amazon (for us Amazon was cheaper--we did this for our island--b/c it's a 4 hour drive to the nearest Ikea).  If I were to do it again, I'd probably do Lazy Granite tiles: http://www.lazygranite.com/

Yes, you'll have to sand the cabinets if they're already painted, just enough to rough up the old paint so the new paint sticks.  You don't have to sand them down to the wood.

[Greg]

Those coating kits are not the best way to go, the coating will eventually fail.  New laminate can be glued over the old if the old is well-adhered.

I'd sand the cabinets to give the new paint better adhesion as feelingroovy says, and also to knock down rough spots.  A sanding sponge is a great way to go.  If your home is pre-1979, read up on lead paint risks.

[Bruce63]

We also have a small kitchen and were able to use a remnant granite slab.
Remnant slabs are the last slab in a group and aren't useful for a bigger kitchen.
Frequently they are willing to sell that last slab for a lot cheaper.
You just have to find a remnant slab that you like.
They did the whole job for $1800 installed and we are very happy with the result.
 

[PlanB]

1 vote for Ardex concrete countertops. Worth checking out. Essentially, you are skimcoating concrete over existing laminate. No prep needed, sanding in between a few coats, and then sealing. We did ours a few months ago, and it's been great. Wear has not happened, and the best part is, you can set a hot pan down anywhere on your counter!

[Thegoblinchief]

Not a fan of tile anything on counters, unless you like cleaning grout.

[soccerluvof4]

yea i would advise against tiled counters as well. Knock on your granite shops in the area or make a phone call and see what remnants they have laying around.

[Weedy Acres]

For best results on painting cabinets, take time to prep well, and use an appropriate paint.  Here's a great guide on how to do it right: http://www.squidoo.com/paintingcabinets

There are prefab laminate counters at the big box stores if one of their five or so offered colors is suitable for your kitchen color scheme.  $100 or so for an 8' length. 

[FastStache]

1 vote for Ardex concrete countertops. Worth checking out. Essentially, you are skimcoating concrete over existing laminate. No prep needed, sanding in between a few coats, and then sealing. We did ours a few months ago, and it's been great. Wear has not happened, and the best part is, you can set a hot pan down anywhere on your counter!

I have been looking into this idea and I am liking it more and more.

Do you have any sites for paints and sealants for it?

Found this great site for it, http://karapaslaydesigns.com/diy-ardex-concrete-countertops/.

[PlanB]

That is also the site I used for the idea... I had bullnose countertop edges, which is slightly more difficult for application, but I used a slightly more rustic look, and it came out great. I went to Home Depot for concrete sealant. There are food safe applications, as well-- but I don't tend to cut food directly on countertop. Good luck!

[geekette]

Another informative site for DIY Ardex here.

[Mrs. Frugalwoods]

We painted our kitchen cabinets earlier this year and used a de-greaser (Klean Strip TSP Substitute) and a liquid sander/de-glosser (Klean Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser) in lieu of sanding. We handed sanded a few previous projects and these liquids were miracle workers by comparison. Basically as cheap as sandpaper and so much faster. They are stinky, so I recommend doing this with all windows & doors open. The de-greaser is an important step for kitchen cabinets since they accumulate food and hand residue over the years. If you're interested, I wrote up the steps and materials of our project here: http://www.frugalwoods.com/2014/05/03/how-to-refinish-kitchen-cabinets-part-1/

[horsepoor]

Not a fan of tile anything on counters, unless you like cleaning grout.

Actually, I did 12" marble tiles with as narrow as possible of grout lines, and it's not bad at all.  I used an expoxy grout, and it would have been even better if I'd realized when I was grouting the counter that a small amount of water smoothed over the top of the curing epoxy grout smooths it out.  Even without this smoothing, the grout is not much of a problem.  Solid surface would of course have been better, but I got this marble on clearance for $1.60 per tile, and along with other clearance tile for the backsplash, really upgraded the kitchen for about $200.  My aunt has professionally done granite tile (12" as well) with unsanded very narrow grout lines, and it's nearly as good as solid surface.

[sleepyguy]

hmmm, never thought of recementing laminate... seems weird to be honest.  I would just either replace the laminate with a new counter (honestly  it's not THAT hard).  doing a tile job isn't that difficult either unless you got some weird circular patterns or something.

I'm a fan granite though, like the clean look although it is a tad expensive.

[davef]

Another thumbs down for tiled countertops. Cleaning grout is the worst. Wine and other htings will stain it and it is not water proof.
I did a 54 Square ft countertop kitchen in Indiana and payed $2900Intalled for granite in 2010. I just got a quote here in oregon for a slightly smaller kitchen and it was $6500!!
If you are in chicagoland area I reccomend Rogan Granite. I've never painted cabinets, I cant see how it would last.

[Cassie]

Prefab granite is the same as regular granite except it is soooo much cheaper because it comes in pre-cut slabs.  So if your countertop is really long you may have a seam. Even with a seam if installed well you can not see it. We did this in our home & it is beautiful.