DIY countertop repair

The surface of the table is usually the most vulnerable part of kitchen sets.

It most often breaks down due to the fact that its surface area is large and is, as a rule, in plain sight.

In addition, damage to countertops can be attributed to manufacturing defects or improper installation.

How do I repair a countertop?

Repairing the countertop is not always a viable solution, sometimes it is easier and cheaper to buy a new table or replace the entire front part when it comes to the surface of the kitchen set.

First of all, assess the severity of the damage, as well as how much replacement is necessary in this case.

Think about how smart it would be, because replacing a countertop in a kitchen is a painstaking and time-consuming task.

If the fixing of the table top is damaged, it is quite easy to fix it. It should also be easy to remove the crack near the edge of the countertops.

However, if the crack cuts the surface along the entire perimeter, it makes no sense to think about repairing. The same goes for glass countertops.

If the glass is cracked, the seam will be very noticeable when gluing. And in any case, even if everything is held tightly, the appearance will suffer greatly.

So the replacement is inevitable in this case.

• Glass. As mentioned, glass is easier to replace than repair. And in the end, the replacement will come out cheaper.
• Marble or Granite: To correct cracks in these surfaces, you will need chips of the same material. They are mixed with a synthetic transparent adhesive solution, and then the cracks are clogged with the resulting mixture. The solution hardens and sets - and the cracks stop growing further.
• Wood or chipboard. These materials are the most beneficial in terms of renovation. In the case of them, everything will depend on the severity of the damage.

Usually, damage to chipboard countertops in the kitchen is due to the fact that the material is extremely sensitive to high temperatures and moisture.

So you would be very smart if you applied silicone countertop sealant to the seams of such furniture before use.

It is also advisable for them to process the edges of the countertop after the repair work, and these measures will not damage other furniture in the kitchen made of chipboard.

Let's remember! Among chipboard countertops, moisture is the biggest problem. Kitchen countertops can flake or swell. Outwardly, this manifests itself as a looseness of the coating, as well as in an increase in the height of the table surface.

In this case, replacement is most likely not the only way out.

To return the countertop to its original state in this case, we remove the sawdust that formed as a result of delamination.

Also, the surface must be well dried. Then we mix sawdust and PVA emulsion to a thick consistency. Fill the voids with the resulting mixture.

At the same time, we tighten the countertop as tightly as possible so that it turns out to be less swollen and more dense.

And then we leave the product under the press until dry, which will take about 24 hours.

We clean the dried surface and cover it with silicone, and then fix it with a bar. It so happens that not too deep scratches are formed on the chipboard surface.

Getting rid of them is much easier. It is enough to sand the surface with sandpaper of different grit levels: first with P120, then with a finer one, and finally sand with P360.

It is highly recommended to use at least 3 types of sandpaper.To give the surface a gloss and polish, we go over the sandpaper with a piece of felt.

Plastic does not swell and does not get wet, but it can crack or a piece can break off the tabletop, especially somewhere on the corner.

To repair this kind of damage, you will need a special adhesive for plastic.

It holds together excellently, but it is expensive and requires a glue gun to apply.

However, if the damaged surface is not too thick, it is likely that ordinary colorless glue - Moment or Superglue - will grab parts of the countertop.

Let's remember! It is best to use Titanium for this purpose. It is mixed with a piece of plastic previously ground into powder, and then the edges of the crack are sealed. The seam line will not be too noticeable in this case. Titanium takes several hours to dry and be sure to fix the surface in some way.

By the way, an excellent option would be to replace the countertop with ceramic tiles or artificial stone.

At the same time, it will be easy to make repairs: if one of the tiles cracks, you can simply remove it by inserting a new one instead.

In case you need a replacement, be sure to purchase some spare tiles from the store, which will certainly come in handy in the kitchen.

Due to mechanical damage or wear and tear of the kitchen countertop, a series of restoration work is required to help return the countertop to an attractive working look. We will analyze how to repair a countertop with our own hands in this article.

The countertop is an indispensable element of the kitchen, which performs several important functions:

• work surface for cooking, cutting food;
• using a countertop to accommodate kitchen equipment;
• in some kitchens, the countertop is used as a table;
• in addition to the main functions, there is an additional - the aesthetic function of the countertop - the decoration of the kitchen.

Kitchen countertop requirements:

• resistance to scratches, impacts and mechanical damage;
• thermal stability - the tabletop must withstand high temperatures, in the event of spilling boiling water or the operation of heating electrical appliances;
• resistance to ultraviolet radiation, if the kitchen is on the sunny side;
• a sink is mounted in the surface of the countertop, therefore moisture resistance is another requirement;
• the worktop should harmoniously fit into the overall design of the kitchen.

Depending on the material from which the tabletop is made, there are:

• wooden countertops,
• plastic countertops,
• chipboard countertops,
• laminated countertops,
• glass countertops,
• artificial stone countertops,
• marble countertops.

1. Wooden countertops are made from natural wood. These countertops have a number of advantages:

• variety of forms,
• natural and natural appearance,
• easy restoration,
• warmth and environmental friendliness.

Disadvantages of wood kitchen countertops:

• the ease of ignition of wood makes this item an unsafe element of the kitchen,
• the wooden countertop gets dirty easily, therefore it requires additional coating with special means,
• when using soft wood for the manufacture of countertops, after cutting the food or accidental damage, scratches and marks remain,
• the cost of wooden countertops is quite high compared to chipboard or plastic countertops.

2. Plastic countertop is an inexpensive and easy option for the kitchen.

Benefits of a plastic countertop:

• ease of care and cleaning,
• the ability to manufacture any structures, for example, wood or stone,
• affordable cost,
• ease of restoration,
• resistance to mechanical damage.

Disadvantages of using a plastic countertop:

• plastic - highly flammable, therefore it is an unsafe material for the kitchen,
• the plastic countertop does not tolerate high temperatures and melts easily,
• the plastic tabletop does not withstand heavy loads.

A chipboard worktop is the most common option. There are two types of such countertops:

• impregnated with resin,
• with the presence of a plastic coating.

The first option is able to withstand high temperatures and allows you to put dishes with only cooked food without fear of the surface of the countertop.

A plastic-coated countertop is the most inexpensive and optimal option. These countertops are matte and glossy. The properties of the countertop depend on the quality of the plastic. It is better to choose Italian or German countertops. Three types of chipboard are used for manufacturing:

Laminated chipboard is characterized by environmentally friendly safety and harmlessness to human health.

Glass worktops create an appealing look for the kitchen and expand the space.

The use of glass countertops has the following advantages:

• withstanding heavy loads,
• absolute moisture resistance,
• the use of tempered glass, which prevents the risk of damage to the table top,
• resistance to high temperatures,
• variety of colors and finishes,
• antiallergenic and harmless,
• kitchen design decoration.

Disadvantages of using a glass countertop:

• the glass tabletop cannot be restored, if a crack appears, the entire surface will have to be replaced,
• when installing kitchen utensils, the glass emits characteristic sounds that many do not like,
• the complexity of caring for a glass countertop is another drawback, the glass must be constantly rubbed and treated with special agents,
• the cost of glass countertops is quite high.

Artificial stone countertops:

• absolute water resistance,
• heat resistance,
• the absence of pores frees the countertop from dirt,
• strength and durability allow long-term use of the tabletop,
• UV resistance,
• ease and simplicity of care,
• variety of colors and textures,
• presentable appearance.

The disadvantages of a stone countertop include a rather high cost, which pays off with many advantages and a long service life.

The marble countertop is distinguished by its beauty and uniqueness.

Advantages of a marble countertop:

• environmental friendliness and harmlessness,
• water resistance,
• beautiful and presentable view,
• durability.

Disadvantages of a marble countertop:

• thorough care,
• the inability to install hot objects on the countertop,
• traces of spilled liquids,
• the need for periodic restoration.

Repairing a chipboard or wood countertop is the simplest. Damage to wooden countertops is most often caused by moisture or exposure to high temperatures. If the height of the countertop increases or the appearance of looseness, the countertop should be repaired.

Repair instructions for wooden countertops:

1. Begin by removing the pieces of wood resulting from the delamination of the countertop.

2. Then dry well and sand the surface.

3. Mix sawdust with PVA glue so that you get a thick mass.

4. The voids that have formed as a result of grinding should be filled with this solution.

5. Place the worktop under a press for a day to dry completely.

6. After drying, the surface of the countertop should be covered with silicone and reinstalled.

Tip: To get rid of deep scratches on the surface of a wooden countertop, sand the countertop with sandpaper and then sand it. Use felt to make the wood surface glossy and glossy.

The plastic surface is not capable of swelling or soaking, but prolonged or strong mechanical stress leads to the formation of cracks or splitting off the corners of the plastic.

To repair a plastic countertop, use a plastic adhesive. This glue is applied with a gun and holds plastic structures well.

Advice: if the plastic surface is slightly damaged, it is not necessary to use expensive plastic glue, it is enough to glue the surface with superglue or Moment glue.

If a large piece of plastic breaks off, Titanium glue is ideal. A piece of plastic must be ground into powder and mixed with glue. Cracks are closed with this mixture.

The laminated top is a chipboard panel with a laminated finish. During the operation of the countertop, some areas of the laminated flooring may swell or come off. This occurs most often at corners or at the location of the sink.

If the laminated coating has come off, but the tabletop is not swollen, you need to treat all the joints and corners with a special sealant or silicone. When installing the countertop, it is advisable to treat the surface on which it is installed with silicone. When installing the sink, seal all edges with a waterproof sealant.

In the event that the tabletop is not only damaged, but also swollen, a number of actions should be performed to restore the shape of the tabletop.

• shavings or sawdust,
• hairdryer,
• a few bars
• saw,
• PVA glue.

Instructions for the restoration of a laminated worktop:

1. Take a hair dryer and heat up the area where the countertop is swollen.

2. After the surface has dried, remove the peeled coating.

3. The resulting bare spots should be greased with glue and left for 15 minutes.

4. Mix sawdust and PVA glue so that a homogeneous thick mass is obtained.

5. The mixture should be infused for 10 minutes.

6. Pour a mass of glue and sawdust into the grooves, tamp with a spatula.

7. On both sides of the worktop, place blocks that must be tightened to make the worktop the desired shape.

9. Leave the worktop to dry completely for 24 hours.

10. To glue the edge, heat it up.

11. Replace the tabletop. All places where moisture can get in should be sealed with a sealant.

Stone countertops are of two types:

• artificial stone countertops,
• countertops made from natural stone, such as marble.

Consider repairing an artificial stone countertop.

To restore a stone countertop, a number of steps should be taken:

• reinforce the surface,
• handle damage,
• matting the tabletop,
• degrease the surface,
• minor scratches should be repaired with repair acrylic or glossy mortar.

When peeling off corner pieces of a stone countertop, follow these steps:

• prepare a set of tools from felt, four types of sandpaper and PVA glue,
• sand and polish the surface of the countertop,
• mix the glue with acrylic plastic and repair the damage,
• after the surface is completely dry, sand the tabletop with sandpaper,
• polish the surface with felt.

Another way to restore faux stone countertops is to use professional equipment such as a sander.

The first stage is grinding and polishing the surface of the countertop, which will easily hide the traces of use.

The next stage includes surface treatment with special reducing solutions.

Finally, the worktop is polished and sanded again. Small cracks and chips become invisible, and the worktop takes on a presentable look.

For the repair of marble countertops, it is better to use the services of professionals. Marble is a natural and very demanding stone that does not tolerate moisture or too high temperatures. Therefore, at the slightest contamination of the countertop, stains remain for a long time.It is recommended to install marble countertops in dry rooms.

It is impossible to restore a glass tabletop at home. To carry out polishing work to remove small scratches, special equipment is required. If the tabletop is damaged, it should be replaced. If you restore the damaged surface, the countertop will not be as strong as it was in its original form. Care for glass countertops should be thorough, use special glass care products. If photo printing is applied to the glass, do not place hot objects on the tabletop. Installing special fabric or foam pads on which dishes or other objects will be placed will help to avoid minor scratches.

The process of restoring a chipboard, wood, stone or plastic countertop will vary, as will the degree of surface restoration. Which countertops are best restored? Let's figure it out.

Restoration of wood and chipboard countertops

High-quality restoration of a wooden countertop is possible only in the presence of shallow defects. To restore the surface, it is necessary to remove the damaged parts of the wood, and then carefully sand the product and varnish it. In the presence of large cracks, the restoration of a chipboard countertop with your own hands consists in making a patch: sawdust is mixed with glue and the cracks and voids are filled with the resulting mass. Such a patch, although it solves a functional problem, allowing the surface to be exploited further, but significantly spoils the aesthetics of the product.

The restoration of a countertop made of expensive wood species should be carried out by professionals who will not only restore the surface and prevent its further delamination, but also preserve its normal appearance.

Restoration of laminated worktops

The top layer of the surface - lamination - is subject to wear. If the coating has moved away slightly, and there is no swelling, then it is enough to treat this place with a sealant and press hard, putting something heavy for 12-14 hours. With the appearance of swelling, delamination, chips, restoration of the tabletop with your own hands is impossible. Replacement of the entire top lamination layer is required. This ability of this type of countertop is both an advantage and a disadvantage: lamination is easy to restore and even change the surface pattern, but up to 50% of the cost of the entire countertop will have to be paid for repairs.

Restoration of stone countertops

Products made from natural stone require restoration less often than others. As a rule, the restoration of stone countertops in Moscow is carried out by grinding and polishing the surface with a special tool. In case of serious damage, the restoration of a stone countertop requires the replacement of a certain part. Difficulties often arise with this, tk. it is almost impossible to choose a natural stone, the color of which will perfectly match the surface.

It is especially difficult to restore light-colored marble countertops. On such a surface, gluing and grinding places will always be noticeable. It is better to trust the restoration of stone surfaces to craftsmen who have experience working with various types of stone and can offer a wide range of materials for making patches.

Restoration of artificial stone countertops

The owners of acrylic countertops are the most fortunate. The restoration of artificial stone countertops in Moscow is carried out for all types of products, allowing 100% to restore the original appearance of the surface. Like natural stone, acrylic undergoes grinding and polishing during the restoration process. Filling cracks is also done by filling voids with material, but choosing an acrylic stone by color is much easier than a natural one. As a result of a professional renovation, the acrylic tabletop will look like new and will last for many more years.

When will restoration of an acrylic kitchen worktop help? Craftsmen can eliminate almost all known defects on an artificial stone surface:

scuffs, discoloration;

The restoration of an artificial stone countertop, the price of which is no more than 10% of the cost of the entire product, is carried out both at home and with the delivery of the surface to a specialized workshop. The term of restoration work depends on the complexity of the damage and on average ranges from 1 to 3 days.

Wanting to save money on repairs, many people try to restore kitchen countertops on their own. If you have professional tools, you can try to do the sanding at home without going to the professionals. In this case, it is necessary to know exactly and observe the technology, which discs to use, and in what sequence, how long to grind the surface, etc.

Often times, worktop refurbishers are faced with having to fix surfaces after trying to fix them on their own. Most often, owners make the following mistakes:

grinding with too rough circles;

uneven grinding and polishing;

wrong choice of paste, glue and other materials;

incorrect selection of acrylic for sealing cracks.

The result of these errors is the rise in the cost of repairs. That is why the restoration of kitchen countertops should be done immediately by professionals. You can try to fix only the smallest damage on your own. When you call the master, you will receive not only high-quality and prompt repairs, but also detailed advice on caring for the worktop so that the product will serve you as long as possible.

Not a single kitchen can do without a countertop, since this part of the kitchen interior performs a number of important functions:

• is a work surface for cutting and cooking food;
• is an area for placing the necessary equipment and tools;
• sometimes a table top can be used instead of a table.

Restoration of veneered kitchen table top

The kitchen countertop tends to wear out over time, various chips may appear, as it is exposed to numerous mechanical influences and loads for a long time.

Partial restoration of burn-through on the kitchen countertop before and after

Therefore, more often than other furniture components of the kitchen, it is restored, updated and repaired in order to return it an attractive look.

The chipboard table top has a low price, as well as a large selection of a wide variety of colors and textures

These elements of kitchen furnishings are made from different types of materials: wood, chipboard, stone, plastic, glass.

hpl panels for chipboard cladding have a huge number of color options and attract buyers at an affordable price

The most common type is chipboard, as they are inexpensive and can withstand high temperatures. Alternatively, matte and glossy, with a plastic coating, are distinguished separately. For their manufacture, laminated, melamine and laminated chipboard is used.

Laminated chipboard - the sheet is pasted over with resin-impregnated paper

For laminated chipboard, the same paper is used, but of a greater thickness, impregnated with melamine resin and cured under pressure

The countertop can be damaged due to exposure to moisture and heat, excessive looseness and other damage appear on it. Many are wondering how to renovate a kitchen countertop.

Chipboard lined with a film is afraid of moisture, the ends and edges of the table top suffer from the ingress of water

To restore the worn surface of the kitchen table, ceramic tiles or mosaics are often used.

Very often, countertops can be repaired on their own without the use of special tools.

Restoration of the chipboard table top before and after

The device of the table top laminated with hpl plastic

In such models, after prolonged loads, cracks and chips form on the surface. Here you need to use a special bonding adhesive for plastic that is applied with a gun.

Special adhesive for plastic Moment

If the surfaces are not severely damaged, then an inexpensive regular superglue or "Moment" will do. If the chip is impressive, then you cannot do without the Titan glue.

Professional glue Titanium in a cylinder for a mounting gun

To seal the cracks, the plastic is ground to a powder and mixed with glue, then the empty spaces are filled.

Additional measures to protect chipboard worktops - applying a layer of sealant and installing protective aluminum strips

The surface of the laminated countertop may swell. In order for it to acquire its original form, you need:

• heat the surface in a deformed place with an ordinary hair dryer;
• remove the damaged part;
• parts where the coating has been damaged, treat with an adhesive (glue);
• after 15 minutes. pour a thick mixture of sawdust with PVA glue, infused for 10 minutes;
• tamp with a spatula;
• by pulling the lower and upper surfaces together, fill the void using a spatula.
• let dry for a day.

After deformation of the top layer at too high temperatures, it may be necessary to replace the countertop

In order for the original dimensions to match, you need to make a template from a bar of the same height as the table top. It is placed in the middle of 2 planks and the resulting structure is tightened with clamps. The resulting press will help the mixture gain density and get rid of glue residues.

When delamination of the chipboard base, you need to clean the excess and use a spatula to fill with a mixture of sawdust and emulsion, tighten with clamps and let dry

DIY marbled countertop restoration

Partial restoration of the white oak table top before and after

There are special restorative compounds with which furniture is perfectly restored.

Dents, chips, scratches are repaired with hard furniture wax. It allows the material to acquire additional moisture resistance and resistance to mechanical damage. Before applying, melt it with a lighter. Then apply and allow to cool for 3 seconds. Then remove the protruding residues with a clerical knife and grind.

It is recommended to fill in dents and scratches in two ways: either using latex putty or using epoxy resin based compounds

Minor defects can be painted over with a stroke

Materials for the restoration of kitchen furniture

To avoid peeling, swelling of the coating, all component parts must be additionally processed. For this, a layer of waterproof sealant is applied to the "weak" places (joints between the sink and the table, between the table and the stove, etc.), and aluminum strips are also installed. This procedure must be carried out as soon as the furniture is purchased.

Chipboard with aluminum edging ensures the durability of the furniture much more effectively

Restoration of a side chip from laminated chipboard