Painted laminate is ruined. It has to be replaced. New laminate from a box store is as cheap and durable as you can get.

What ^ said.

In stock pre-fabbed laminate counters from the big box.

Same.

My husband and are very artistic so we enjoy doing diy projects. The laminate we have is “ruined” in our eyes anyway because it’s an ugly color that we eventually would have to replace anyway.

Eventually we will replace the laminate with a better quality countertop, like marble or granite but for right now we just want to make our countertops a little bit more visually appealing since we have recently painted the cabinets and updated the floor so they really look out of place.

I don't understand from your thread title if your countertops are already painted and you want to epoxy over them? If you just mean you want to paint them, here are instructions from HGTV using regular paint with a poly top coat, which would be less expensive. Lots of people recommend the Rustoleum product designed for painting laminate. If you search Home Decorating, you will find lots of posts where people painted their counters.

https://www.hgtv.com/remodel/kitchen-remodel/painting-kitchen-countertops

Have you considered installing new laminate sheeting over the old? I saw it done on This Old House years ago and it looked great in the end. Contact cement is no laughing matter, though, so I never was brave enough to try it.

Woodworking places often have bar top epoxy available, if you have Rockler or Woodworkers Warehouse near you that is one place to check pricing.

I have considered this about a billion times but am afraid. The epoxy countertops that I have seen online look amazing. My main concern is that I have read that you cannot put hot items on top of epoxy or it will turn cloudy. I don't know if that is true. My other concern is that I have never seen any examples of epoxy countertops done by amateurs. All examples I have seen online are by professionals. If you decide to go forward, please post updates. I would love to see them.

One diy option l would consider is Ardex cement countertops.

I would mess up one of those DIY kit countertops like Giani and in such a way that it would look obvious and horrible (I think that's the brand)...When the guys were moving appliances around, painting and reflooring the place before we moved in they managed to lift up the laminate along several edge points so we decided to do some work re-figuring the budget and got granite put in. We knew we'd want to replace the laminate at some point anyway, but when the workers damaged parts of it we took it as a sign that we should just do it at that point and not have to worry about the damage possibly being caused by waiting with the edges lifting up from the cabinets in places or the mess that the job would involve.

If you can move the cash around to have the funds to get something new put in that you'll love for years to come - do it. These DIY projects with something you 'paint on' like the counter top stuff you mentioned have a habit of going either really great or terribly wrong and you never know which one you're going to be until you've finished the project. Even the best DIY-ers get inconsistent results they just don't mention that if they don't have to. :)

I don't think you'll be happy with it long-term. Either live with the existing countertops until you save up enough to replace them entirely or add a little to your budget now and get a new laminate. I painted the avocado green 1970's countertops in the old farmhouse we bought last year from DH's aunt just a plain white to cover the hideousness but I already had the paint and we knew that we would be doing a total house gut remodel in the next couple of years so it was just a "make do" situation. The paint has chipped in a couple of places already but that's okay because it'll all soon be replaced. I'd hate for you to spend money on the epoxy paint hoping it was your long-term solution and have it slowly chip away. That would be money wasted that could be put toward an entirely new countertop.

Shead - what type of paint did you use? Do you use a protective coating?

I used oil based paint (3 coats with sufficient drying time in between) over two coats of primer, then topped with 3 coats of polyacrylic.

I haven't used epoxy for counters, but my in-laws painted their laminate counters YEARS ago and while they do baby them, they are still in pristine condition. I know they didn't do anything fancy like epoxy on top. And they painted them WHITE!! lol.

Olychick - I never said they have already been painted... I said i was planning on purchasing the Giani paint kit, painting them, then putting Epoxy over the top. I said "on top of painted laminate" because i wont be putting the epoxy on my counters until they are painted...

Thanks for all the input guys! I think with your suggestions im just going to attempt to paint them using the kit... ill decide if i want to epoxy them based on the finished product.

You’re wasting money on something that will immediately need replacing. You're setting yourself up for incompatible elements wrinkling, crackling, and peeling. Not to mention that even the best looking epoxy counters shown online have that 3rd rate Vegas lounge bar look. Cheesy and kind of questionably clean.

Brandi, check out Daich coatings. I used it last year to do my bright red circa 1985 countertops and it worked great. I hate to hear all of the discouraging comments. I hated my countertops for 15 years and finally decided to give it a try (my dh would not consider replacement because they were in great shape). I tried to destroy those things for years and could not! The paint kit has held up for a year with not one single chip, no peeling. Do they look like granite? Well no. But they look a million time better than red laminate. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I painted my counter tops a couple of years ago. I got the paint at menards - black, and some of there glitter that you add to paint. After it was dry, I used several coats of a poly top coat, sanding between. They still look good, no scratches or chips, and we don't baby them, just the opposite. I was going to buy one of the kits, but I think they are pricey. Now I'm glad I didn't.

kleigh9, thank you! Il for sure check out Daich. I have loved the results i have seen online, even from everyday DIYers posting their results on Amazon.

I have never painted countertops but I cant imagine that they will turn out looking like a 3rd rate Vegas bar lounge. How absurd. As for the peeling and cracking, I am sure epoxy will fix that. Or like cindy mentioned, a poly top coat.

Cheesy.

Poor quality work and incompatible coatings systems interacting badly.

I would like to see pictures, too...

To be honest tho.. The thought of a red or avocado green counter, makes me kinda happy...

And, if I hated my counters--I wouldn't do laminate again, but I would do butcher block as a cheap alternative to stone (although I've never done a side by side comparison as far as price goes)...

Buthcher block that you wouldn't be scared of for food contact is more expensive than budget granite. I would never ever put one of the more Chinese glue than wood ones from some place like Lumber Liquidators in anyone's home.

some of those bottom examples look like damaged garage flooring done improperly... I dont see anything wrong with the top three other than the first picture has kind of an odd green paint that they chose.

this is what an everyday diyer came up with using a Giani white diamond kit with an epoxy top. DH and i have practiced veining and hubby has pretty much got it down. I was just wondering what others who have done this have achieved by using an epoxy as well. Thank you for the input. If it doesnt turn out, then it doesnt turn out and we will replace it sooner than later down the road. Not that big of a deal to us.

Laminate isn't what it used to be.

Personally, and only from looking at these pictures, the epoxy finish that Brandi showed looks better than new laminate...to me anyway.

Of course that's new...

Hopefully, you'll get the finish you want and you'll absolutely love it. And it will last as long as you want it to ;)

Please show before and afters and durings...(clearly we need more here..to show future diy-ers)

@pennydesign me too.. in part because i really like the polished look. DH and i are starting this weekend. I will update as we go. :)

A neighbor had her Formica countertops painted black with epoxy paint many, many years ago. Three owners later, they're still fine! And this is in a kitchen with such limited counter space, that every inch is used daily. The black looks great - it is a matte finish.

You can't set something hot on Formica whether or not it has been painted, no matter what paint is used. Buy some trivets.

late to the party-- but we're going to be epoxying over our laminate countertop with Stone Coat Countertops white and brass kit this year. (check them out on Youtube!). I would love a follow-up to see what you decided on doing!!

I know this is late in the game, but if you're still mulling it over I have a suggestion. Why not go with cheap butcherblock or glue up some wood and sand it down to make one (easier than it sounds) and then do an epoxy layer over that just to protect it and make it more food safe?? I would absolutely epoxy over a painted countertop. I know one poster mentioned Vegas a lot, but you could have a solid color just as easily as those crazy pictures she posted. What did you end up doing?

You’re under the mistaken impression that epoxy is “food safe”. It is not. The only food safe finish for wood is plain mineral oil. No one wants to end up with plastic bits in their salad from cutting a tomato on the counter.

Did anyone on this feed do epoxy countertops? I'd like to hear about them, and see pics!

Me too, Interested in getting mine done

Never seen epoxy chip. Oddd

I did an epoxy countertop on our 16' island. It was the only thing I could find that didn't require any seams. We absolutely love it. https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/complex-kitchen-remodel-pj-vj~6606478

I have a small piece of epoxied butcher block in my pantry. I follow the Stonecoat Countertop page on FB, has lots of DIYers on there, and they have shown some insanely gorgeous counters, done by average Joe's.

Ok.. i kno thay im ab two y too l, but i have a relative personal expexperience to share! i am a single mom of 2 teens & after hurricane Florence hit our town, i got an SBA loan to make repairs & update a few things on my wish list. But after getting duped a couple of very shady ”contractors” i was left w/ out of $ & a house in shambles.

Over the past 2 years, I have taught myself how to install lights, ceiling fans, ceramic & glass tile, plus drywall, mudding, caulking & painting in every room.. all 2,800 sq ft of it.

Anyway, my house was all shades of poo when i bought it.. a reddish-brown pergo floor, dark brown, tan eggshell walls, dark brown cabinets & the UGLIEST brown & black faux granite-looking laminate. I’d planned on getting granite or quartz, but that was prior to being swindled out of almost $68,000! My budget on E, i did my research on an alternate solution & went w/ the Giani paint kit. However, i too read the reviews & knew the glitter topcoat wouldnt last in my house, so i bought a few boxes of epoxy resin & taught myself how to use that too cause i hadnt a clue!

i had my issues along the way, ie: sticky batches, uneven application, kids touching it before dry, etc.. but i am happy w/ them. Now idk how realistic they actually look, but I had few people ask if id gotten new counters, & others reach out to touch them, not believing they werent “real”, but Epoxied over painted laminate.

Gianis claim of it being “a wkend“ project is BULLSHH & I much perferr the outcome of my own application technique, over what their instructions offer.. but to each their own, right!?

Sanded, then SCRUBBED COUNTERS CLEAN

Giani White Diamond kit

Glitter Topcoat

Epoxy Resin, sand where necessary, clean, repeat..

i personally dont like a super high gloss, so i went over them w, an 800 grit sandpaperjust to tome ghat down a bit & i can still see the topcoat sparkling underneath.

i also bought several nice trivets to guard against hot items ,

Blue & red will leave stain if let to sit

ill try to post a few before/ after photos

Original color palette

Did the hallway built in too

I hired someone to do our epoxy countertop. It is the only 16’ option we could find without a seam!