If your kitchen countertop has lost its original appearance, it is not at all necessary to replace it. Consider painting or sanding to completely restore the appearance of your kitchen cabinetry. This kind of work on restoring a kitchen countertop is not particularly difficult, so it won’t be difficult to complete, and I’ll tell you how to do it in this article.
Often, homeowners are not even aware that countertop restoration is an option. As soon as scratches and chips appear on the work surface, they buy new stone countertops, which cost them a lot of money. At the same time, it is easier to purchase a special paint for restoration, which will allow you to independently, at minimal expense, completely restore the surface, which will shine like new.
This kind of work is not particularly difficult. Having the simplest tools and purchasing high-quality film or polymer paint, you can completely restore your tabletop, which will once again shine with bright colors. I didn’t know that it was possible for her to recover on her own. Even I, without any experience, was able to cope with such work, saving significantly on the purchase of new kitchen furniture.
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MDF kitchen countertops: features, classification, selection tips
In the last 10 years, designer kitchen countertops have become a trend. But outside of Russia, they have long been considered a common item in the kitchen. To create countertops, completely different materials are used. But some standards are still present. MDF became a new and inexpensive material.
Just paint or varnish
Is it possible to paint a kitchen countertop with just paint, without any glass, concrete, etc.? Yes, and now we will tell you how.
This method is the simplest and cheapest, and will not require any extra effort from you. All you need for this is:
- make the surface of the tabletop as smooth as possible using a grinding machine;
- if there are cracks, they must be corrected by using putty or putty;
- Apply alkyd paint to the first primer layer;
Next, give free rein to your imagination and make an incredibly beautiful and unique product from your tabletop.
Kitchen worktop MDF with plastic coating
Plastic coated MDF is a new and popular material for countertops. Its characteristics are similar to those of chipboard:
- Resistant to water.
- Resistant to chemical detergents.
- Durability (lasts more than ten years).
- It has an attractive appearance.
- Inexpensive.
Pleasant and aesthetic appearance
There are two ways to get a plastic-coated countertop:
- Buy a finished product from the material you need in offline or online stores. The assortment is large, there is a wide variety of textures and colors of MDF boards: there are stylizations like stone, wood, plain classic surfaces or neon bright colors.
- Place an order from specialists whose professional area is focused on the manufacture of countertops. Here you can indicate all your wishes and get the table surface of your dreams. But you will have to pay much more than for a store-bought product. After all, handmade work is highly valued.
To choose a countertop you need to decide:
- with the material for its manufacture and type of coating;
- with dimensions;
- with color, pattern.
Drawings for every taste
List of required materials and tools
Before you begin painting work, you must first prepare the following materials and tools:
- 220 grit sandpaper;
- masking tape;
- 20 cm roller;
- 20 cm foam cover;
- special tray for paint;
- primer for a glossy surface;
- water-based acrylic paint for countertops;
- glossy acrylic paint;
- mineral spirits (for surface cleaning);
- latex or nitrile gloves;
- high quality finishing brush;
- orbital sander (optional).
You can choose absolutely any paint color. It all depends on the interior of your kitchen and, of course, on your taste preferences.
MDF worktops for kitchen units: features, classification, selection tips
MDF kitchen countertops are very common as part of a kitchen set. The naturalness and durability of the material influenced its good reputation.
You should not put MDF next to glass, wood or stone for comparison. The latest materials have a high price, and their strength and durability are more pronounced.
MDF is affordable. The price corresponds to the quality of the product. This is an ideal way to decorate a room in modern, high-tech, minimalism and other styles. The plastic coating can be given the appearance of any natural material.
Chipboard and laminated chipboard
Chipboard is a chipboard made from shavings. It is mixed with phenol-formaldehyde resin and then compacted. The surface is heated to a very high temperature. It is at this degree that the entire manufacturing procedure takes place. The chipboard sheet is left under the pressing equipment for the required time. Then it is placed on a flat surface and left there until it has cooled completely.
After cooling, the material can be used. But it is not yet suitable for finishing kitchen surfaces. The chipboard sheet must be covered with a special finishing film. This is a special paper impregnated with resins.
These actions are called lamination. There are several methods for lamination:
- Gluing plastic (postforming).
- Pasting saturated and steamed craft paper.
- Gluing melamine paper.
The first option is the most common method of processing chipboard sheets. This method produces the most durable and resistant surface. This countertop is not afraid of water. If scratches or other damage appears on the surface, water will still not destroy the plastic coating.
Standard laminated chipboard is produced using the lamination method of paper, which is saturated with melamine resin. The first letter “L” stands for “lamination”. This method of processing chipboard is not often used on kitchen surfaces. Because durability and resistance don't win here.
What is MDF?
MDF is a board made from fine wood fraction. The chip size is much smaller than that of laminated chipboard. To produce the material, dried sawdust is pressed, to which paraffin is first added. Due to the fact that the particles are very small, the resulting product is dense and durable. During operation, it does not emit harmful formaldehydes.
LDSP is a laminated chipboard. To create it, sawdust is treated with formaldehyde resin and compressed. The resulting board is laminated with paper film, which is pre-impregnated with melamine resin. To increase moisture resistance, paraffin or its emulsion is applied to the material. Fiberboard is more natural and safer for health. This is due to the fact that paraffin acts as glue.
Films for restoring countertops
You can find special kits for textured surfaces that imitate natural stone. This texture is achieved through the use of decorative shavings. Interesting options for updating countertops include using not paint, but a special laminate film that simply sticks to the surface.
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This is a universal surface restoration method that can be used on wood, stone and even metal countertop surfaces. The only drawback of such films is their high cost.
Film options that imitate natural wood are popular. They are made using a special technology; chips are applied to an adhesive base coat, then sanded and coated with a transparent top layer. With the help of such films, you can restore the countertop from any materials, completely transforming your kitchen.
Which material is better, MDF or chipboard for the kitchen?
Advantages of laminated chipboard
- Favorable cost is one of the main advantages of such plates.
- Resistant to temperature changes and moisture.
- Wide range of colors. The ability to create elegant facades that imitate the texture and shade of different types of natural wood.
- It tolerates mechanical loads and cleaning with detergents well.
Disadvantages of laminated chipboard
- High rigidity of the slabs, making milling difficult. It is impossible to create facades with complex patterns from such material.
- The presence of harmful resins in the composition, the least toxic type of chipboard is E1 class boards.
Natural wood or MDF?
Wooden furniture looks expensive and rich. But it costs the same. Furniture made from glued and pressed shavings is more than 2 times cheaper than natural wood. Although it also has a beautiful appearance.
MDF cannot be called non-ecological, because it consists of natural, environmentally friendly materials.
Wood countertops are very heavy and more susceptible to injury, since wood cannot withstand high humidity. To solve this problem, special frames for fixation and other parts are needed. Although they add even more weight to the tabletop.
The light weight and strength of MDF simplifies the installation of the product and allows the imagination of designers to run wild.
Wood products cannot be placed in the bathroom, since the humidity there exceeds 60% (permissible humidity for natural wood). MDF can withstand humidity even if it reaches 80%.
So, wooden furniture has a high price and difficult, expensive care. While MDF furniture is easy to care for, its price is lower, and it is not inferior in strength and appearance to natural wood.
In addition, it is necessary to cut down more than 1 tree to make a tabletop from solid wood. And by using the same number of trees to produce fibreboards, you can create more than one product.
Types of countertops and their defects
Working surfaces are made from different materials:
- A natural stone. It is less susceptible to wear and tear than others. A countertop made of natural granite, for example, is not at all afraid of damage.
- Acrylic is a type of artificial stone. It is not resistant to scratches and cuts.
- Quartz agglomerate is durable like granite, but over time it still loses its appearance.
- Casting stone is a solid thin-layer polymer on a base. Requires careful sanding.
- Plastic is a budget option for countertops. It wears out quickly without the use of cutting boards.
- Wood treated with impregnations and varnishes also requires care to maintain its appearance.
Plastic classification for fiberboard
HPL – paper-laminated plastic – is used as a coating for MDF panels. This unique material is made using special technology. The paper is impregnated with specially designed resin compounds, folded in layers and pressed at high temperature and high pressure. The result is a very high-quality and beautiful material for kitchen furniture.
This material is glued onto a base board made of MDF or chipboard. In this case, the processing of the ends is usually carried out using the post-forming method: two sides of the plastic are folded onto the ends, and the remaining two are pasted over with a special edge. There are also alternative methods of finishing edges, for example, all ends can be covered with an acrylic edge, aluminum, ABS or PVC edging. The edge may not differ from the color of the facade, or may be contrasting.
Tabletop on the windowsill
An MDF window sill is a suitable option for a small kitchen. It can be used as a work area, dining area, bar counter or winter garden. The key advantage of this kitchen design option is space saving.
Installation of the tabletop will also not be problematic, and will also help the family save electricity, because simple daylight will do a great job illuminating such a work area.
One of the disadvantages of this option is the special selection of curtains. They should be the right length, water-repellent and non-staining, and easy to wash. But if your apartment, for example, is located on the tenth floor with windows overlooking the park, then you can completely abandon curtains.
Design of a kitchen countertop made of MDF plastic: Provence, modern, loft and other styles
You can apply a design onto the plastic that is suitable for a certain style: images of nature, animals, photos or imitation of natural materials. Because of this, such countertops are popular.
Fiberboard can look absolutely any way due to postforming. Plastic can be painted in any texture.
In addition, on such a surface they print:
- patterns;
- landscapes;
- family photographs;
- silhouettes;
- animals;
- and other drawings.
Exquisite classic style dilutes a boring interior. Floor design: ceramic tiles (50 x 50 cm). It is advisable to use a marble print. 3 colors: white, beige, dark gray add mystery.
Kitchen set made of laminated fibreboard or natural wood (color: dark walnut). The set is not a countertop, so water, temperatures and chemicals will not affect them much.
Tabletop with a plastic glossy surface in green. The walls are beige. The apron can be made in white and green shades in the form of a mosaic. The ceiling is white. A wide plinth for the ceiling will be in place - it will create a pleasant atmosphere. Place spotlights in the work area above the tabletop.
Provence - French style. It is distinguished by naturalness and simplicity. It contains many light colors. Lavender is an integral part of Provence style design. It is this flower that distinguishes the French style.
For Provence, a set of white or milky color is suitable. Traditional looking lockers. Open shelves are characteristic of this style. They are needed to place decorative items on them.
The shiny marble surface of the table (white with dark inserts) fits perfectly into Provence. If there is an island, then the cabinet should be made in the form of a figured table. So, it’s convenient to cook in one part and dine in another.
Coloring
To paint old furniture, you should prepare:
- paint container;
- roller, brush;
- paint;
- masking tape;
- gloves, mask.
Hardware protection
Before starting work, it is worth removing all fittings from the furniture. If this is not possible, all elements are carefully sealed with masking tape to protect them from accidental paint.
Roller and brush painting
In order to paint laminated surfaces, it is best to use a velor roller rather than a foam roller - it applies the paint evenly, preventing the formation of air bubbles. Foam rubber, due to its porous structure, can leave noticeable marks on the surface.
For hard-to-reach places and corners, use a narrow brush with a beveled edge. The tool must be of high quality, with tightly secured lint. If you paint with an old brush, individual hairs may fall out, remaining in the applied layer of paint.
If you plan to paint chipboard furniture white or light colors, it is advisable to apply two layers of paint so that the coating is dense. It is necessary to take a break between applying the first and second layers to allow the paint to dry completely.
Using a spray gun
An easier and faster way is to paint furniture using a spray gun. In this case, 60–200 g of paint will be spent on each m², depending on its consistency, layer thickness and other factors.
MDF kitchen worktops catalog
Sanding the surface of the tabletop
Always sand any surface before painting. So, firstly, your work will look neater. Secondly, it will give you the best result. Use fine-grit (200 to 220 grit) sandpaper to remove any roughness on the work surface and back wall. An electric sander will do this job much faster. But if you simply don’t have one, and your budget does not allow you to purchase such a tool, then you will have to use regular sandpaper. But then you will have to be patient and time.
Use a sanding block to sand the edges of the tabletop, as you simply cannot do this with a machine.
Reviews of MDF kitchen countertops
MDF worktop is a good choice for the kitchen. It is inexpensive, has good characteristics, and is suitable for any style.
Countertop paint requirements
Countertops, due to the nature of their use, are constantly exposed to the negative influence of the environment. In this regard, finishing materials, including paints, must meet the following selection criteria:
- form a water-repellent layer;
- withstands contact with household chemicals;
- strong and durable;
- resistant to mechanical stress;
- do not fade with constant exposure to sunlight.
Due to the fact that hot dishes are often placed on the countertops during use, paints must be heat-resistant.
When choosing a finishing material, you should also take into account the features of the interior design. The painted countertop should be in harmony with the surrounding environment. In addition, for finishing in this case it is recommended to buy compounds that, after drying, form a glossy surface layer. This is due to the fact that pathogenic microorganisms accumulate over time on “loose” countertops in natural recesses.
Updating the table using decoupage
Unlimited flights of imagination, transformation of the kitchen countertop and minimal expenditure of effort and time are the advantages that the use of decoupage opens up when the decision is made to make the countertop with your own hands.
In order for the transformation of the countertop to be completed successfully, you should use your imagination and use a creative approach to reconstruction. How to make a table from decoupage - creating your own creative objects or integrating decoupage techniques. When decorating surfaces using this method, you do not need to have any talents or special abilities. Any person can do this task, and a minimum number of tools will be involved, namely: glue, furniture varnish and pictures.
