Tile countertops are a rare find in the houses of today, due to their out of style look and lack of practicality in the kitchen. So, you may be wondering if there is a way to get rid of tile countertops without breaking the bank.
If you continue reading you will find out that there are options that could cost you very little.
Yes, you can cover a tile countertop with concrete, new tile, or even wood however, it is best to remove your old tile countertops and replace them with another countertop option such as laminate, marble, wood, granite, or quartz.
Tile countertops seem to be an outdated fad, and most are not only unpleasant to look at but wholly impractical as the tiles can crack under too much pressure or heat and can easily get scratched, ruining their glossy finish and whatever appeal they have.
This article will discuss how you can cover specifics aspects of your tile counter as well as the ways you can cover the entirety of the counter. Financial considerations of these covering methods will also be examined.
If the whole counter isn’t the subject of your distress, but rather just a specific aspect of the counter, then there are small ways to cover the aspect up rather than doing an entire cover of the tie counter.
It is important to note that all precautions should be taken before and during any of these tasks. Face masks should be worn in the presence of any fumes and gloves in the presence of any strong adhesives or chemicals. It would also be wise to wear disposable or unimportant clothing, as many of these solutions involve paint, glue, and other stainable substances.
If the issue with your counter is the color, then there are a few options that will allow you to quickly change the old, outdated color to a new, modern one.
All that’s needed is to simply stick the desired colored roll onto the counter where needed. There are even stick tiles that will allow for an easier transfer onto the counter, to keep the style of a tile counter, just with a new color. While decals are the cheapest solution to color, they are not a permanent solution.
When the countertop is properly prepared, painting it should be easy:
Your options for paint could be the traditional bucket and brush, or you could choose the spray paint route, for which there are granite and stone options that can make your counter look and/or feel like natural rock. This method is more expensive than decals but should be a $100 to $200 project.
*Painting your countertop as well as layering it with decals and allows for a variety of styles and prints to be laid upon your counter. You can make the counter appear like marble, granite, or any number of finishes depending on your tastes.
If your issue with your tiled counter is the texture, then this can be solved in a couple of ways. When changing the texture of your countertop, though, it will cost more money since you are now changing the feel rather than the look of the counter’s surface, which includes more involved processes and corresponding materials.
Whether it is the type of tile or the gaps in between the tiles that are bothering you, it can be easily solved.
If the issue with your tiles is the uneven surface you have to work on, then concrete or cement might be the thing you’re searching for. The idea would be to simply scrape some concrete or cement across the surface of the counter in order to fill the gaps in between each of the tiles.
To do this successfully, it is best to buy self-leveling concrete so that you won’t have to worry about leveling the cement yourself. The only drawback of this method is the dry time. It will take about a month for the cement to fully dry, so it would be best to use the cement sparingly.
This method could get a bit messy but well worth the effort if done properly. Epoxy is more viscous than concrete or cement, so it may be a bit trickier to work with. The payoff of this method is that the outcome is clear, smooth, and rather finished looking. The resin dries smooth and glossy, and its dry time is only 24 hours, which is much better compared to the month-long dry time of concrete.
The only precautions that you’d need to take are covering the floors and walls with paper or painter’s tape so that the resin does not ruin the surroundings. Resin is permanent, and while it is clear, it not easy to dissolve. The epoxy resin to buy should be specifically made for countertops and self-leveling (so that you won’t have to worry about doing it yourself).
Epoxy is a type of resin, but it is designed specifically for countertops and covers tiled countertypes wonderfully. The resin comes in multiple colors and finishes and can be applied easily to a variety of counters. There is also a type of epoxy known as a Stone Coat, which produces a stone-like feel to the surface it’s applied to. Stone Coat Epoxy is resistant to heat and waterproof; it easy to clean and easy to apply as well.
Tips for working with epoxy resin:
In some cases, tile counters look nice, depending on the type of tiles that they have. Some tiles look more modern and chic while others resemble a bathroom floor or pizzeria floor. In any case, you may just be looking to change the texture, look, size, and spacing of your current tiles.
Surprisingly enough, you can, in fact, cover tile with tile. You can top the current tiles with laminate tiles, which can add a more modern feel to an outdated tile countertop. The steps are as follows:
When it comes to covering the entire counter, it will look something like combining two of the methods previously mentioned: Cement (or concrete) and painting or decals.
Chances are if you’re looking at replacing the entire counter, you like neither the texture nor the color. Covering the entire counter will take covering the counter’s uneven texture with concrete and then painting and putting a finish on the counter.
It is also possible to cover your tiled counter with wood. Wood countertops not only look rustic and unique, but it is also durable and waterproof. Covering a tile counter with wood is much like covering a tile counter with paint:
*You’ll want to use gloves and goggles for this process to avoid splinters and sawdust from getting into your fingers and eyes.
With these methods of painting and placing decals there must be future touchups because while they are both good solutions, they are more temporary than the more permanent solutions of resin and concrete.
A bit of maintenance may be required to keep up appearances. Decals may need to be replaced every few months because when dirt and water regularly come into contact with the decal, it will start to peel up and will lose its adhesive qualities. When it comes to painting, if a topcoat was applied, the topcoat should be reapplied every once in a while to ensure that the topcoat hasn’t worn through.
If the wood countertop cracks, then you can fill the crack with wax or seal it with another thick coat of topper.
There shouldn’t be any issues when it comes to concrete renovations on your counter; however, depending on the resin you use, it may need a touch up every few years.
It is hard to protect a counter when its purpose is to be a surface to work on, but there are still some precautions that you can take. One way to ensure that your counter doesn’t have any unnecessary nicks in it is to invest in a cutting board so that you don’t have to cut on the counter.
It is also safer to keep hot objects away from the wood because, while it can stand certain temperatures, wood is still flammable, and it is a safe bet to keep hotter items off of a wood counter. Foods and juices can also stain wood countertops, so it is important to wipe down the counter as soon as something is spilled on it.
The best way to cover a tile countertop depends on what bothers you about your tile countertop. Color and texture can be easy fixes, but if you want to cover the entirety of the countertop, your best bet is to cover it with a resin or durable wood. However, at this point, it might just be easier to rip out those old tile countertops and start with a fresh new look.
