Improving the Look of Your Counters without Spending a Fortune

Do your countertops look like they still stuck in the 70s? Replacing your existing countertops is always an option but is also very costly and for many, this just isn’t feasible. There is an alternative which costs far less than actually replacing the countertops themselves and can give your countertops a fresh, new look.

The first step to completing this countertop upgrade is to measure your countertops to calculate the area you need to cover. It is important to make sure you buy enough material on the first trip because of variations among lots. You will be buying contact paper! If you these simple directions, most people won’t even be able to tell you used contact paper rather than completely replacing your countertops.

When purchasing the contact paper, it is important to compare the rolls before you buy them. Check for variations in color, pattern, etc. Try to get the rolls that match the closest. Often rolls can come from different dye lots and you may not notice until you are actually applying the contact paper that the color is varied in one of the rolls. It was only a slight variation and while no one else may ever notice, you will know it’s there.  One of the better places to purchase contact paper is your local discount retailer. They usually will have good selection and also carry a non-brand name products which cost less but look just as good.

Once you have purchased your contact paper, the next step is to prepare the surface. If you have some cuts or scratches on your existing countertop, you need to use some fine sand paper and gently smooth the area. This will allow the contact paper to hold better and also prevent it from creating dips in the new surface. Also, if you have any chips or gouges, you can fill them in with wood putty. Simply let it dry and sand it down to get a smooth surface. After you are confident the surface is smooth, make sure to clean it with any common household cleaner to allow for maximum hold.

Now you are ready to apply the contact paper and this can be tricky. It is best to recruit someone that can help you out. Start at one end of the counter and work your way towards the other end. Depending on the pattern you chose, you may need to match up patterns.

When you apply the contact paper, it is very important to get all of the bubbles out before moving on to the next section. You can use a large of cardboard or buy a tool made specifically for smoothing the area down.  If necessary, for those little bubbles that just won’t o away, use a thumb tack and “pop” a very small hole in them to allow the air to escape.

After the bubbles are gone and the piece is smooth, move on to the next section. Be sure not to overlap the contact paper any more than necessary as the more it overlaps, the more noticeable it will be. Follow this process until you have completely covered you countertops.

People have been able to improve their countertops for under 20 bucks which is a serious savings over the hundreds to thousands it would have cost to replace the countertops. When you are finished, you will be amazed with your results as well as the money you saved!