DIY countertop repair. Tips & Tricks
A beautiful worktop plays an important role in kitchen design. In addition, it should be as practical and easy to use as possible: withstand temperature extremes, tolerate moisture well, be insensitive to scratches and shocks in any direction. After active use for several months or years, the tabletop has to be updated – only slightly or rather seriously restored.
A beautiful worktop plays an important role in kitchen design.
Features of countertop repair
The most common modern materials: wood, laminated chipboard, plastic sheeting, artificial stone.
Problematic points can be:
– chips at the edges,
– deeply ingrained spots, including oily;
– various traces of burns, holes in the upper layer of the coating;
– scratches and cracks.
The recipes for correcting these defects depend on the source material and the degree of damage..
Professional restorers use various types of furniture wax to repair countertops with their own hands: from solid to liquid, including pasty and creamy products.
Professional restorers use various types of furniture wax to repair countertops with their own hands.
All of these tools include the following components:
– beeswax (or other, rarer types of wax);
– refined vegetable oils, including flaxseed, olive;
– ethers of coniferous trees;
– wood resins;
– drying oil itself.
How to repair a countertop
Minor scratches can be removed by sanding and polishing.
Some types of stone restore smoothness and shine when rubbed with a special compound designed to care for these surfaces..
Minor scratches can be removed by sanding and polishing.
Such products – pastes, gels, less often liquids – include harmless chemical additives and natural ingredients in the composition. So, for the care of natural wood, bee honey and wax are useful elements..
So, for the care of natural wood, useful elements are bee honey and wax..
Broken-off fragments can often be glued with special compounds..
Recesses, dents, large scratches are repaired with a mass of starting material with the addition of glue. From the same mixture, you can form the missing parts: chipped corners, etc..
Broken-off fragments can often be glued with special compounds..
Where to start repairing countertops
Regardless of the material, countertop repairs begin with a thorough inspection. Most often, in addition to one main, most noticeable defect, several more are found: scratches, small chips, deformed corners, etc..
In most cases, it is required to separate the countertop from the base, if necessary, completely remove damaged areas, clean and degrease the countertop.
Regardless of the material, countertop repair begins with a thorough inspection..
How to restore a chipboard or wood countertop
Compared to other modern materials, they are most likely to deform from dampness..
Chipboard countertops include:
– surfaces impregnated with resin;
– covered with plastic, matte or glossy.
If the repair consists in replacing the broken-off small fragment, it is often enough to simply degrease it and glue it with transparent glue..
Fixing with masking tape may be required while the adhesive dries. then this tape is easy to remove.
If the repair consists in replacing the broken-off small fragment, it is often enough to simply degrease it and glue it with transparent glue..
If the breakaway piece cannot be found, a patch is performed. This requires a piece of starting material – chipboard – slightly larger than the one that was lost. You will need to grind this fragment into powder, mix with transparent glue, apply to a dry and degreased surface. Give the desired shape and leave to dry completely, preferably under pressure. At the end, after about a day, you will need to grind and polish the glued fragment.
If the breakaway piece cannot be found, a patch is performed. This requires a piece of starting material – chipboard – slightly larger than the one that was lost.
The technology for repairing wooden countertops is very similar.
1) It is necessary to clean the surface from all damaged areas, dry.
2) Clean up and remove dust.
3) Prepare a thick mixture of sawdust and PVA glue.
4) Fill the voids with the resulting mixture.
5) Hold under pressure for at least a day, until completely dry.
6) Polish rough areas.
7) Cover with silicone, varnish or other protective coating.
After this layer has dried, the worktop can be replaced..
Video: Countertop Repair
Scratches of varying depths can be removed from wood surfaces by sanding and polishing. It is better to cover the surface with a protective compound or transparent film to avoid new scratches..
Scratches of varying depths can be removed from wood surfaces by sanding and polishing..
Hard furniture wax
Designed for repairing chips, scratches, dents.
Before starting work, you need to melt it. for example, a lighter.
It takes a few seconds to cool down.
The protruding parts after cooling can be easily removed with a sharp knife, scalpel or razor blade.
Hard furniture wax
Designed for repairing chips, scratches, dents.
Soft furniture wax
Does not need heating. Well absorbed, affordable. There is a very wide range of colors on sale, so you can easily find the right shade for restoration.
Soft furniture wax
Does not need heating.
Furniture touch
It looks like a regular, slightly thickened pen or felt-tip pen. Before work, the contents are shaken..
Designed to correct minor scratches. They are processed in 2-3 layers. After the furniture stroke has dried, remove the excess with a napkin or soft cloth..
It looks like a regular, slightly thickened pen or felt-tip pen. Before work, the contents are shaken..
How to repair a plastic countertop in a kitchen
An inexpensive option involves the use of Titan glue. The plastic powder is mixed with glue. The resulting mixture is applied to damaged areas. Allow to dry, then grind Small chipped pieces can be degreased and returned to their place by gluing with any high-quality glue, preferably with a special gun.
An inexpensive option involves the use of Titan glue.
How to repair an artificial stone countertop
To get rid of shallow scratches, the surface is degreased, and then treated with a glossy solution or a small amount of repair acrylic. Sanding and polishing of artificial stone countertops requires special equipment. You can grind it yourself. but you can entrust it to the master.
Grinding and polishing artificial stone countertops requires special equipment.
Fighting stains
High quality acrylic countertops are resistant to stains. Fresh stains from tea, coffee, wine, brightly colored vegetables and juices can be removed easily with warm water or a mild detergent. The stain can only stick into the surface if the top layer has been damaged before. That is why such countertops should not be cleaned with abrasive materials, and hot dishes should always be placed on reliable supports..
Fresh stains from tea, coffee, wine, brightly colored vegetables and juices can be removed easily with warm water or a mild detergent.
Important!
Chemically active substances – acetone, various solvents, agents with a high concentration of chlorine – it is better to keep away from the artificial stone.
Any stains are easier to remove in a timely manner. If you need to remove a stubborn stain that hasn’t been affected by a regular product (such as dish gel), you can try a non-corrosive bleach..
Important!
Light-colored artificial stone surfaces can be easily cleaned with a melamine sponge. Its properties resemble a pencil eraser. Removes splash marks, drips, fresh traces of rust. It is an inexpensive product that can be used on a daily basis..
How to eliminate chips
Edges can be repaired with a paste. It is made on an adhesive basis with the addition of artificial stone powder of the appropriate color. The process can resemble filling a tooth, the work is done with a narrow spatula or any similar instrument. After applying and leveling the composition, it is allowed to dry for at least a day, then polished.
Edges can be repaired with a paste. It is made on an adhesive basis with the addition of artificial stone powder of the corresponding color..
Helpful repair tips
Before installing new kitchen furniture, it is advisable to provide additional protection on the end sides – especially where the cabinet is adjacent to the stove, to the sink, as well as near a dish drainer or where water splashes often..
Protective strips or a layer of sealant will prevent moisture from accumulating in the joints between the cabinets or on the back wall. This way, some materials can be easily protected from delamination or bulging at the edges..
It should always be kept clean and in a convenient location:
– several coasters for hot dishes;
– cutting boards of suitable shapes and sizes.
It is careful handling that will maximize the life of a tabletop made of any materials..
