Larry from Kentucky wrote in to Ask Dr. FSBO how to make his kitchen look a bit better without spending a ton of money. After an initial period of surprise that Larry had wandered back towards the subject of this column, I decided to answer his question here.
Counter top resurfacing should be considered if you are contemplating a wholesale kitchen renovation or are simply looking for a potential means of sprucing up your food preparation area and making your kitchen “pop.” Counter tops are one of the most visible aspects of any kitchen, along with under-cabinet lighting which we’ll tackle a little bit later. Their color and texture immediately capture the attention of anyone entering the area. As such, a change in counter-tops can serve to breathe new life into the entire area. A rundown kitchen can look new again or a smaller room may be given the illusion of greater size simply by repairing or replacing worn counter tops.
Different skill-sets.
The nature of counter top resurfacing varies depending upon what one has in the beginning and what they are hoping to accomplish in the end. For instance, removing an existing laminate counter top and replacing it with new material with a different look may require little more than stripping off the old laminate and carefully replacing it with new pieces. This kind of counter top resurfacing tends to be relatively inexpensive and does not necessarily require expert skills.
Other counter top resurfacing techniques require more money, effort and talent. For instance, one may decide to replace their existing laminate counter top with a tile top. Ceramic tiles, of course, are far more expensive than replacement laminate. Additionally, they require more care in installation and take much longer to cut and place than does a laminate replacement. The results may be stunning, but the process can be quite time-consuming for an amateur.
In some cases, one may not be interested in actually replacing their counter tops. Instead, they may be considering resurfacing as a way to repair and maintain an existing option. Those with high-end granite counters or other exotic stone variations, for instance, may find it necessary to hire an expert in counter top resurfacing to repair nicks, scratches and other damage common to kitchen areas. Those who have stainless steel counter areas will generally want to consult with a professional if they have experienced significant damage to their counter tops, as repair or restoration can be very difficult in these cases.
I’m a FSBO do-it-yourselfer getting ready to sell!
Resurfacing is a project that many “do-it-yourselfers” can manage without assistance, so long as the project is kept relatively simple. However, those with designs on doing something a bit more complicated or who plan on using very expensive materials may want to hire a resurfacing professional to handle the job. These experts know exactly what needs to be done in order to successfully resurface virtually any kind of counter top and can be well worth the money they cost.
Resurfacing is a great way to give an old kitchen a new look. The change in appearance brought on by changing counter tops alone is drastic. If done in conjunction with other renovations, you can take a big step toward a “new” kitchen by doing some counter top resurfacing.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
Yes, I am the Reasonable Realtor, Don Martin, MARTIN PROPERTIES (615) 973-8970. Just make your comments here, or you can reach the Dean of Graduated Realtors at www.FSBO-GUY.com or “like” him at http://www.facebook.com/MartinProps Quiet Lawnmowers Here.
