Kitchen Counters?

Question

I'm having a house built and one of the "upgrades" of the kitchen is the type of counters you can have. Well I chose the standard counter because I wanted to keep cost down. The difference between the standard and level 1 upgrade was the standard has a matte finish where level 1 upgrade is shiny.

Is there anything I can paint on my standard counters which will give it this shiny look? I want whatever it is I add to be durable as well.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Depends on the material but my feeling is there is nothing you can do.  Using a paint or coating on there is not a good idea.  Over time it will degrade and chip.  If you are preparing food on that surface there is a good chance it will be contaminating it as it degrades.  To be honest countertops are not too bad to replace.  Take the basic finish, live with it for a couple of years, save up some money then replace it with stone.  

Option B, and if you're already signed up it might be too late, the housing market is so beat up right now you should be able to negotiate the upgrade for free.  Home builders are dropping their pants right now to move units.  You are in the driving seat you're spending the money make them work for you not vice versa.

Answer 2

Nope.  Anything you attempt to apply will fail.  I am guessing that the standards are laminates; which are plastic and won't take on any type of finish.  Sorry.

Answer 3

Just one small thing you can do is to clean the counter top with WD40. My sister has a cleaning business and that's what she uses. Spray it on the counter, wipe it with a clean lint free cloth, then buff it out with a fresh clean cloth. It doesn't smell that great but the smell goes away. Use WD40 once a week, it cleans and gives a bit of a shine. She also uses it in the sinks and on slate that is around a fireplace. If the slate has scratches and looks dull or dirty. Spray it with WD40 and it makes the scratches disappear and brings the color out.

Answer 4

No I dont reccomend that you paint them But your other option is refacing them with some fomica material thats what usually is on top of cabinets

Answer 5

I would have thought it would have been the other way around because when they get old, they become flat(or matte-which is french for "flat or no sheen").

    You want a shiny look?  I would look to automotive paint protective waxes and stuff.    Something with silicone in it will leave it permanently shiny after buffing.

  Turtle Wax or Armour-All or something like that.Once every year or two should do you fine.(just a guess & easy to repair a flat spot...wax it again and buff later)

Then there is no fear of peeling or other problems that paint will bring(and I would never paint a counter top.)