Use a footy (or paint edger) covered with a nylon to apply to get a fast and smooth finish. This kit requires little preparation and can be used without detaching cabinet doors or stripping, priming the surface. Additionally, it also depends on the size of the bottle or can that you have, where smaller cans are likely to have the liquid deplete while larger mixes wont have such an issue. Look at the first FAQ regarding whether or not youd have enough for a new project depending on the quantity remaining (bottle/can size is also put into consideration). General Finishes High Performance Water Based TopCoat, Minwax 6300 Fast Drying Polyurethane Clear Finish, Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane, Nuvo Driftwood Cabinet Paint 1 Day DIY Finishing, The water-based Rust-Oleum Varathane Polyurethane finish, What Colors Can Be Washed Together? Rust-Oleum 200241H Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane. However, all have the benefit that you can sand away imperfections and re-pour epoxy. This water-based finish dries fast and has virtually no odor, and though it wont yellow on its own, may yellow if coated over paint. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. This finish dries quickly and is easy to use. program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to This enamel has a shiny finish and comes in Satin Black and Satin White. Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2014. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Although you likely want to preserve the paint color and so do not want to strip the surface, you may want to sand away any major irregularities before beginning. For simplicitys sake, well take a look at the option with the 1-quart size and the flat variant. A mix of carefully combined stone ingredients, SpreadStone has been used for more than 20 years as a heavy-duty decorative coating for concrete floors, walls, columns and more. Thick Single Pour 2:1 Ratio River Table Epoxy (Kit), 1-Pint Multi-Purpose Indoor/Outdoor Light Satin Sheen Sealer, TableTop 1 Gal. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Because its such a central feature of the room, homeowners want a countertop that complements the interior dcor. As this coat is water-based, cleaning painted countertops with regular water wont damage the finish. This article will review the best protective top coats for painted countertops on the market, comparing and contrasting features, and detailing what to look for in a top coat for a painted countertop. Overall, the many choices for epoxy or polyurethane mixes should not be a discouragement for anyone that wants to begin their DIY projects or give some great shine to their painted countertops. Goes well on a large number of items require a sheen. The entire SpreadStone system ispre-mixed and ready to go with unlimited working time. Whether its the aforementioned tabletop surface, or if the project requires the material to be added on resin art, the wonders of the kit are endless. Most primers are safe to use on a wide range of surfaces, but can either enhance or decrease the appearance of unique characteristics, like texture. These accent colors can be mixed into the epoxy or sprayed over the top to make the countertop look more like natural stone. Goes well on either finished or unfinished wood. Clean it up with mineral spirits. They include things such as heat tolerances or bubbles. Sign up for the monthly EHT Newsletter including DIY tips, industry updates, trends, and more, The Oak 70.XTRA is an adjustable premier series spiral staircase that features solid Oak wooden stair treads and landing to complement and add style to any interior living space. Wood and stone surfaces require the most special consideration, and in those cases, you should likely choose a top coat that explicitly states that it is safe to use on that kind of surface. MAS Crystal Clear Epoxy Resin One Gallon Kit. Included in this set are the two gallons (Part A: Resin and Part B: Hardener), a spreader, and a brush. It dries quickly and has a shine that pairs well with finished or unfinished wood, making these surfaces look more natural than they ordinarily would with a water-based coating. However, you always need to make sure that the product youre buying is suitable for the material and location of the surface youre coating. Giani Clear Acrylic Topcoat is the finishing step included in all Giani Countertop Paint Kits. I used this kit on my kitchen and needed to polish up the top coat, its like reapplying a top coat to your nail polish to freshen things up. Top coats are essential to the painted countertop because they prevent staining, scratching, and denting and create a smooth, finished look. That means that you can go from painting to resuming your regular kitchen or bathroom activities within the course of a day. Want your new SpreadStone surface dressed in a glass-clear topcoat? The General Finishes topcoat is the first option on the list. Counters looked like new. The best protective top coat for a painted countertop depends on what kind of countertop you have and what your goals are for the final appearance. I Did this weekend project about two months ago and still looks terrific. Of course, styles and tastes change over time, and that holds true for countertop designs. Mea Culpa. With everything previously mentioned, laid out in one long but effective referential page, you should get a clear understanding of how top coats work, what versions are available, the differences between the options presented, and the variants that some brands focus on. Can You Install Granite Countertops Without Plywood? Finish up with a protective top coat, and you have a glossy new countertop with a contemporary stone-like appearance. The General Finishes top coat is a long-lasting coat that protects the surface from being altered by sunlight. As for polyurethane that is oil-based, it needs a good amount of mixing before its applied, and it should take longer for the coats to dry. I tried sponge roller like recommended but still leaves tiny bumps in the finish. All rights reserved. It is available only by the gallon. When a homeowner wants a change to their countertop, however, theyre often confronted with the high cost of labor and materials for replacement. WiseBond Bar & Table Top Epoxy (for flood coating table tops, bars and countertops) is a self-leveling high-gloss finish coat epoxy for river tables, and can be tinted for faux granite or faux marble kitchen countertops. Some epoxies are more resistant than others to yellowing over time. Typically, the coating will turn a yellow-amber color over time due to heat exposure or the collection of moisture. Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane, 4. If your paint is oil-based, then applying an epoxy resin can damage the surface unless you first use a water-based clear coat. This can be used on laminate, primed surfaces, or wood and has a satin finish. Epoxy resin requires only a bit of work to be put into the coats to make sure they remain perfect before they dry. SpreadStone is not a faux finish paint product requiring an eye for detail. One of the more crucial necessities includes the coats to add; the variants provide some differences worth looking into, especially for anyone that is new to understanding how top coats work. Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014. Needs more gloss than they recommend. However, if you have already painted your countertop and are happy with the color, continue reading for comparisons. Daich now offers the new SpreadStone Countertop Clear Coat for the smoothest high-gloss polished stone finish. This can help you remove said imperfections while adding your coats. Also, there is more to check on with epoxy resin than there would be with the other topcoats. 1. For maximum rigidity, heat-cure the surface after hardening for 1 hr. Rust-Oleum 200241H Water-Based Polyurethane, 5. This is a bit of advice for some that are new to the project. Maybe youd prefer the look of Faux Quartzite, Exotic Stone, 3D Metallic, Granite, Sponge Technique, Crackle Effect and much more. However, this darkening is much less visible on countertops already painted with a dark color, and so the amber effect is not always a major deterrent. This paint kit is ideal for both the kitchen and the bathroom and results in a durable surface that lasts for years. Now, with the Countertop Finishing Kit, SpreadStone gives a countertop excellent resistance to stains, heat, impact, abrasion and household cleanersjust what you would expect from real stone. Majic Paints Diamond-Hard Acrylic Enamel. This set consists of some of the best methods for removing any crawling or trickling, as well as giving shine to painted countertops. Clear High-Gloss Protective Epoxy Coating, 1.5 gal. Knowing how to classify your countertop can be a challenge if you did not choose the materials and are unfamiliar with common counter building materials. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Water-based polyurethane, or finish, oil-based polyurethane, and epoxy resin products have many similarities, but you should consider key differences before making your choice. Torch evenly and never let the heat stay in one place. This is an easy-to-apply, one-part product that is scrubbable, washable, moisture- and chemical-resistant against common household items. Nuvo Driftwood Cabinet Paint 1 Day DIY, 6. This finish dries in only one to two hours, making it among the fastest-drying coatings. The originalSpreadStone Countertop Kitis made with an alternate stone blend that delivers a soft, multi-colored speckled finish and provides higher coverage at 50 sq.ft. Remember that an epoxy resin can damage an oil-based paint if applied directly to it. Whether you use water-based finish, oil-based finish, or an epoxy resin is mainly up to your preferences. The EHT staff used this product to resurface a bathroom countertop. This set of top coat items from Crystal Clear consists of both Table Top Epoxy and Epoxy Hardener, and they both come in a gallon amount, though that may be a negative for those wanting to have the resin coating materials in smaller quantities. All in all looks good, pretty shiny finish. The final option on the list is another Crystal Clear gallon kit. This water-based paint kit can cover about 100 square feet of counter space and works much like the Giani Countertop Paint Kit. Please try again. Applying paint and top coat to a laminate or acrylic surface is easy to do and provides excellent results. Doing so helps make the surface rougher and shine-free, so the layers apply better during the process, though the dust left from the sanding must be removed with either paint thinner or mineral spirits. Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2018. Please try again. How Long Does a Memory Foam Mattress Take to Expand? If its a tabletop or a specific project thats not too massive, then the bottle should last a good while. White or light-colored paints are more likely to turn yellow, and even though this coating is water-based and protective, the manufacturer warns against use in such cases. What Do I Need to Know About My Countertops? Because it is water-based, it can transform wood furniture into pieces that are easily cleaned with soap and water. Minwax 63000 Fast Drying Polyurethane Clear Gloss, 3. TheMineral Select Kitis made with a modified blend of stone and mineral ingredients that goes on slightly thicker for interesting visual appeal with natural mineral accents. For this reason, water-based finishes are among the most popular and highly rated products, because they tend to best retain the look of the original paint color and are quite versatile. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), 1 gal. It looks streaky when it goes on but never dries that way! The countertops look great! Try applying a drop of water and lightly tapping in w your finger for small areas (just like if you scuff wet nail polish, you can save it if you gently lick the nail. Easy to apply.looks greatjust wish it was a bit higher gloss. ft. If your counter was already treated with a top coat that is now wearing off, make sure that you have a smooth surface to work with. Clear Deep Pour 2 in. The coating also contains HomeShield Antimicrobial Protection which will protect the painted surface by inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew and other odor- or stain-causing microbes. Additionally, it does not turn yellow, is compatible with any painted surfaces, fills irregularities, durable and environmentally friendly after hardening. Best Top Coats for Countertops (Comparison), How to Choose Between Different Types of Top Coats, 3. It dries quickly and protects from stains and dents. The most common countertop materials youll find are: See the following video for a visual guide to different countertop types: Laminate countertops are the easiest to paint and are most likely to be painted and safe to use with any finish. Some are also more durable, thicker, or more scratch resistant. If you do see irregularities and are afraid that sanding them away would damage the underlying paint, choose a water-based finish that is less likely to highlight these differences in texture. This enamel is water-based and made to cover any of the following surfaces, making it one of the most versatile top coats on the market: It can be used on any kind of indoor furniture and is odor-free and non-flammable. This product takes sixteen hours to dry and fourteen days to set before the counter can be used normally again. They both are made for painted countertops and any substance made of wood. The ProMarine Crystal Clear Epoxy Resin dries quickly and makes any surface smooth, but should not be used for exterior furniture. Another set of coating will be needed every quarter or half a year, though this solely depends on the wear and tear the item receives from people using it or moving other items around the project. Aboglass is also great for decoupage and encapsulating artistic images and textures. Amazon.com. For small blemishes, you can even try this buffing product called Finesse-It Polish. The Clear Gloss topcoat leaves a gorgeous shine across painted countertops made for a homes interior, whether its a desk, a cabinet, any furniture across the home, or even the doors (excluding ones that serve as the exits of the home). For a reflective finish that smooths over imperfections, try an epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is a plastic-like mixture that pours on as a liquid and hardens onto a surface, much like water or oil-based coat. Allow the coating to harden at least 1 hour at room temperature before moving, and two to three days before use. Use solvents that are aliphatic, aromatic, or even an Isopropyl Alcohol with a high concentration to remove the coat; its advised to keep in mind how many coats were added before the process begins, as the thickness of each coat and the amount will add more time to your removal process. To apply, first clean the wood surface free of dirt and dust.