Back in January I was contacted by Giani asking if I’d like to try out their granite countertop paint. They sell kits that allow you to paint formica countertops to look like granite. Awesome right? There was only one problem. We replaced our kitchen counter with solid surfacing just a couple of years ago. So I was going to decline. But then I remembered I still have a formica counter in my laundry room. I was really interested (and a little skeptical) to see how the paint kit would work, so I accepted the offer.
Here is my laundry counter before I started. I’m not gonna lie–it hasn’t been this clean in months!
I decided to go with the Bombay Black Countertop Paint granite kit. When I opened the kit, I was immediately impressed. Giani included almost everything I needed. Even a large piece of black cardstock to practice the technique on. I thought that was awesome! They include well detailed instructions, but even better. . . they include a DVD that shows you what to do. I am a visual learner, so that was way helpful for me.
Since the kit comes with instructions, I won’t repeat everything here. Just let me say that the whole process was actually much easier than I thought it would be. The only trouble I had was with the first step. To prep your counter, you have to remove ALL of the silicone caulk around the edges, then replace it with paintable caulk. I spend a couple of hours with a razor blade and a paint scraper and some rubbing alcohol. As far as I could tell, I had removed every particle of silicone.
I was wrong. After I painted on the black primer, there were spots in the corner where the primer didn’t stick because of silicone residue. I inadvertently deleted the photo, but I re-created it so you can get a general idea. My counter looked very much like this:
And I have learned from sad experience that no amount of paint will adhere to silicone caulk. So I had to scrape off those areas and re-do them. Sad face. So learn from my mistake. Make double triple sure that you remove every single trace of silicone!!
If you do it right, when you are done with the primer, your counter will look like this:
Yay!
After the primer dried, I used the sponge and the three colors of mineral paint to granite-ize my countertop. The only tricky part is getting in those little corners. But it all worked out. When that dried I used the roller to apply two topcoats.
Here is my countertop now:
I of course am my own worst critic, so I wasn’t sure if my paint job was good enough. But as soon as my hubbie saw it, he said, and I quote, “Wow, that looks awesome!” Then my 13 year old, who had no idea what I was trying to accomplish in the first place, said, “Cool. This looks like black granite.”
So apparently I did even better than I thought! 🙂
Here is a close-up:
Those shadows in the corners are from the cabinets above.
Here is another shot of the countertop before and after.
I love how it stands out now. And the finish is so shiny and pretty. Love it!
If your kitchen needs a makeover and you can’t afford to replace your countertops, I recommend trying out Giani Granite Paint. They have several colors to choose from, and the kits are so customizable! With the three accent colors they include, you can have any look you like. I think it is a great way to spruce up a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. I really do love how my counter looks now!!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Giani sent me a free granite paint kit in the mail, but I was not compensated for this post. The results and opinions are all mine!
Hello Kara.
Thanks for the article, love it. I have a problem and I hope your advice will help. I moved into a new house recently. Everything is fine except for one thing. Granite countertops seem barely sealed since they soak up water and I need to wait for too long for water to fully dry. That’s frustrating. I want to seal them: there are no stains on the countertops so there is no need for replacing them. Now I’m looking for a good granite sealer which is easy to apply. I’ve been researching some blogs, this page graniteprotect.com/ seems the most informative for me. It seems that StoneTech and Tuff Duck are top sealers. I wonder what you think about it. Can you recommend any good granite sealer? Thank you,.
Sorry, I don’t know much about granite sealers. We actually got a granite countertop in the bathroom in our new house, but they sealed it when it was installed, and I haven’t had to reseal it yet. In a few months I will be doing the same research you are. 🙂
How can I paint the outside of my refrigerator?
I’ve never painted a refrigerator, but if I did, I would use the spray paint that is made specifically for appliances.
How did this hold up after some time?
Mine is in a laundry room, so it doesn’t get as much wear and tear as a kitchen, but it still looks just as amazing as the day I finished it. It has held up just perfectly!
I would really like to try this to update my kitchen and bathroom. I am curious about the price and where I
Can buy it. Thanks
Wow! What an amazing transformation!! I did this on my bathroom counter tops and it came out great! I loved the look so much, I wanted to try it on my businesses’ office building…. I found this product Spray Stone USA (used for larger applications such as on the outside of buildings, ect) and it came out beautifully – it really looks like granite! Anyway, your kitchen looks great!
Hey I really want to try this, any updates on how its holding up?
It is holding up fabulously! It doesn’t get wear and tear like a kitchen counter would, but it seriously looks just as good as the day I finished it. I’m planning on using it to re-do my parents’ old bathroom vanity this summer.
Once you removed the caulk, did you have to recaulk it?
Wow! This looks great!
That really turned out great!
Looking good. I’ve read a lot about this product and I want to do this in one of my bathrooms and in the kitchen. Every time I look at my green kitchen counter I want to just throw it out the window. Where did you find yours and how much did it cost? Thanks for the post.
i am so impressed! it looks awesome!! Great job
Wow Kara, it looks really nice! I’ve been curious about this too. Will you let us know if you have any problems with it in the future? I’d like to try it in my kitchen, but I’m nervous how well it would hold up over time.
I will definitely update the post in a few weeks/months letting people know how well it holds up. The directions actually say it’s not fully cured for like 2 weeks, so mine isn’t even at its full durability yet.
does it mention how the durability is on a kitchen countertop? Do you need to be extra careful with the counter after it is painted? Like putting hot things on it etc. I have see this stuff before but have been hesitant to try due to that.
The directions say that you should use a hot pad under hot dishes etc, but I’ve heard you should do that with granite as well or it could crack. So I guess it’s just like most countertops. I’ll let everyone know how it holds up after time has passed. 🙂