This is not the biggest or most expensive decision that you can make with your home, but it’s still substantial enough to be worth serious consideration. 

Replacing countertops is not a cheap thing to do, so you probably don’t want to do it unless you absolutely need to. 

But also, refinishing kitchen countertops may not always be enough. 

And in other cases, it might be a far better option than going and replacing the whole thing. 

There are a lot of variables and a lot of different factors involved, and that can make it feel very stressful and overwhelming. 

That’s what we wrote this to help with. But first…

Defining Terms

What exactly are we asking here? 

The concept of replacing your countertops is probably straightforward enough to be self-explanatory. 

But what precisely do we mean when we refer to refinishing kitchen countertops? 

Well, to put it in easy-to-understand terms, this is the process of repairing, redesigning, and otherwise restoring countertops (usually older ones) to a pristine state. 

Your countertop might have a bit of damage and wear from a few years of heavy use, but that doesn’t always necessarily warrant a full replacement. 

In many situations, it might cost far less money and be considerably less hassle to opt for a refinishing instead.

“Ok, So What Exactly Does That Entail?”

The process often revolves around the application of a protective coating to the surface of your countertop. 

But before that can be done, your countertop needs to be prepped for the protective coating. 

That means that any major damage or inconsistency in the surface needs to be repaired. 

Once that is done, the acrylic coating can more effectively adhere to the surface. 

That means it will stick more and be more likely to stay on. 

Now, it’s worth noting that some countertops are more well-suited to this process than others. 

Fortunately, though, the best candidates also tend to be the ones you’d least want to replace. 

We’re talking about marble, tile, and other similar materials that lend themselves well to resurfacing and are just porous enough for an acrylic coating to really grab on.

“But Why Would I Want To Do That?”

Aside from the considerably lower cost compared to replacing your countertop entirely? 

Well, for one, you’re getting your countertop, or at least its surface, repaired. 

That alone is a good reason to do it. 

But that’s not even the only reason. 

You’re also getting a robust layer of material placed on top of the surface of your countertop to protect it from future damage and wear. 

This is the aspect of refinishing kitchen countertops that makes it worth doing even if your countertop were brand new and had no damage whatsoever. 

To make the deal even sweeter, you get to preserve and keep your beloved countertops for possibly years longer than you otherwise would have been able to.

“Is That All?”

Certainly not. 

Think about the environment, too. 

Now, we’re not telling you to go vegan and join Greenpeace. 

That’s not really the type of environmentalism we’re talking about. 

No, we’re referring to doing what you can to keep the place where you live as free from trash and toxic chemicals as possible. 

So, if there is a way to avoid chucking your whole countertop into a landfill or the ocean, why not do that? 

Refinishing kitchen countertops means not throwing them out and not consuming the resources required to manufacture, transport, and install whole new ones to replace them. 

Think of all the sea turtles. 🐢

Side Note: Not all coatings are made equal, so you should ask your refinishing professional about whether or not the coating they’re using is eco-friendly.

But How Will They Look?

Possibly even better than brand new. 

Think about it. 

If you buy whole new countertops to replace your current ones, they’ll probably look very nice, but they’ll just have the fresh-from-the-factory look. 

That’s not bad, but what we’re saying is that nothing extra has been done to them. 

They’re just raw. 

Aside from meaning that they probably won’t last long before sustaining scratches or some other kind of damage, this means that they have likely not been individualized to you. 

When refinishing kitchen countertops, you can customize and personalize them more than you can when you’re ordering them from the factory. 

This can mean anything from installing a trash compartment to adding a wooden accent. 

But What If I Don’t Want a Chemical Coating?

That’s completely ok! While a lot of people get one, there is no rule saying that you have to. 

And if your countertop is made of certain materials, it might even be better not to. 

For example, if you decide to have stainless steel countertops, we’d recommend not coating them with anything whatsoever. 

After all, that sleek and almost industrial feel is a big reason why you might be attracted to the idea of getting steel countertops in the first place. 

And apart from being sleek, few things will make you feel more like an iron chef while you’re cooking more than stainless steel countertops. 

Of course, stainless steel isn’t the only material in this “no coating recommended” category. 

But they’re probably the most popular choice due to their comparative affordability, functionality, and the fact that they create fewer concerns about toxic chemical exposure. 

In fact, on that same note, you might do well to switch to stainless steel cookware, too. 

You’ve Got Options

If you want to opt for refinishing your countertops, then you’ve got all the choices we’ve laid out here, plus a bunch of others that we didn’t mention because of space and time constraints. 

That being said, it’s still possible that your countertops might already be damaged beyond the point that they can realistically be refinished. 

And if that’s your situation, you may need to replace them entirely. 

We haven’t seen your countertops yet, so we can’t say for sure whether or not that’s the case. 

So, no matter what you think you’ll end up doing, it’s always best to get a professional consultation from a refinishing professional before you plan or commit to anything.