How to properly renovate and maintain your countertop?

The kitchen is a place for food, heartfelt conversations over a cup of tea, and philosophical reflection. The surface of the countertop deteriorates over time and requires either replacement or restoration. There are several ways to update your kitchen table.

Restoring a table in the kitchen is a simple matter. The main thing is to take this process seriously. For example, what to do if the countertop in the kitchen is swollen? Indeed, water has a destructive effect on the wood from which the table is made. In this case, we tighten the tabletop with a film (special) and let it dry. We leave it in a vice for several hours (we make sure that the film does not burst), then we process the surface with silicone.

Also, if moisture gets in, the tabletop can delaminate. There is an exit. We remove sawdust and shavings that have appeared as a result of exposure to moisture. We take separate dishes, add sawdust and add PVA glue. We mix them and apply to the damaged areas. We tighten the tabletop with a vice and leave to dry. A day later, remove the vice and clean the "top" of the tabletop with sandpaper.

If the surface of the kitchen unit was exposed to high temperatures (for example, it was burned with a cigarette), then we restore it as follows:

• carefully remove the top layer from the damaged area;
• we fill the recess with a special putty (for wood);
• level and dry;
• we tint this area with acrylic paint;
• leave to dry completely;
• then we apply silicone and dry (do not forget to close the tabletop with a tablecloth for full protection from external influences).

The self-adhesive film will "give" new life to the kitchen table. When choosing it, pay attention to the following recommendations:

• stylish colors of the film (imitation of natural materials, for example, wood or leather) will add originality to the design of your kitchen;
• do not give preference to cheap products, the film must be durable and of high quality;
• Vinyl is an excellent material for updating the kitchen table - it does not react to moisture, high temperatures and retains a presentable appearance for a long time.

At the initial stage, the countertop must be cleaned of stains, washed from grease and chips must be repaired, since this type of film emphasizes surface flaws. After cleaning, we proceed directly to the gluing process:

• measure the kitchen table;
• we make marks on the "inner" part of the film;
• carefully cut the material into pieces;
• when gluing, smooth out uneven places with a rubber scraper.

You can restore the great look of the kitchen table with paint (or varnish). For these purposes, various types of paints are used. For example, alkyd enamels are great for restoring countertops. They are non-toxic, perfectly cover the surface and dry quickly. Acrylic paints (water-based) are also suitable. They are distinguished by their bright shade and reliability. These paints are non-toxic and are ideal for the kitchen table (since they imply contact with food).

It is not difficult to paint the kitchen table yourself. So let's get started:

• we prepare the surface of the headset using a special grinder or sandpaper (the table can be whitened beforehand);
• to repair chips and cracks, it will turn out with the help of a putty mixture;
• after drying, we level the surface of the countertop with fine-grained sandpaper;
• for painting we take alkyd paint (the primary layer will act as a primer);
• apply subsequent layers as the previous ones dry.

Once the paint is dry, the kitchen table can be varnished with clear lacquer. In addition, a tempered glass sheet can be fixed to the surface of the painted table. This tabletop has a number of advantages:

• does not absorb odors and is not exposed to high temperatures;
• not "afraid" of water;
• has an exquisite appearance;
• has high strength.

Another creative idea for the restoration of the countertop is related to painting using a stencil. This method unleashes your creativity and adds a unique vibrancy to your kitchen design. The stencil itself is made of cardboard or thin plastic. In addition to the pattern, we need acrylic paints (water-based), a brush (medium size) and a foam sponge. Before painting the headset:

• thoroughly clean and degrease;
• cover the table with the main color (it is advisable to choose pastel colors);
• take a template and use a brush to carefully apply the selected pattern;
• in order for the work to proceed dynamically, experts advise to apply paint with a sponge in a thin layer;
• remove the stencil and remove all irregularities;
• let it dry.

In addition to the original painting, decoupage (a technique for decorating objects of various sizes) is used to restore the countertops. This method will help protect the table from the effects of chemical detergents. The main thing is not to overdo it with the number of patterns, otherwise the kitchen table will look too bright.

Ready-made decoupage pictures can be purchased in specialized stores, as well as made with your own hands using napkins or unnecessary magazines. The process is divided into several stages, we need:

• wood varnish;
• acrylic putty;
• scissors;
• sandpaper;
• brush;
• pictures (purchased);
• PVA glue).

We process the table with sandpaper and use a putty to remove all chips and irregularities (the table must be thoroughly cleaned from stains and degreased). Cut out the pictures and outline their location with a pencil. We dilute the glue with water (1: 1 ratio) and apply to the marked places. We put the pictures on the glue and smooth them out. Carefully remove the remnants of the glue with a cotton pad. Dry. Then, using a brush, cover the tabletop with 2-3 layers of varnish.

Kitchen table repairs can be done with decorative tiles (ceramic). This option is suitable for tables made of plastic, wood, fiberboard, chipboard. A tile that matches the pattern above the work area is perfect for decorating the table. You can also combine material in color and size. The combination of tiles and mosaics looks original. We take:

• ceramic tiles;
• plastic crosses (align the seams);
• glue;
• grout.

We thoroughly clean the countertop of stains and degrease it. We apply glue and put tiles on it. Gently press it down and align the seams with plastic crosses. We are waiting for the glue to dry and rub the seams. At the ends of the countertop we install a profile and fix it with tile glue.

The advantages of decorative tiles include:

• durability;
• moisture resistance;
• ease of execution;
• it is not exposed to chemicals.

For information on how to paste over self-adhesive furniture with foil, see the next video.