Instead of paying $650 for Carrera marble or even over $200 for marble-look laminate, Ronda picked up a countertop from the ReStore and some leftover paint and made her own faux marble countertop for just $30! Here’s how:
DIY Faux Marble Countertops
by Ronda of Batchelor’s Way
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Supplies:
To create your own faux marble countertops, you’ll need:
- the countertop (we got our 36″ deep, rounded edge countertop at the ReStore for $5!)
- white primer for glossy surfaces (I used Valspar Contractor Primers/Bonding Primer)
- gray paint (mine was leftover latex paint, but you could use craft paint, too)
- white iridescent glitter (I bought mine at Michael’s)
- sea sponge
- feather
- small stir sticks
- sponge paint brushes
- cheap bristle paint brush
- SuperGlaze or EnviroTex Lite
- disposable putty knives or a large spreader
- a drop cloth
- painter’s tape
- wood filler (if your countertop has a tiny hole or two like mine did)
- a radial saw and/or jig saw to cut the countertop to size (if it’s not already)
1. Cut Counters to Size
FIRST, if your countertop isn’t already fit to the space you’re putting it in, cut it to size. Ours was an odd L shape, so my husband used a radial hand saw and straight edge to cut the rectangle and then I used a jig saw to cut out the arm at the end. We scribed the “L” shaped area to get a really close fit — very important since nothing was really square.
Note: We have lots of questions asking if you could paint your already-installed countertops in place — yes you can! See more about the finishing process in this glossy painted countertop tutorial, and read more tips for painting countertops here.
2. Repair Any Holes
Next, fill in any holes or blemishes in the countertop so you have a nice surface to start painting on. I just used wood filler (Dry Dex Spackling by DAP) and sanded it smooth.
3. Prime the Countertop
Prime with a white primer for glossy surfaces. I used two coats. Once the primer is dry, lightly sand the whole surface.
4. Paint the Faux Marble Look
Mix your paint. I just used leftover paint to mix up three different colors of gray: a very dark gray, a medium gray, and a light gray. Now you can start painting! I suggest painting a couple of sample boards to get comfortable with the technique and learn what look you like.
Start painting by dipping the sea sponge into the lightest gray paint and dabbing it on to create the light/dark marble variations.
Add the marble veins by dipping the tip of the feather into the darker gray paints and dragging and wiggling it across the countertop. Occasionally flip and push the feather (rather than pulling it) to create natural looking veins. Then lightly dry brush the vein with your cheap bristled brush to soften it.
Sponge over any of the veins with the lighter colors to soften the vein or create a feeling of depth.
5. Step Back and Check Out Your Work
Stand back often to look at the countertop and see how it looks from a distance. Be sure to place it under the lighting that it will be under — when I put it in place, I decided that mine was too dark, so I used white paint and sponged over the whole thing. I even sponged out nearly the whole middle section with white paint since I felt that there were too many similar veining patterns. Sponging over areas actually works to your advantage, as it makes the veins look deeper and more natural. (That’s called a happy accident.)
6. Glitter Time
To give your countertops a truly remarkable faux marble finish, you need glitter! Not large pieces of glitter like I was originally picturing when I read about putting glitter on faux finish countertops (duh moment!) — use a very fine glitter, the kind that looks like sand or dust. I used the white iridescent glitter from a Creatology brand glitter pack from Michael’s.
You should dust the countertop with glitter while the paint is still wet, but I just sponged white paint wherever I wanted the glitter and then sprinkled it with fine iridescent white glitter. It really does look like natural mineral deposits on your faux marble!
7. Sealing the Countertop
Most of the faux granite/stone countertop tutorials I read used a product called EnviroTex Lite to seal their countertops. You can buy it at Hobby Lobby or online. I didn’t want to drive to the other end of the valley to Hobby Lobby or pay shipping to order online, so I looked around a bit and found that I could get a similar product at Home Depot, which was a much shorter drive. It’s called Super Glaze, and it is a two-part epoxy that pours on and is the equivalent of using 60 coats of varnish. I bought two boxes ($25 each) based on the information on the package, but I only ended up using one (and had a lot left over) to cover my counter of approximately 6 square feet.
8. Prep the Edges and Area
First, tape off the raw edges of your countertop. You don’t want any epoxy build-up on them or the countertop might not fit back into place.
Place a good drop cloth beneath the project to catch all the runoff — the resin will not come off anything it comes in contact with. Level the counter; the Super Glaze self-levels and you’ll want it to spread out evenly.
9. Mix the Epoxy
Next comes the scary part: mixing the epoxy! Read the directions on the box and follow them very closely. I mixed part A and part B in a bucket and stirred for the required time, even having my sister time me so it was exact!
Following the directions, I poured the mixture into another bucket and stirred for the required time again. Then, it’s ready to pour!
10. Pour on the Epoxy
Once you pour some epoxy on the countertops, start spreading it out. Anything you use to spread it will have to be thrown away, so use something disposable. Bigger spreading tools will make it easier! I used plastic putty knives I had on hand, but I wish I had listened to my mother and picked up the $2 giant disposable spreader at the store.
Smooth out the mixture as best you can and let it run right off the edges. It looks like glass. It will level as it sits, and you have to work quickly to get it spread before it begins to set up.
Be sure to check all the edges and so everything is covered. (After mine dried, I found two tiny spots on the front edge that we missed, which I touched up with clear fingernail polish.)
11. Allow It To Cure
After you get all the bubbles out, let it sit for 3 days to dry and cure (according to the package directions) and then you can install it. YAY!!
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If this process still makes you a little nervous, we’ve heard really great things about this gray granite/marble contact paper that sticks directly to counter tops. It’s supposed to be very easy to work with and looks very real. It may be a great solution for countertops that don’t take too much abuse and/or smaller DIY projects like coffee tables, etc.!
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Faux Marble Countertop Update 1/11/16
Yael, one of our readers, followed this tutorial and sent us this message:
Amazing job, Yael! It looks beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
For more details, visit her blog at Jewish Latin Princess.
Other amazing and affordable DIY countertop tutorials:
 glossy painted countertops |
 copper countertops |
 butcherblock countertops |
 stainless steel countertops |
 concrete countertops |
 faux granite countertops |
This is beautiful!
Wow, this is stunning! Great tutorial.
Thanks, Jennifer!
That is truly amazing! I have to try this…. Thanks for sharing!
We’d love to see pictures if you do! Thanks!
Wow those look amazing, who would have thought it was painted. Crazy!
I agree! Thanks for commenting, Amy!
That is truly amazing. I think I will eventually try that in my laundry room (to go over pink laminate) to match our new quartz kitchen countertops. Thanks!
We’d love to see some pictures when you try it, Beth!
WOW!!! Love the look of the new counter tops! I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and insight. Very welcome advice! Someone I know just remodeled their vintage home with Carrera marble counter tops. Um.. no. Never ever EVER have real marble counter tops. Too great of a risk of staining. Unless you like the look of stained marble.
Amazing! I want to work up the guts to do this! Thanks
WOW!!!!! This is brilliant!!! My question- I would love to do this on my bathroom counters (they are currently a pinkish cultured marble- yuck) and I’m wondering if this can be done with the counter tops already installed? My sinks are part of the counter and not separate, do you think this would hold up for the inside of the sinks? Would love your input, thanks!
Laura
I’m curious about this myself. I have ugly blue laminate countertops and would like to use your method. Will painting like you have done over existing laminate pose any foreseeable issues?
Mikey: I’ve seen people use just a lacquer over their faux painted laminate counter tops and they say they still look great 3 and 4 years later! So I don’t think there are many, if any, foreseeable issues at all. Epoxy is a super-duper hard shell, basically. I’m sure it can scratch, but I don’t think it scratches any easier than a laminate counter top. I’d go for it if I were you!! Good luck!
did you get an answer? I have the same question!!
Hi folks! Yes, you could definitely do this on a countertop that’s already installed — the advantage of painting before installing is that you don’t have to worry as much about the edges. For more details about painting countertops in place, this tutorial is really helpful: https://www.remodelaholic.com/glossy-painted-kitchen-counter-top-tutorial/
And we also have a lot more painted countertop tutorials included in this post here, with different methods of painting and sealing. https://www.remodelaholic.com/diy-painted-countertop-reviews/
Hope that helps! We’d love to see photos if/when you paint your countertops, too.
when you pour the glaze on do you spread it around with a brush or something? I know it say’s it spread’s out on it’s own but what if it dosen
t. Where do you begin when you do start the pouring of the apoxy? Would it be in the center?
I recently used the envirotex lite epoxy on my counter. I only used a paintbrush on the curved edges of the counter, but to spread it out on the flat surface I used a plaster spreader tool (joint/tape knife tool). Maybe that will help you. Good luck!
Thanks for the feedback, Corinne!
Did you use all 3 shades of gray?
thanks, can’t wait to try this in my bathroom!
I’m considering doing this in my kitchen and just wondering how it’s held up over time… can you set hot pots on it or do you have to be really careful around it?
I love this – it looks beautiful! I really want to do this to my kitchen laminate counter top. But I’m so afraid I might mess it up and then it’ll cost me more to fix it, lol.
Also, my cabinets are a light wood color. Any ideas on what color “marble” would compliment cabinets like this: https://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0a/a4/7f/0aa47f12052bb80caa37f8d775d4b7d0.jpg
Thanks for commenting, Corrine! I think marble is so classic, it will look great with any color cabinets — if you look up “light wood cabinets with marble” there are some beautiful kitchens with cabinets like yours and marble counters. Good luck!
So I finally went for it and updated my counter! It’s not perfect (I’m a tough judge), but it looks way much better than my old laminate granite looking counter top. I ended using shades of gold paint, instead of gray. Here are some images: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbnQP1IEohZdnFpci1pWndMZlk/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbnQP1IEohZZmpKc3A0eWZSMGs/view?usp=sharing
Ooh, it looks so good! Would you mind if I shared your pictures over on Facebook with our fans there? Thanks for sharing, Corrine!
Sure, you can share the pictures!
Thanks!
I think it looks great…and really, if you hate it down the road it isn’t such a huge investment that you can’t do something different. The thing with granite and marble, you pay SO much that you can’t begin to justify not keeping it for a lifetime
How has this technique held up over time? Love the look, just wanting to know the durability before trying!
Hi Michaela! Our friend Ronda over at Batchelors Way is the one who did this project, which we loved and wanted to feature here 🙂 So if you’ll head over to her site (linked up toward the top of the post) then you can ask her there. I believe she may have even already posted an update about how it’s holding up. Either way, she’ll have more information for you! Thanks!
I’m wondering if this project is possible on laminate counters that are originally darker? Would I just add a couple layers of primer and possible add a white coat of paint or sand them prior?
I appreciate your feedback:)
Brenda, I imagine that would work wonderfully! You can pop over to Batchelors Way and ask Ronda for her opinion there, since she is the pro who shared with us here. Thanks!
This is amazing!!
Thanks, Alyssa! Ronda is amazing!
wow this is the craziest (in an awesome way) diy idea I’ve seen! Mind blown.
Right? Rhonda is brilliant 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Was wondering if this is too hard to do, to already established bathroom countertops? I tried to read/scroll that and see, and assume that is what others are doing.
THANKS…going to try to be brave and try it and any tips on “preexisisting ones” I would appreciate it! Have UGLY white ones…wanting some color..maybe even dark blue with gray for my lighthouse bedroom/bathroom
Hi Tammy! On existing countertops, you’ll just need to make sure to protect the surrounding area, especially when you seal it with the topcoat, more like in this tutorial: https://www.remodelaholic.com/2012/02/glossy-painted-kitchen-counter-top-tutorial/.
Wow, that really is amazing! Plus way cheaper than I thought it would be. Great DIY for when you’re on a tight budget.
Thanks, Serena!
Clear Coat from Lowe’s is the same type product for sealing. I have used it a lot for decoupage projects. Using a hot blow dryer for getting rid of bubbles works great and doesn’t leave you out of breath on big projects
Thanks for the tip, Carra! You can also use a blowtorch like Dawn did here.