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$30 DIY Faux Marble Countertops

Written by Cass

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how to paint a faux marble countertop, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic

If you’ve ever dreamed of marble countertops and then nearly fainted at the price, you NEED today’s post! When I saw how Ronda from Batchelor’s Way had created faux marble countertops for her laundry room, I begged her to share the tutorial with us here because it is going to knock your socks off!

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

DIY faux marble countertops -- looks like the real thing at a fraction of the price! @Remodelaholic

This project was so scary for me, but I am so glad I overcame my fears and did it because I am happy as a clam with my new countertop!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience.  Click here to read our full disclosure policy.

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.

how to cut a countertop to custom size, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic

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. 

supplies for faux marble countertop, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic copy

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.

how to paint faux marble countertop, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic

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!

how to seal a faux marble countertop using epoxy glaze, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic

At this point, the mixture looks yellow but it will spread out and dry clear, so don’t panic!

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.)

Under the front edges, I used a sponge brush to catch the drips so they wouldn’t harden and create a bumpy edge. Do this several times during the first hour as it dries. You’ll also want to remove the tape around the raw edges of the counter — I removed mine within the first hour after pouring the epoxy.

glossy faux marble countertop tutorial, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic

Once the surface is covered, DON’T TOUCH IT! But do look closely for air bubbles. Other tutorials that I read used a blow torch or their own breath to pop the bubbles. My torch wouldn’t light so we just blew on all the air bubbles that we could find — if I did it again I would try the blow torch.

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!!

faux marble countertop tutorial, Batchelors Way on Remodelaholic.com
 
TOTAL COST
$5 countertop
$25 Super Glaze
FREE Paint left over from other projects
Grand Total $30!!

________________

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.!

________________

Faux Marble Countertop Update 1/11/16

Yael, one of our readers, followed this tutorial and sent us this message:

“Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I successfully completed a faux marble counter based on your tutorial. I am so pleased with the results!”

DIY faux marble countertop by Jewish Latin Princess on @Remodelaholic

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:

diy glossy painted countertopsglossy painted countertops diy copper countertopscopper countertops diy butcher block countertopsbutcherblock countertops
diy stainless steel countertopsstainless steel countertops diy concrete countertopsconcrete countertops diy painted faux granite countertopsfaux granite countertops

Amazing tutorial -- paint your own faux marble countertops! #remodelaholic

DIY Faux Marble Counterops By Batchelor's Way For Remodelaholic.com

Learn How To Paint Faux Marble Countertops For Around $30 Featured On Remodelaholic.com

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Remodelaholic is 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. Please see our full disclosure here.

Published: April 9, 2014Filed Under: Before and After, Guest Bloggers, How To, Kitchen Tagged: Backsplash and Counter Tops, countertops, DIY countertops, Guest Bloggers, paint techniques

About Cass

Cassity started Remodelaholic with her husband, Justin, to share their love for knocking out walls together. Since then, Remodelaholic has become a great community and resource for all those wanting to know how to make their builder-grade home BEAUTIFUL on a budget!


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Comments

  1. Sue says

    August 21, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    Could I use this technique on a wooden coffee table.
    thx

    Reply
    • Cass says

      August 21, 2015 at 9:39 pm

      I’d imagine you could! You’d probably just need to prime before to make sure that you have a solid base layer to start the marble painting on.

      Reply
  2. Charlotte says

    January 17, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    I love the look but was wondering how it is holding up. Can you use a bleach cleaner on it?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Cass says

      January 25, 2016 at 2:07 pm

      Hi Charlotte! The sealant should be pretty durable, but you can click over to Bachelors Way and ask Ronda for sure about how it’s holding up and what she uses to clean it. There’s a link to her site at the top of the post. Thanks!

      Reply
    • Corrine says

      January 25, 2016 at 2:41 pm

      Hey Charlotte,

      After I did my countertop this way, i found it to stain a bit easily or if something gets wet and sticks to it, it’ll sometimes leave a mark. However, with magic eraser i’ve been able to wipe it clean every single time! So i’m not sure about a bleach cleaner — but the magic eraser sure does work for me. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Cass says

        January 26, 2016 at 1:17 pm

        Thanks for adding your experience, Corrine!

        Reply
  3. Cindy says

    February 2, 2016 at 6:18 am

    I just did this in my kitchen and wow it turned out great! Thank you so much for the awesome directions. Only problem I had was the epoxy was a lot thicker in some spots than others. I will sand it down today and add another coat to see how that goes…. Cindy

    Reply
    • Cass says

      February 3, 2016 at 10:18 pm

      Yay! We want to see pictures when you are done, Cindy!

      Reply
  4. Liz says

    February 4, 2016 at 2:10 pm

    Would this work over laminate??

    Reply
    • Cass says

      February 6, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      Yes, these countertops were originally laminate.

      Reply
      • Liz says

        February 6, 2016 at 4:45 pm

        And it’s food safe?

        Reply
        • Cass says

          February 8, 2016 at 1:13 pm

          Food-safe depends on the sealer that you use. I’m not personally familiar with most of them, so you’d have to do a bit of research and read up on which ones are recommended for kitchen use and tested for food safety. This was just in a laundry room, so I don’t think Ronda was worried about food safe 🙂

          Reply
  5. Lisa Walker says

    March 26, 2016 at 9:35 am

    We just finished up our kitchen remodel using your tutorial, and the counter tops look awesome! I repainted one counter three times though because I didn’t like how it turned out. I thought they were too grey, but when I put the sealer on, they came out just as I wanted them. They’re beautiful. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Cass says

      March 29, 2016 at 5:43 pm

      Thanks for the comment, Lisa! So glad they turned out awesome! We’d love to see some pictures if you’re up for sharing. Drop us a line at [email protected] or use the form here: https://www.remodelaholic.com/share-brag-post/

      Reply
  6. Paint it White says

    April 8, 2016 at 6:26 am

    I love how this counter top turned out thank you so much for the tutorial.I can hardly believe it’s not true marble and I was full sure the tute was going to be way to complicated so I am pleasantly surprised that it is not. Going to try it on my laminate kitchen counter which needs upgrading anyway if I have a fail..

    Reply
  7. Emily says

    May 16, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    I would like to do a black glitter marble like this. Do you recommend all the same products or have you seen anything for black marble effect? obviously using black primer paint instead of white.

    Reply
    • Cass says

      May 18, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      I haven’t seen anything specific for black marble. But it sounds STUNNING! I’d love to see pictures when you’re done!

      Reply
  8. Jillian says

    August 14, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    Did you notice the epoxy yellowing at all? I just painted my countertops to look like marble and really want to put epoxy over it but I’m nervous that it will turn yellow.

    Reply
    • Corrine says

      August 15, 2016 at 3:14 pm

      I used the EnviroTex Lite (one of the options suggested) and I haven’t seen any yellowing. I’ve had it on my countertop for almost 2 yrs.

      Reply
      • Cass says

        August 15, 2016 at 4:02 pm

        Thanks for the feedback, Corrine!

        Reply
  9. Paint It White interiors says

    October 8, 2016 at 5:12 am

    oh wow! I would love to try this. Thanks for sharing all the information.

    Reply
  10. Kathy says

    February 3, 2017 at 5:56 am

    Could I do this over my existing granite countertops?

    Reply
    • Cass says

      February 3, 2017 at 10:57 am

      I imagine that you could, but you might be better off removing and selling the granite to replace your countertops — I’m not sure how the granite would take paint, and I’m not sure I’d try it 😉

      Reply
  11. Heather Brown says

    June 5, 2017 at 11:26 am

    Hi! I am dying to do this to our bathroom countertop!! The “problem” is it is a solid surface similar to Corian where the sink is integrated. How would you handle the super glaze in that case? That is my only hold up from doing this!

    Reply
    • Whitney says

      November 20, 2017 at 6:59 pm

      I am also wondering about this same issue! I would LOVE any info!

      Reply
  12. Mary says

    August 3, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Did you only use the primer for white paint? I have already down two coats of white primer on my wooden vanity top, but I wonder if I should do a coat of white paint (non-primer) as well?

    Reply
  13. Chong says

    August 9, 2017 at 10:49 am

    I went to my hardware store and picked upna two part epoxy for my counter. After a few months now. My counter tops are turning yellow from the suns UV rays… Anyone have this problem or know how to fix and prevent?

    Reply
  14. Heidi says

    August 12, 2017 at 9:10 am

    Hey can I just leave my own laminate countertop in the kitchen and then paint over them?

    Reply
    • Cass says

      September 5, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Absolutely! Many many DIYers have done that. You can read other techniques and tips here: https://www.remodelaholic.com/diy-painted-countertop-reviews/

      Reply
  15. Abby Hubble says

    August 15, 2017 at 5:31 am

    Do you have to remove your countertop or can you just leave the countertop in place?

    Reply
  16. Whitney says

    November 20, 2017 at 6:57 pm

    I’m just wondering if this would work on a bathroom countertop where the sink is a part of the counter. I would plan on doing the sink without the veining (just white) but will the epoxy work on the sink since it is not a flat surface? I would love any insights you might have!! Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Oksana says

      January 25, 2018 at 7:15 pm

      Did you ever hear back on your question? My bathroom sink is round and I am wondering if I should leave it white or paint it or epoxy it or what? please help!

      Reply
  17. Chelsea says

    February 21, 2018 at 10:59 am

    Would this method be hard to manage for about 20ft of countertop? I imagine it would be very time consuming. But I wonder if the epoxy would start to set before I could get it all covered.

    Reply
    • Cass says

      March 3, 2018 at 10:55 am

      That’s a great point, Chelsea. I haven’t done this personally, but we polled other DIYers about their experiences and processes, so you might find some help in this post about using the epoxy or using a different sealant. https://www.remodelaholic.com/diy-painted-countertop-reviews/ Good luck!

      Reply
  18. Kathie Rost says

    June 14, 2018 at 9:09 pm

    I just did an epoxy workshop at countertopepoxy.com. It was so fun! Now I am going to do my countertops like this- but not with paint, with colored epoxy.

    Mask of EVERYTHING with plastic- it will soak thru cardboard and drop cloths. When dry, it peels off the plastic sheeting.

    We poured our colors and spread them, then sprayed the top with 91% rubbing alcohol—it makes magical marbled patterns! Then we torched the surface to get rid of any bubbles or dust. One of those pro torches is only about $40. If you don’t have one, get a culinary torch for about $25, good for small projects. And from here on in, creme brulee and melted cheese is just a second away!

    Love how yours came out!

    Reply
  19. John says

    August 21, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    I would like to try this on my bathroom shower walls. Are there any tips? What kind of clear would I use?
    Thanks John

    Reply
  20. Joey says

    April 8, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    Wow. Brilliant idea. I was wondering, do you need to redo the seal later on or would it be fine?

    Reply
    • Barbara says

      April 18, 2019 at 9:31 am

      I would definitely seal the countertops every 6 months or annually. Do you have marble countertops already?

      Reply
      • Joey says

        April 22, 2019 at 1:55 pm

        No, barbara, I do not. My wife and I are saving up to redo our kitchen so we’ve just been researching and trying to finalize what our expenses will be. It’s so hard trying to get an average price for marble because everyone hides their prices online so you have to call. Can you tell me what kind of prices I should be expecting when getting marble countertops?

        Reply
    • Joanna says

      April 19, 2019 at 9:41 am

      I would redo the seal annually or semi-annually just to be safe. These countertops are not cheap lol

      Reply
      • Joey says

        April 22, 2019 at 1:56 pm

        Thanks Joanna, and yea I figured lol I just want to make sure I’m going with the right stone. I don’t want to worry about refinishing it and scratches over time.

        Reply
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Hey there, I am Cassity! Nice to virtually meet you!

This blog is about DIY at its finest. We are obsessed with it and so are you, so while we're working and have nothing to show you of our own projects we show off yours. So submit your projects! More About Us…

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