DIY Faux Granite Finish for Kitchen Countertops
CBS The Early Show, Featured, Kitchens and Baths, Painting & Finishing by Danny Lipford
If you’re tired of your old plastic laminate kitchen countertops but don’t want the expense of replacing them with stone, Giani Granite Paint for Countertops might be just the answer. The DIY friendly, faux granite painting kit can make almost any surface—from plastic laminate and solid surface countertops to mantels and tabletops—look like granite.
The low odor, water-based polymer resin is made from automotive grade polymers for added durability. The kit retails for under $40 and comes with almost everything you need to finish 16 feet of countertop.
Giani Granite Paint for Countertops:
- For use on plastic laminate, solid surface, primed cultured marble, wood, primed drywall, primed acrylic or fiberglass shower stall walls, mantels, tabletops.
- Can’t be used on shower stall floors, bathtubs, sinks, other surfaces that will be submerged in water.
- Available in Sicilian Sand, Bombay Black, and Jet Black.
Kit includes:
- black primer
- minerals
- clear topcoat
- roller
- foam brush
- sponge
- black practice poster paper
- instructional DVD
- printed instructions
Application:
- Clean countertop and backsplash with degreaser.
- Patch any gouges or nicks and sand smooth.
- Mask off walls, sink, and cabinets with painter’s tape.
- Apply black primer using a foam brush to trim and roller for main surface.
- Allow primer to dry for six hours.
- Apply minerals to the primed surface using the included sponge.
- Allow minerals to dry for two hours.
- Lightly sand off any rough spots with fine (320 grit) sandpaper.
- Apply clear topcoat with roller and brush.
- Allow topcoat dry for eight hours.
- Lightly sand off rough spots.
- Apply second coat of clear topcoat.
- Allow to cure for 48 hours before using.
Watch Danny’s CBS Early Show segment on:
Countertop Makeover in a Paint Can
More information, including ordering online, is available at Giani Granite Paint for Countertops.
18 Comments on “DIY Faux Granite Finish for Kitchen Countertops”
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August 13th, 2009 at 17:23
Interested in comments from people who have used this product.
August 14th, 2009 at 08:19
Interesting concept. I wonder how it holds up?
August 14th, 2009 at 14:35
This is such a good idea, but I live 30 miles from the nearest Home Depot and have yet to find a location (including Home Depot) near me that sells Thomas Liquid Granite. Can you tell me if there is a company that sells it on line?
Thank you!
August 14th, 2009 at 14:58
There is the original company that has been around for years (www.byyoullc.com) that sells the package online and teaches you how to do it. The results are great, I did it myself and am impressed with the overall result.
August 14th, 2009 at 21:03
I have tried the original countertop refinishing DVD too, called Countertop Transfauxmations – http://www.byyoullc.com Had it for years in my bathroom. They teach how to do faux granite which was very easy to do and a marble finish.
September 2nd, 2009 at 20:42
I applied the Sicilian Sand on my master bath vanity. My vanity was white crushed marble before. I had to first use an oil-based primer before applying the base coat from the Giani Granite kit. The whole process is time consuming, but the end result is worth it. Expect to spend an entire weekend due to the drying time. The one thing I would caution is to be careful to not get the product on any unintended surfaces. It is extremely difficult to remove it, despite the fact that it is water-based.
Ben Erickson Says:September 3rd, 2009 at 08:29
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the feedback on the Giani paint kit. Keep us informed on how well it holds up over time.
October 20th, 2009 at 01:46
I recently purchased the Giani Paints and I will say that I was skeptical at first. I had 1978 harvest gold countertops and harvest gold appliances. The Piant and the Stainless Steel appliance paint is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I did my entire kitchen for $159.99 for EVERYTHING! the final cost if I purchased all materials from a store: $ 12,000.00 !!!!! It’s an amazing product!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED~!
Where to purchase: I bought directly from the website. http://www.liquidstainlesssteel.com/giani/
I had magnetic surfaces so there was no priming needed in my case. For the countertops, I cleaned as recommended, and started painting! I had no prepartion needed.
Pictures are available: please email: emskev1@aol.com if interested. I used the Black Bombay. It has pearl formica, black, and bronze……..GEORGOUS
Kevin Mullins
Culloden, WV
Ben Erickson Says:October 20th, 2009 at 07:49
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for letting us know about your experience with Giani. I’m glad it worked out. Let us know how it holds up over time.
February 21st, 2010 at 15:08
Just thought I’d leave a few of my thoughts on this process. First of all, I believe the “ideal” application for this process is old formica countertops. As a person with sort of a utilitarian outlook, I would *never* use this product on Corian countertops as suggested-it would compromise the entire premise behind the Corian product. We decided to try this product on temporary housing in a mobile home we purchased to live in while we build our new house. The old formica countertops were just plain ugly, and this was a possible affordable solution to ripping the countertops out and starting over. I am not new to painting, but painting countertops is a new concept for me. I ordered the product straight from the manufacturer online, and it promptly arrived on my front doorstep. My first suggestion is to not only clean and degrease the countertops well as directed, but to do it twice in more commonly “used” areas, such as around the sink and stove. Because I didn’t do it twice, the primer did not “take” as well in those areas. I ended up sanding those areas and reapplying. Our backsplash is ceramic tile. They suggested a layer of primer on tile prior to priming. I would go one step further and suggest a light sanding after priming-it It is very easy to get wrapped up in trying to make the pattern look “random”, as granite would normally appear. Definitely wear gloves!! I also suggest having one small paintbrush and one tiny one for those little hard to reach area. Plan on allowing the process to dry overnight, and plan on going back for random touch-ups before the final clearcoat application. The instructions will tell you it’s OK to do that, and it does help add depth to the look.
February 21st, 2010 at 15:12
I accidentally hit “submit” early-oops. I meant to say the primer will stick better to the ceramic tile with a light sanding. Plan on spending an entire weekend on this project if you want it to look right. The instructions are pretty straightforward. One last suggestion is if you buy two kits, as I needed to do, designate one of the large sponge rollers for the primer and the other for the topcoat, instead of using the same roller for the two different appications.
Ben Erickson Says:February 22nd, 2010 at 08:45
Kate,
Thanks for the personal feedback on using this product.
June 6th, 2010 at 09:43
I just finished my first project with Giani. I was skeptical so I started small, my half bath vanity top. I’m not very creative with special effect painting, but the vanity top looks amazing! I’m so happy with it. I bought the Sicilian Sand kit and watched the video which came with the kit about 5 times (LOL) to make sure I had the directions down. My vanity top, which was a boring white formica is now a very beautiful brown/gold/cream granite looking finish. I am going to use the same Sicilian Sand colors to paint my full bath vanity top, but plan on practicing on the poster paper since I want the finish of that vanity top to have a lighter cream/gold look. Then I will tackle the kitchen! I hope this product turns out to be as durable as it is easy to use. It certainly looks great!
Ben Erickson Says:June 6th, 2010 at 11:30
Hi Diane,
Glad to hear your granite finish countertop project worked out great. Let us know how it holds up over time.
July 4th, 2010 at 00:32
Hi Danny,
I have seen where people have tried this product. I would really like to try it but, I having a real problem finding it I check Home Depot and they don’t have it, what other store might have it.? I’m in Houston Tx.
Thanks Cherry
Ben Erickson Says:July 4th, 2010 at 10:43
Cherry,
Giani countertop paint is available at select independent hardware and home improvement stores. To find stores in your area, click on the link to the Giani website in the article above then select the “Stores” option. You can also order it online directly from Giani by clicking on the “Buy Giani Here” option on their website.
August 11th, 2010 at 09:38
I just finished a 5″ master bath vanity countertop using Sicilian Sand GIANI. I purchased my kit directly from the manufacturer online for around $59 including shipping and tax. My hideous original 40-year old counter was white Formica with multi-green snowflakes. I also had an ugly peasoup green ceramic tile backsplash about 10 inches tall. I scuff sanded and primed the ceramic tile as instructed, then followed the GIANI directions. The aesthetic result far exceeds my expectations! Stunning! And no expensive, messy tear-out! If you could see my before and after photos, your jaw would drop. If this product holds up as the manufacturer claims it should, I will be a lifetime fan.
August 16th, 2010 at 12:36
For someone wanting the granite or even marble look, it can be acheived for even cheaper than this product. I noticed several comments asking where they could get it as their local stores did not carry it. If that is the case, than you can run to Wal-Mart or any store that carries acrylic paint (the bottles in the art section). Each bottle costs a little over a DOLLAR and one of each color is all (and even more than) you need. Get a base color (white, black, cream, or tan), then choose additional co-ordinating colors (usually 3 to 4) to splotch in with a sponge (natural sponges work best and are also available for cheap in same section). If you wanted to go a step further and really get the natural effect, you can get an additional, more contrasting & starker color and grab a feather and grag it across your creation randomly. Finish with a glossy polyurethane over entire creation, atleast 2 coats. This look that is featured can be achieved for UNDER $10!!!! So if your looking to save some money (which you obviously are, considering that you’re looking at this video), then this is the least exspensive way to go with the same (if not better) outcome!