Do It Yourself Countertops for Homeowners — Tips to Remember

When homeowners look at home improvement projects, they will often view them in terms of what will create the most value if they decide to sell their home. An often overlooked consideration is to simply upgrade their kitchen or bathroom countertops. In fact, it is not uncommon for homeowners to simply reface their cabinets and swap out their countertops to make a quick improvement. The choices of material can be overwhelming. Years ago, there were only 1 or 2 materials available in only a handful of colors. Today, the combination of color and material choices can seem overwhelming.

As it relates to color, homeowners should always consider that they may someday sell their house. Even though countertops are available in hundreds of colors, most of those color selections will be unacceptable to people that may purchase the same property in the future. Neutral beige and light color tones are strongly recommended. Strong colors may be acceptable for contemporary and modern designed homes. Generally, granite can be found in about 50 different common variations. The simpler the color and pattern, the less expensive it's cost. The materials that will yield the greatest color choices will be man-made materials such as solid-surface, quartz, cultured marble and even glass. Some manufacturers will even allow custom color matching to specific pantone colors.

Transforming a bathroom by changing the cabinet countertops is typically a simple one-day project. Most bathroom cabinets come in standard sizes. Standard vanity countertops for these cabinets are typically available in the following widths: 24 inches, 30 inches, 36 inches, 48 inches, 60 inches, and 72 inches. The 60 and 72 inch standard tops will typically be made to accommodate two sinks where the other sizes will only permit one sink. Standard cabinet come in a depth of 22 inches. The recommended first step is to measure your existing bathroom cabinet and to determine whether it is standard. If it's a standard size, you can proceed to order the top you like.

Once the new top arrives, it's simply a matter of removing the faucet and drain and proceeding to remove the old countertop from your existing cabinet. Careful attention should be made to ensure that the cabinet is not damaged. Additionally, you should be careful not to damage the walls that the current counter top may be adjacent to. The newly selected counter top can then simply be placed on the existing cabinet.

When changing countertops, it is important to pay attention to your faucet. Faucets typically come in one of three variations: single-hole, four-inch center spread, and eight-inch center spread. This means that your counter top will have either one or 3 holes to accommodate your faucet. Make sure you pay close attention so that you don't have to purchase a new faucet if you did not intend to do so.

Once your new counter top is installed, you should test your faucet and drain to make sure everything is functioning properly. After testing, you can proceed to apply a thin bead of silicon between the wall and your counter top to ensure water does not reach your drywall. This project can be a success with proper planning and the ordering of the correct counter top. Most importantly, it will add significant value to your home without adding much expense.

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