1970s laminate with a built-in backsplash
Original 1970s laminate is a good candidate when it's solid. We coat the top and the integral splash together.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Arlington Heights, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in Arlington Heights resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Crews working in Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop surfaces we resurface in Arlington Heights
Resurfacing is a coating, not a new countertop, and it works best on tops that are flat, dry and well attached. Our Arlington Heights techs check that first, fix chips and loose edges, then apply a multi-coat system you can choose in a speckled granite look or a plain color.
Chips and loose edges before coating
Resurfacing only holds on a solid base, so we reattach lifted edges and fill chips before anything is sprayed.
Scratches, knife marks and stains
We fill cuts and gouges, sand the whole top and lay down fresh coats, which hides most surface damage.
Laminate swollen around the sink
Swollen laminate is the one problem resurfacing can't solve. We check every top for water damage before quoting a coating.
Wanting a stone look without new stone
If you like the look of granite but your tops are laminate, a stone-look resurfacing system gets you much of the effect.
Counters in a rental unit
For rental kitchens with sound but worn counters, recoating is a quick refresh between leases.
Formica in a color you are tired of
When the laminate is in good shape but the color dates the room, resurfacing changes it in a couple of days without new tops.
Dated cultured marble tops
If the molded top is sound but the color is wrong, we sand, prime and refinish it in a solid or speckled look.
What we do on the job
- Inspection for water damageEvery top is checked for soft or swollen areas, loose edges and movement before we quote a coating.
- Masking and ventilationCabinets, walls, appliances and floor are covered, and the room is ventilated while we work.
- Deep cleaning and degreasingThe tops are degreased thoroughly, since contamination is the main reason coatings fail.
- Base and pattern coatsWe build up color in layers, plain for a solid finish or speckled for a granite look.
- Clear topcoatA durable clear coat seals the color and gives a satin or gloss sheen.
- RecaulkingJoints at the wall and sink are sealed again after coating.
- Cure-time and care instructionsYou get written care tips and the wait times before heavy use and cleaning.
Options to choose from
Stone-look finishesSpeckled or flecked coatings that read like granite or other natural stone.
Cultured marbleCast tops in kitchens and vanities that accept a new color after repair and priming.
Solid colorsPlain white, gray, black or warm neutrals for a simple, modern look.
Resurfacing vs. replacingResurfacing changes the look of sound tops; replacement is for damaged substrates or a material change.
Ceramic tileA coating turns a gridded tile surface into one continuous finish.
Before and after: kitchens near Arlington Heights
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, postwar bi-level: countertop refinishing & resurfacing
The site: a postwar bi-level in Arlington Heights. Before: speckled laminate. The main complaint was tired, stained laminate. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant masking and ventilation, clear topcoat, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect
This one is a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: laminate with an aluminum edge band. What bothered the owners most: laminate worn through near the sink. After: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. The job covered inspection for water damage, deep cleaning and degreasing, plus recaulking.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Palatine two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine, a typical kitchen for Palatine. What we started with: white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The main complaint was tile counters with grout that never came clean. After: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. Work included deep cleaning and degreasing, base and pattern coats, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Palatine →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Arlington Heights
Finished: white quartz countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen remodeling
What changed: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →How the job goes
- Photos and a quick checkA few photos tell us the material and whether resurfacing is likely to work.
- Color and finish choicePick a stone-look or solid color from samples, plus satin or gloss.
- Prep and coatingMasking, cleaning, repairs, priming and the finish coats, usually over one to two days.
- Cure, then back to useThe finish needs time to harden; we tell you when light use and full use are safe.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
Can tile countertops be resurfaced?
In most cases. Cracked or loose tiles are fixed, the grout is filled and then the coating goes on.
Does countertop refinishing really work?
It does when the base is solid and the prep is thorough. It is a coating, so it is not as tough as new stone, but it lasts with sensible care.
Do you refinish bathroom vanity tops?
Yes, cultured marble vanities are a very common resurfacing job.
How long does a resurfaced countertop last?
It depends on prep, use and care. Treated gently, a good coating holds up for years; heavy cutting and hot pans shorten its life.
What does countertop resurfacing cost?
We price it after checking the tops, since repairs and tile filling change the work. The estimate comes in writing.
Can you do countertop resurfacing in an Arlington Heights condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Arlington Heights contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The Village of Arlington Heights contractor license number must be listed on permit applications; homeowners doing their own work file a Homeowner as General Contractor form. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for countertop resurfacing in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
Countertop RepairChips, cracks, seams and burns fixed without replacing the top.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Stone Countertop RestorationEtches, stains and dull spots taken out, then the stone resealed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.