1980s laminate with a built-in backsplash
Many Carol Stream kitchens still have 1980s post-formed laminate. If it's flat and well attached, a new finish is a practical update.
Serving Carol Stream & nearby Glendale Heights, Winfield
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Carol Stream, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in Carol Stream resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Crews working in Carol Stream ZIP 60188
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop surfaces we resurface in Carol Stream
We refinish dated counters in Carol Stream kitchens in place: the cabinets, sink and backsplash stay where they are. Prep and repairs come first, then the base and finish coats, and the counter cures before it goes back into daily use.
Scratches, knife marks and stains
Stains that bleach won't touch and a web of cutting marks are covered after prep, leaving a smooth, uniform surface.
Matching new cabinet paint
Painting your cabinets? Refinishing the counters at the same time lets you pick a top color that works with the new doors.
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.
Wanting a stone look without new stone
Our granite-look coatings use layered color flecks under a clear coat, so the surface has depth rather than a flat paint look.
Tile counters with grout that won't come clean
Resurfacing tile hides stained grout and gives you a single flat-looking surface. Deep grout joints are filled first.
Laminate worn dull or through the pattern
Worn-through patches and a faded surface are cosmetic. As long as the board is sound, a resurfacing system covers them.
Formica in a color you are tired of
Old Formica colors are the most common reason people call us. A coat of granite-look or solid finish replaces the look while the counter stays put.
What we do on the job
- Inspection for water damageWe press, tap and look along the sink and seams to confirm the base will hold a finish.
- 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.
- RepairsDamage is fixed and sanded flush before any coating goes on.
- Sanding and primingThe surface is scuffed for adhesion and primed with a bonding primer.
- Clear topcoatA durable clear coat seals the color and gives a satin or gloss sheen.
- RecaulkingFresh caulk at the backsplash and around the sink once the finish is dry.
Options to choose from
Laminate (Formica)The most common base; it coats well when the particleboard underneath is dry and flat.
Resurfacing vs. replacingResurfacing changes the look of sound tops; replacement is for damaged substrates or a material change.
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.
Ceramic tileA coating turns a gridded tile surface into one continuous finish.
What the work looks like in Carol Stream homes
Before
AfterA Carol Stream 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Carol Stream. What we started with: white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The reason for the call: tile counters with grout that never came clean. After: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. The job covered sanding and priming, clear topcoat, plus recaulking.
Before
AfterA Glendale Heights 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Glendale Heights. Before: white Corian-style solid surface with a yellowed seam. What bothered the owners most: a yellowed molded top they wanted to change. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. The job covered deep cleaning and degreasing, clear topcoat, plus recaulking.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Glendale Heights →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Carol Stream
Finished: warm walnut butcher block countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterCarol Stream kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterA Carol Stream 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
Finished: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Carol Stream →How your countertop resurfacing goes
- Photos and a quick checkSend pictures of the counters and the sink area; we look for signs of water damage first.
- 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 useKeep the counters gentle for the cure period we give you, then use them normally.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing questions from Carol Stream homeowners
Can Formica countertops be resurfaced?
Yes. Formica and other laminates are the most common tops we refinish, as long as they're dry, flat and well glued down.
How long does a resurfaced countertop last?
There's no fixed number. A coating on a well-prepared top, used with care, can look good for a long time; damage spots can be touched up.
Can you resurface a countertop that is peeling?
If the laminate itself is lifting, we reglue it first. If an old coating is peeling, we remove it before refinishing.
Is it the same as painting my countertops?
Similar idea, different materials. Our coatings are made for countertops and are applied in several coats over a primed surface.
Should I resurface or replace my countertops?
Resurface when the tops are sound and you're happy with the layout. Replace when the core is damaged, or when you want real stone or a new shape.
Do Carol Stream condo associations need to approve countertop resurfacing?
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.
Do I need a permit for countertop resurfacing in Carol Stream?
It depends on the scope. Carol Stream's rule in short: Permit required for most remodeling; exempt only if no structural change and no alteration or relocation of plumbing, heating or electrical; fixture swaps without piping changes are exempt. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Carol Stream?
Yes. Our crews work across Carol Stream — ZIP 60188 — and nearby Glendale Heights, Winfield, Bloomingdale.
Working in Carol Stream
- A lot of Carol Stream kitchens date from the 1980s. 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 Community Development Department, Building Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60188
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in Carol Stream
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.