1970s laminate with a built-in backsplash
Many Northbrook kitchens still have 1970s post-formed laminate. If it's flat and well attached, a new finish is a practical update.
Serving Northbrook & nearby Glenview, Highland Park
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Northbrook, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in Northbrook resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Crews working in Northbrook ZIP 60062
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop surfaces we resurface in Northbrook
We refinish dated counters in Northbrook 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.
A kitchen you plan to sell soon
If you'd rather not invest in stone for a house you're selling, refinishing the existing tops is the lighter update.
Counters in a rental unit
In a rental, a refinished counter turns around quickly and the cabinets and plumbing stay untouched.
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.
Formica in a color you are tired of
Harvest gold, almond, speckled brown or a busy pattern can be covered with a new coating in a modern stone look or a calm solid color.
A previous paint job that is peeling
If an earlier painted finish is flaking, we remove what won't hold, sand to a sound surface and start the coating over.
Dated cultured marble tops
Cast cultured marble takes a resurfacing coat well once crazing and chips are addressed. Kitchens and vanities both qualify.
Chips and loose edges before coating
Chipped corners are rebuilt and loose edge strips reglued first; a coating over a loose edge would crack at the joint.
What the work covers
- Inspection for water damageWe press, tap and look along the sink and seams to confirm the base will hold a finish.
- Deep cleaning and degreasingThe tops are degreased thoroughly, since contamination is the main reason coatings fail.
- Sanding and primingThe surface is scuffed for adhesion and primed with a bonding primer.
- 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.
- RecaulkingFresh caulk at the backsplash and around the sink once the finish is dry.
- Cure-time and care instructionsWe tell you when you can use the counter lightly and when it reaches full hardness.
Options to choose from
Stone-look finishesLayered color chips under a clear coat for depth and a natural look.
Ceramic tileA coating turns a gridded tile surface into one continuous finish.
Cultured marbleCast tops in kitchens and vanities that accept a new color after repair and priming.
Resurfacing vs. replacingCoat what is solid and you like the shape of; replace what is swollen, cracked or the wrong layout.
Solid colorsA single uniform color, often paired with a satin topcoat.
What the work looks like in Northbrook homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Northbrook
This one is a 1960s ranch near Downtown Northbrook. Before: speckled laminate. The main complaint was tired, stained laminate. The result: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant sanding and priming, clear topcoat, plus recaulking.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Highland Park
The site: a 1950s ranch near Port Clinton. The kitchen as it was: light beige laminate. The main complaint was laminate worn through near the sink. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant deep cleaning and degreasing, base and pattern coats, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Highland Park →
Before
AfterCountertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in a 1950s ranch, Mount Prospect
This one is a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect. What we started with: laminate with an aluminum edge band. The main complaint was tired, stained laminate. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. Work included inspection for water damage, deep cleaning and degreasing, plus clear topcoat.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Northbrook postwar Cape Cod: before and after
What changed: white quartz with soft gray veining countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Northbrook →
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in forest green with matte black pulls, black honed granite counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Northbrook →How your countertop resurfacing goes
- Photos and a quick checkA few photos tell us the material and whether resurfacing is likely to work.
- Color and finish choiceWe bring sample chips so you can see the finish next to your cabinets and floor.
- Prep and coatingWe prepare the tops and build the coating system in stages.
- 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 Northbrook homeowners
Can Formica countertops be resurfaced?
They can. We check the edges and the area around the sink; if the board is sound, laminate takes a new finish well.
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.
Is it the same as painting my countertops?
No. Household paint isn't made for a work surface. We use a multi-layer coating system with a bonding primer and a hard clear topcoat.
Does countertop refinishing really work?
Yes, with limits. A professionally applied system bonds well to laminate and cultured marble, but it won't fix a swollen core and it isn't a cutting surface.
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.
Do I need a Northbrook-registered contractor for countertop resurfacing?
Village contractor license required, good for one year: general contractors $100; electrical $70. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for countertop resurfacing in Northbrook?
It depends on the scope. Northbrook's rule in short: Village lists separate permit types: Single Family Alterations - Interior, Electrical (new wiring/outlets), and Plumbing (new fixtures). We handle the permit when one is needed with Development & Planning Services.
Do you work in my part of Northbrook?
Yes. Our crews work across Northbrook, including Techny, Downtown Northbrook — ZIP 60062 — and nearby Glenview, Highland Park, Mount Prospect.
Working in Northbrook
- A lot of Northbrook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Northbrook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development & Planning Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
TechnyDowntown Northbrook
ZIP 60062
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in Northbrook
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.