1950s laminate with a built-in backsplash
Many Skokie kitchens still have 1950s post-formed laminate. If it's flat and well attached, a new finish is a practical update.
Serving Skokie & nearby Evanston, Park Ridge
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Skokie, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in Skokie resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Crews working in Skokie ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop surfaces we resurface in Skokie
We refinish dated counters in Skokie 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.
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.
Dated cultured marble tops
Cultured marble with a yellowed gel coat or a swirl pattern you never liked can be repaired and coated in a new color.
A kitchen you plan to sell soon
Getting ready to list? A new finish on old laminate makes the kitchen photograph and show more current.
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.
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.
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
Spots where the print has worn away near the sink or the stove disappear under a continuous new finish.
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 ventilationWe tape off and cover everything around the counters and set up airflow for the coatings.
- RepairsChips filled, edges reglued, loose tiles reset and grout joints leveled.
- 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.
- Cure-time and care instructionsWe tell you when you can use the counter lightly and when it reaches full hardness.
Options to choose from
Ceramic tileA coating turns a gridded tile surface into one continuous finish.
Solid colorsA single uniform color, often paired with a satin topcoat.
Stone-look finishesSpeckled or flecked coatings that read like granite or other natural stone.
Resurfacing vs. replacingResurfacing changes the look of sound tops; replacement is for damaged substrates or a material change.
Cultured marbleMolded marble-look surfaces that can be refinished in place.
Before and after: kitchens near Skokie
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Skokie
The site: a postwar bi-level in Skokie. What we started with: light beige laminate. The main complaint was tired, stained laminate. After: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. The job covered inspection for water damage, clear topcoat, plus recaulking.
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar brick bungalow: before and after
A prewar brick bungalow in Evanston, a typical kitchen for Evanston. Before: dark brown speckled laminate. What bothered the owners most: tired, stained laminate. The result: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. Work included repairs, clear topcoat, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Evanston →
Before
AfterPark Ridge kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: countertop refinishing & resurfacing
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge. The kitchen as it was: laminate with an aluminum edge band. What bothered the owners most: 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.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterA Skokie postwar Cape Cod: before and after
Black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Skokie →
Before
AfterA Skokie 1950s ranch: before and after
Cabinets in light butter yellow with polished nickel pulls, black honed granite counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Skokie →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 choiceWe bring sample chips so you can see the finish next to your cabinets and floor.
- 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 Skokie homeowners
Should I resurface or replace my countertops?
It comes down to the base and your plans. Sound laminate is worth coating; swollen tops or a kitchen redesign call for replacement.
Do you refinish bathroom vanity tops?
We do. A matching vanity finish is easy to add while we're set up.
Can tile countertops be resurfaced?
Yes. We fill the grout joints, secure loose tiles and coat over the whole surface for a smooth, single finish.
Can I cut on or set hot pans on a refinished counter?
A resurfaced top isn't made for heavy cutting or hot cookware. Treat it like a finished surface, not a work block.
Can you resurface a countertop that is peeling?
Loose laminate is reattached; failed paint is stripped. If the core is swollen, we recommend new tops instead.
Skokie contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Many contractors must be registered and insured with the Village each year; permits are not issued unless all listed contractors are registered and insured. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for countertop resurfacing in Skokie?
It depends on the scope. Skokie's rule in short: Electrical work and plumbing or electrical system changes need a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division.
Do you work in my part of Skokie?
Yes. Our crews work across Skokie — ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203 — and nearby Evanston, Park Ridge, Glenview.
Working in Skokie
- A lot of Skokie kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Skokie homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60076ZIP 60077ZIP 60203
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in Skokie
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.