2000s laminate with a built-in backsplash
Original 2000s laminate is a good candidate when it's solid. We coat the top and the integral splash together.
Serving St. Charles & nearby Geneva, West Chicago
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in St. Charles, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in St. Charles resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Serving St. Charles ZIP 60174, 60175
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Countertop surfaces we resurface in St. Charles
If your counters are solid but the color or pattern is wrong, a resurfacing coat changes the look without demolition. In St. Charles we clean, repair and prime laminate, cultured marble and tile tops, then spray a new stone-look or solid finish and a clear protective topcoat.
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.
Scratches, knife marks and stains
We fill cuts and gouges, sand the whole top and lay down fresh coats, which hides most surface damage.
Tile counters with grout that won't come clean
Grout that stays gray no matter how you scrub can be covered. We secure any loose tile, fill the joints and coat the top.
Laminate swollen around the sink
Raised, spongy laminate at the sink means the core is wet. We won't coat over it; new tops are the right fix there.
A kitchen you plan to sell soon
Before listing, a resurfaced counter is a short project that removes one dated feature buyers notice.
Dated cultured marble tops
Cast cultured marble takes a resurfacing coat well once crazing and chips are addressed. Kitchens and vanities both qualify.
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 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.
- Base and pattern coatsA solid base color goes on, followed by fleck or mineral layers for a stone look.
- Clear topcoatA durable clear coat seals the color and gives a satin or gloss sheen.
- Cure-time and care instructionsWe tell you when you can use the counter lightly and when it reaches full hardness.
Materials and finishes
Stone-look finishesLayered color chips under a clear coat for depth and a natural look.
Laminate (Formica)Plastic laminate is resurfaced after scuffing and a bonding primer.
Ceramic tileTile counters can be coated over once grout lines are filled and loose tiles fixed.
Resurfacing vs. replacingCoat what is solid and you like the shape of; replace what is swollen, cracked or the wrong layout.
Cultured marbleCast tops in kitchens and vanities that accept a new color after repair and priming.
Before and after: kitchens near St. Charles
Before
AfterCountertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in a 1980s two-story, St. Charles
This one is a 1980s two-story in St. Charles. What we started with: almond laminate with a backsplash lip. The reason for the call: a laminate color that dated the whole kitchen. After: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. Work included inspection for water damage, repairs, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Before
AfterCountertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in a 1990s two-story colonial, Geneva
A 1990s two-story colonial in Geneva, a typical kitchen for Geneva. Before: white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The main complaint was dark grout lines across the counters. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant repairs, sanding and priming, plus cure-time and care instructions.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in West Chicago
A 1990s two-story colonial in West Chicago, a typical kitchen for West Chicago. The kitchen as it was: 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. On site this meant sanding and priming, base and pattern coats, plus clear topcoat.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in West Chicago →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
Dark soapstone-look quartz countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in St. Charles →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
Finished: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in St. Charles →Day by day
- 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 St. Charles homeowners
How soon can I use the counters?
Usually light use within a day or so, with full hardness taking longer. We give you the exact times for the product we use.
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 tile countertops be resurfaced?
In most cases. Cracked or loose tiles are fixed, the grout is filled and then the coating goes on.
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.
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.
Do I need a St. Charles-registered contractor for countertop resurfacing?
No registration fee; contractor requirements (general contractor certificate of insurance, with City as certificate holder) must be submitted before a permit is issued. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for countertop resurfacing in St. Charles?
It depends on the scope. St. Charles's rule in short: Permits required for construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any structure; major residential projects including remodels require 5 sets of drawings. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St..
Do you work in my part of St. Charles?
Yes. Our crews work across St. Charles — ZIP 60174, 60175 — and nearby Geneva, West Chicago, Batavia.
Working in St. Charles
- A lot of St. Charles kitchens date from the 2000s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most St. Charles homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60174ZIP 60175
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in St. Charles
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.