6 steps to quickly change your kitchen or bathroom countertops

Deciding to change your kitchen or bathroom countertop is a small investment that can make your home look beautiful and boost its property value all at once.

It’s important to choose a countertop that fits your design vision, won’t break your budget and will be easy enough to install. Some countertop materials like steel, granite and marble may need professional equipment and oversight to be installed, but even beginner DIYers can install certain types of countertops.

It sounds so simple, but it’s easy to forget. Turn off both water valves under the sink and make sure all fixtures are unattached to water sources. You may also want to put a tray under the piping to catch any leftover water.

To do this, you’ll have to remove the fasteners that secure the countertop you’re replacing. Be gentle, you’ll still be using the cabinet base! Use a sharp knife to remove caulking along the backsplash and use a pry bar to loosen the countertop.

Take a moment to get this step just right. Measure the cabinet layout and create a template to follow for the next steps of the countertop installation project. Experts recommend leaving about an inch to an inch and a half for countertop overhang on islands and open edges.

The next step is cutting the countertop. Depending on the type of countertop material you’ve chosen, it may be best to let a professional handle this step. If you have the tools and experience, be safe and work slowly for the best results.

After you’ve prepped and cut your cabinets, carefully bring them inside and place them on the right cabinets or islands, making sure they fit properly. Ask your friends and family for help—scratching or breaking a countertop now is never a good thing! This is the right time to check for proper levelling. Secure the countertop to the cabinet base using the same kinds of fasteners you removed at the beginning of the project.

Use the proper adhesive to adhere the countertop in place. If you’re working with granite countertops, note that first you’ll have to place a sealant on the material before they can be properly adhered. If you’re attaching stone to wood, use a silicone adhesive to seal the seams with colour-matching silicone. Remove extra sealant with solvent and cut away the access using a sharp knife.

The final step to change your kitchen or bathroom countertops is to carefully reattach all the plumbing fixtures. Tighten the compression nuts, restart the hot and cold water sources and you’re finished!

It’s clear to see why homeowners across Canada are rolling up their sleeves and changing their own kitchen and bathroom countertops. Visit a local home improvement store and enjoy new countertops in your home!