"Instant granite" for basement kitchenette laminate countertop?

[Anonymous]

I am the OP on another thread who asked if people had successfully painted their laminate countertops. I'd like to explore changing the look of my basement kitchenette laminate countertops, with an eye on resale. Based on PPs suggestions, painting it would be a bad idea. I don't want to to to the hassle of changing the laminate, either.

Then, how about something like "instant granite" -- basically, a peel and stick granite film. The advantage is that it won't peel, like paint, and can easily be removed down the road, by me or an eventual new owner. From pictures online, it looks like it would be an improvement over the existing countertop. Or will it look too tacky? The main kitchen of the house looks fantastic. (This is a $900k home, fwiw, and I am aware a basement kitchenette countertop will not be a deciding factor when selling, and that I might as well leave the countertop alone).

A picture:



How it's installed:

[Anonymous]

if it is a solid color like dark gray or black or white I think it may be a decent temp solution. it may peal and won't last, so you may want to just sink the $$ into replacing now

[Anonymous]

I am skeptical that it can be installed that easily without bubbles or ridges or other giveaways that it's a cheap film.

[Anonymous]

So it's just laminate
http://www.instant-granite.com/Product-Details.html

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, it's just a thin sheet of laminate with an adhesive. (Unlike regular sheet laminate, one doesn't have to remove the old laminate film and glue the new one).

[Anonymous]

I think this is really cheap and cheesy. I would rather just have laminate with a patterns and flecks of different plastics in the surface.

[Anonymous]

You can buy pieces of laminate countertop at home depot. I would do that before I would consider a peel and stick option.

[Anonymous]

By the way, I seldom use the kitchenette -- never to cook, just to wash kids' paint materials in that sink a few times a week, so there will be some occasional water contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can buy pieces of laminate countertop at home depot. I would do that before I would consider a peel and stick option.

So, that would mean removing the countertop and attaching a new one? Or just remove the laminate film?

[Anonymous]

Remove the counter or leave it as is. Don't do this.

[Anonymous]

That is contact paper. Replace with a pre made laminate or granite remanent. Or, Ikea butler block or laminate.

[Anonymous]

It looks very tacky and won't turn out as nice as the pictures. But if you've got $100 to burn (most expensive roll being $89), it seems harmless to try.

[Anonymous]

That looks very problematic to me. Spray paint it black or gray with some kind of paint that is for laminates.

[Anonymous]

I think that's really tacky looking. I'd prefer black or white solid. No one will be fooled by this ersatz granite.

What about countertops from Ikea?

[Anonymous]

Yep, it's contact paper and it will look cheap. A friend got "stainless" contact paper for her dishwasher and it looks like crap.