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Epoxy countertops are becoming the new hot trend among DIYers and professionals alike. And why not! They are cheap and durable, not to mention that they look very good. And the best part is, epoxy can be applied over a number of materials with minimal prep. Let’s know more about epoxy countertops and their benefits.
Main image above: Design by Vickie, architectural designer from London on Design for Me. See more here and shortlist her for your home project.
What are epoxy countertops?
Epoxy coating is sometimes used simply to add beauty to surfaces but the main purpose of epoxy is to refinish and seal surfaces which are prone to getting worn out. As far as countertops are concerned, you can either buy slabs of epoxy coated countertops when you’re first installing them OR you can coat your already existing countertop with epoxy.
Most kitchen countertop materials can be coated with epoxy. Some of the most popular countertop materials that can be coated with epoxy are:
- formica
- laminate
- ceramic
- metal
- wood
- concrete.
Advantages of epoxy coated countertops
1. Durable resin finish
One of the most common reasons for using epoxy is its durability and strength. Epoxy resin is mixed with hardener and then applied to the surface. This mix, upon drying, creates a solid surface that lasts for years to come. And this is not even the best feature. The best bit is that epoxy resin has a very slim chance of cracking. And when we say very slim, we mean it! But just in case you scratch your epoxy coating or damage it any other way, you don’t have to replace it entirely. You can have it sanded and polished and it will be like new again.
2. Heat resistant
We know you just took a sigh of relief!
Hot pans and pots are a feature of life in the kitchen and dealing with them is a major problem. Some of the most popular countertops sold on the market are not heat resistant. For example, quartz. There is debate about is quartz is heat resistant or not which factors define this, but we won’t go into that. Our concern is that epoxy is heat resistant and won’t be damaged if you put hot pans and pots on your kitchen countertops.
3. Beautiful gloss finish
This is more of a personal preference and depends mostly on the style of the kitchen you’re going for. If you’re into matt finishes, then this is probably not for you. But if you’re going for a glossy, reflective vibe in your kitchen, you’re at the right place.
Epoxy resin gives your kitchen countertops a beautiful high gloss finish which will reflect light and overhead lamps and add extra character to your kitchen. If you notice that the gloss is fading over time, you can easily have it re-polished by applying mineral oil.
4. Aesthetically pleasing
Who doesn’t like a beautiful looking kitchen surface?! Epoxy resin comes in different colours and pouring styles so when it comes to coating your kitchen countertop, the options are endless! You can get any colour, any pattern or texture that you want.
5. Low maintenance
Another reason why people use epoxy coating for kitchen countertops is because of the low maintenance and easy-to-clean nature of epoxy. Since the material doesn’t scratch easily, is water repellent and has a seamless finish, it is super easy to clean. All you need is a damp cloth to clean crumbs off your countertop.
Just make sure that you don’t throw extra heavy things on your countertops because this might just crack the epoxy coating. Other than that, you’re good to go!
6. Non-toxic
One of the major concerns of using anything in the kitchen is that the material should be non-toxic. Paint should be non-reactive and non-toxic, kitchen equipment and coatings must be safe to use.
Lucky for us, epoxy resin is perfectly safe to use; it has no chemical emissions and doesn’t react with anything found in the kitchen. So you can safely use the countertop surface for slicing and cutting vegetables.
7. Seamless
Epoxy is probably the only material that offers seamless finish and a continuous pattern and texture. You won’t have to worry about tile divisions and blocks, it will be just one continuous pattern of beauty and durability.
We hope that by now you’re convinced that epoxy countertops are an excellent option for your kitchen. When you decide to finally upgrade your kitchen countertops, make sure to consider an epoxy coating.
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