I am going to share with you all a REVOLUTIONARY way and I do mean REVOLUTIONARY way to make faux marble countertops!!!
I first saw this technique on youtube by Stonecoatcountertops.com (They show the technique beginning at 38:39). When I saw the product they were using I was amazed. I didn’t know that creating a faux marble look could be so easy! When I refinished our countertops to look like marble it was a lot of work and lots of different colors I had to use. CLICK HERE to see our kitchen countertop makeover. They were featured HERE on ApartmentTherapy.com
Affiliate disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”
That being said I want to save you all time and money! If you are wanting to create a faux marble look but are scared that you can not master the technique then this finish is for you. It is great for beginners!
Are you ready for the secret product!?
Okay good.
Here it is!
Montana Marble Effect Spray Paint
The unique thing about the Montana Marble effect spray paint is it’s NOZZLE. When you spray the can of spray paint it actually comes out of the can in a speckled spattered pattern. NOT a mist like a normal can of spray paint.
WATCH ME SPRAY THE MONTANA MARBLE SPRAY BELOW!
Supplies to Paint a Faux Marble Countertop with Epoxy
- You will need 3/4″ thick MDF
- Drape N Tape
- Montana Marble Effects Spray Paint
- Zinsser OIL BASED paint and primer
- Heat gun or torch
- Stone Coat Countertops epoxy
- Wooster 2″ short cut brushes
- Paint roller
- Trowel
- Respirator mask
Steps to making a Faux Marble Countertop with Epoxy
Make sure your MDF is free of any saw dust. I recommend cutting the sink holes BEFORE pouring the epoxy. Tape off edges of the countertop with Drape N Tape. Use painters tape to tape the wall.
Once your surface is dust free and plastic has been placed over the cabinets you are ready to paint your countertop with Zinsser all in one paint and primer. You will want to use a paint roller to paint the countertop. Paint countertop until it has been completely covered. Let dry (about two hours). Add a second coat of Zinsser all in one paint and primer. It’s good to let this coat dry over night.
After countertop is completely dry you are ready to spray with Montana Marble Effects spray paint! (wear your respirator.:) I recommend practicing spraying the spray paint on a piece of cardboard…old wood…anything you have. It comes out pretty quick and you want to make sure you feel comfortable using the product before you apply it to your countertop. When you are comfortable with spraying the spray paint you are ready for the next step! Spraying your countertop! Spray the spray paint random and sporadic.
Less is more when you are creating a faux marble finish! If you spray too much it will look more like a nineties tennis shoe that has had too much puff paint. Just a few sprays here and there will do.
Once spray paint is dry you are ready to pour the epoxy! Mix epoxy according to the manufacturers directions. When epoxy has been mixed for two minutes you can pour it over your countertop. Spread epoxy out with a trowel. Kind of like you would frost a cake. Same type of motion. After the epoxy is spread evenly over your countertop use a brush to chop out or break up any lines the trowel may have made. When you can see no more trowel marks you are ready to pop any bubbles! Use your heat gun or torch to lightly go over the epoxy this will pop any air bubbles.
Need a consultation on your epoxy countertop? CLICK HERE I can help you!
After bubbles have been popped take your brush and go along the edges to wipe away any drips. The less drips the easier it will be in the morning when you have to sand the drips off.
Let epoxy cure 24 hours.
After Epoxy has cured for 24 hours lightly sand any drips along the edges. Once drips are sanded off you are ready to install your sinks! At this point you should have beautiful faux marble epoxy countertops! Way to go! You did it!
What are your thought on faux marble countertops? Do you like them? I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below. 🙂
CLICK HERE if you’d like to learn how to paint your cabinets!
This is great! It is such a lovely article. It’s just amazing how you put all these together on “DIY Guide on How to Start a Home Improvement Blog” with such great tips!
Aww thank you so much!! I’m so happy to hear that you like them and that they are helpful to you!! 🙂 I truly love talking about all DIY! 🙂 It’s nice to have a place to share them!
You made this look so easy! It turned out so pretty!!
Aww thank you!! I’m so thankful you like it! They are a lot of fun to do!
Megan thank you for a step by step direction on creating beautiful marble look countertops at fraction of cost! Hopefully I can create the same results…
Hi Sherry!! You are SUPER welcome! You can totally create the same results! Use old pieces of wood to practice on before you go for the homerun on your kitchen countertops. 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you create! Come back and share a photo!
Worth reading!! This is a great article, and something I think needs to be communicated more often. Hoping to see some more informative posts from your end in the future. Thanks!!
Hi! Thank you so much! Resurfacing your countertops with epoxy is always a great way to save money when you are remodeling your kitchen! So glad. you like the article! 🙂
What did you use to make the counter white and sparkle?
Hi Samantha! I used Zinsser White paint and primer! The sparkle was Valspars silver glitter paint additive! Here’s the link for that! I got it at Lowes!! They still sell it! Just bought some a couple weeks ago for a countertop job!
How much of the glitter did you add to the paint?
Hi Kerrie! I probably added close to 2 Tablespoons of glitter to the mixed epoxy for the countertops! 🙂
Hi Megan! I just started researching the epoxy countertop idea when I came across your blog. Very informative and encouraging….I think I’m going to go for it! I watched the short video you have posted and noticed you mentioned Paragould…that’s my hometown too! What are the odds! Super cool! Thank you for the inspiration and we will see if I can nail this project.
Hi Lori!!
Yes the epoxy countertops are totally doable especially if you enjoy diy, painting furniture…etc. It is along the same lines! I would do a few sample boards. Become familiar with mixing resin and then go for it! I did mess up a couple times before I did ours. But our epoxy countertops are going 2+ years now! And still look great! They are VERY kid friendly!
Do you live in Paragould!? That is SO fun!!! My FB page isPhoenix-Refinishings ! You can click here if you’d like to follow new tips! I’m doing quite a bit with resin right epoxy resin right now! Hope you have a great day!
How long did you wait to put the sinks in? I am doing my counters this week!
Hi Monica! We waited 48 hours to put the sinks in. Wanted to be on the safe side! 🙂 Yay! SO excited for you! Let me know how your counters go!
Blessings!
Megan
Megan what a beautiful option for countertops! They look so real! And isn’t that all we really want?? We’re redoing cabinets and backsplash, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to squeeze our budget to replace the outdated countertops. I believe they are that Corrian which was the “It” product to have in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s still very indestructible, making it hard to convince my husband that they’ve just done their job and it’s their time to go! Corrian however is not very porous and shares a lot of the same heat and scratch resistant properties that quartz , marble, porcelain have. Do you have any advice as to how to prepare the countertops to receive the Zinsser all in one paint and primer?
And BTW, I live in Jonesboro! Small world 🌎. Thank you! And I’m definitely looking up your Facebook page!
Peace ✌🏼 ~ Kelly
Hi Kelly!!
So fun we are neighbors! I do know that you can follow this same process over granite countertops. Raising a Farm House did just that! As she felt her countertops were dated even though they were granite. I am not as familer with Corrian. I would think that if you can do this over granite you can also do the same process over Corrian. I think its definitely important to sand them well in the beginning that way you can create a good adhesion for the primer and paint and epoxy to come! I know granite is very slick. So creating a good surface for adhesion is key. Also make sure to use StoneCoat countertops bonding primer! This primer will also help with adhesion. I think you can convince the hubs! 🙂
Hope that helps!
What do you do not with the edges of the counter but the edge, like the part that runs perpendicular to the top of the counter? How does that curved part or forward facing edge get design and epoxy?
Hi Julia!
You paint and use the Montana marbleizing effects spray paint on the countertops edges just as you would on the top of the countertop! 🙂 You continue your pattern on the edge. I generally use a soft bristle brush on the edge to brush the epoxy on the countertops. As Epoxy will run down.
Hope that helps!
Tell me more about the cabinets. Did you paint those, or were they purchased in that color?
Hi Chimere!! Oh my goodness….aren’t the cabinets pretty!?! The contractor I did the countertops for had the cabinets prepurchased! Sorry they were not painted. But I think you could get very close to this look with a beautiful grey and some black furniture wax!
Hi Megan,
Looks really good. Was just wondering with the silver speckles did you mix that directly into the resin top clear coat. Or did you put clear coat on top then sprinkle the glitter?
Thank you
Hi Philip! Thank you! 🙂
I mixed the glitter in the clear coat. I pour a dash or maybe a handful and mixed for about 1 minute. 🙂 Then poured the clear glitter coat to seal the countertop! Hope that helps!
Hi Megan… Is this look possible without using the MDF? My bathroom vanity is built in and I’d just like to redo the countertop without having to remove the sink.
Hi Lorene! What is your current bathroom vanity top? Is it laminate? This technique also works great over laminate! 🙂
My counters are fully installed with a top mount sink and glass stove top. Can I still use the resin technique? If so, what modifications to the process should I use?
Hi janet!
Yes you can still use the resin technique. I would remove or completely cover the top mount sink. I would also remove or completely cover with plastic the glass stove top. You can use painters tape around the edges of the oven and sink. When the resin is still wet remove the tape! (otherwise the resin hardens to the tape and is extremely hard to remove.) Hope that is helpful!
Can you share where you got the glitter or what glitter you used? Also, do you think this can be done over laminate?
Hi Jessica! Yes I used Valspar Fine Glitter for Paint. It is very fine! almost like a glitter powder.