Can You Paint Corian Countertops? (Find Out Now!)

Gary Evans
by Gary Evans

The countertops you have installed can do so much to elevate the appearance of your kitchen. A home kitchen instantly looks more refined if it features high-quality countertops. Corian countertops are favorites among homeowners who want a more stylish kitchen inside their home.

The appearance of a Corian countertop is quite elegant. Still, it may not be exactly what you want to feature inside your kitchen. So, can you paint your Corian countertops in order to make them fit better within your desired design scheme?

Painting your Corian countertops is possible, but you must be careful to avoid altering their appearance too much. Cleaning and sanding your Corian countertop are essential steps to take before painting it. Allow the countertop to sit for one full day after sanding it before applying the layers of primer and paint.

Are you looking to change the appearance of your Corian countertops? Learn more about that process by reading the rest of this article.

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What Are Corian Countertops?

Kitchen countertops can be made out of numerous materials. Concrete, granite, and marble are among the materials most often used to make kitchen countertops.

You also have those items known as Corian countertops. Notably, Corian is just a brand name. Corian doesn’t actually refer to any specific material used.

To clear things up further, Corian countertops are examples of solid surface countertops. Countertops made using solid surface materials are pretty unique because they are fully man-made. Manufacturers create those countertops by combining various kinds of resins. Those resins are then mixed together with pigments to make the material in question. Bauxite may also be used to flesh out the solid surface countertop.

Why Do Homeowners Choose Corian Countertops?

Corian countertops have become popular because they allow homeowners to create a more refined kitchen without spending too much. Upon seeing examples of Corian countertops, you’ll notice quickly that they bear a striking resemblance to granite and marble countertops.

That close resemblance is a key selling point for them. Because Corian countertops are relatively inexpensive, they can be used as alternatives for granite and marble.

Durability can be an issue with solid surface countertops though. You may have to replace them sooner rather than later if you intend to use them inside your kitchen.

How Do You Paint a Corian Countertop?

The unique composition of Corian countertops may give you pause, but rest assured that painting them is an option. You won’t ruin the Corian countertops by applying a fresh coat of paint as long you know what you’re doing.

The process of painting a Corian countertop may not be something you’re familiar with. Go through the steps detailed below to learn more about that process.

Step 1: Prepare Your Safety Equipment and Materials

Before working on your Corian countertops, you should gather some equipment and materials first. That way, you can work uninterrupted and avoid making mistakes.

Start by picking up some safety equipment. Ideally, you should get a respirator, but a face mask works too. We also recommend getting a pair of safety glasses. Consider wearing a long-sleeved shirt as well. Overalls would be nice, but they aren’t as important.

Materials you’ll need include a nylon scrub sponge, a degreaser, water, clean rags, 400-grit sandpaper, a belt sander, and a vacuum. Don’t forget about the epoxy paint, the epoxy primer, and the rollers.

Step 2: Clear Your Countertops

With the equipment and materials ready, you can now get to work. The next step in this process involves clearing your countertops.

Remove anything that isn’t nailed down. Items on your countertop will just get in the way so store them somewhere else. Don’t just leave them on the floor because you will be working for a while.

Step 3: Degrease Your Corian Countertops

The paint you want to apply will not adhere well if the Corian countertop has not been prepped properly. Cleaning is an important part of that process.

Get the degreaser from earlier because you will be using that to clean the countertops. Any kind of degreaser will work, but the ones formulated to remove automotive grease are ideal. Ordinary dish soap may not be strong enough to clean your countertops thoroughly.

Apply the degreaser with the help of the nylon scrub sponge. Make sure you use the scrub pad while cleaning. Using the scrub pad ensures that the countertop will not be scratched.

Step 4: Rinse the Countertop Thoroughly

Next up, you need to rinse the Corian countertop. Douse the countertop to remove some of the excess degreaser.

After rinsing, use one of your cleaning rags to wipe the countertops down. Continue wiping down the countertops until you no longer detect any trace of the degreaser. You may have to rinse the countertops multiple times to reach that point. Don’t skip that step though because the paint may not coat the solid surface otherwise.

Step 5: Sand Your Corian Countertops

It’s now time to sand down the Corian countertop, but put on your safety gear before that. We didn’t mention earplugs earlier but you can use them if the belt sander is too loud.

Grab your belt sander now and use that to work over the surface of the countertop. Remember to work carefully while using the belt sander. Don’t make any sudden movements that could damage the solid surface.

The weight of the belt sander should do a lot of the work for you. Keep going until you’ve sanded down the majority of the surface, but don’t go over the edges.

Working on the edges using a belt sander is risky. You could wind up damaging the material there. Switch to the sandpaper instead and use that to manually work over the edges of your countertops.

Step 6: Vacuum the Countertops

In all likelihood, there will be small bits of debris that will be left behind after you’re done sanding. You cannot have them stay on the countertop. While there, they could also stop the paint from being applied properly.

Go get your vacuum and start cleaning your countertops. Pick up as much debris as you can using the vacuum before proceeding to the next step.

Step 7: Rinse the Countertops Again

You will have to rinse the Corian countertops after sanding and vacuuming them. This time around, just wiping down the countertops with a damp rag will suffice.

Step 8: Leave the Countertops Alone

This is the easiest part of the process because you just have to wait. Leave the countertops alone for the next 24 hours. Waiting that long will allow any dust particles to settle back into the surface.

Step 9: Paint Your Corian Countertops

After letting 24 hours pass, you can wipe down the countertops once more. Just use a dry rag this time.

You are now ready to paint your Corian countertops. Apply the primer first and make sure to get it on the surface as even as possible. Let the primer dry after application.

With the layer of primer dry, you can now apply the first layer of paint. Remember to let each layer dry before you add on top of it. Once all the layers of paint have dried, your Corian countertops will feature a different appearance.

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Related Questions

How Do You Clean Corian Countertops?

Cleaning a kitchen countertop is a relatively straightforward task. That remains true even if you have solid surface countertops.The only items you’ll need for cleaning are a spray bottle, a scrub pad and a pH-neutral cleaner. Try to look for neutral cleaners formulated for solid surface or stone countertops.To start cleaning, just spray the cleaner on to the countertops. Follow up by wiping the countertops using your scrub pad. There’s no need to let the cleaner sit before wiping it away.


How Do You Repair Corian Countertops?

Most Corian countertops can be repaired by sanding them down. That should be enough to make scratches and small cracks disappear. If your Corian countertop has sustained significant damage, replacing it may be your only option.

Gary Evans
Gary Evans

Gary Evans is passionate about home improvement. He loves finding out how to make improvements in the easiest, most practical, and most affordable ways. Upgrading his home kitchen is one of his ongoing hobbies. Gary is also a long-time content creator and enjoys spending his free time tending to his hydroponic vegetable garden.

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