DIY Kitchen: Making Cheap Countertops
Counters are a very important part of the interior décor of every kitchen. You can use them for preparing your ingredients and even for dining (if your kitchen is lacking enough space.) Hiring contractors might be a great idea if you know you are not handy at all when it comes to using a hammer, power drill or a saw.
Most DIY kitchens have countertops that are designed and made by the homeowner. Designing your own countertops can be a bit challenging, but it is something that you are going to enjoy. To have a rough idea of what size of countertops to work on, you need to measure the ones you are to replace. If you are making countertops for eating on, you should know where to install cabinets and where to leave room for your feet. With the right supplies and a bit of time, you can transform the look of your kitchen with some awesome countertops. The following are steps that you can take to create some DIY countertops:
- Searching Online
If you are looking for the cheapest countertops, you can start by actually searching online for free stuff. One of the best places to find free countertops (among other things) is on Craigslist.com. Simply login to the site and check under the “Free Stuff” area. It works best if you look for people who actually live nearby so that you are able to get the stuff. If you are lucky enough, your DIY kitchens project will be made easier by such a donation. Some of these homeowners are either getting rid of their old countertops or they are just getting rid of the materials that remained after their kitchens were built. If you end up with different types of tiles, you can integrate them and come up with an overall design.
- Using River Rocks
If you are going to design your own countertops, you should try as much as you can to make them look unique and cool. If you are low on cash or you just want to go out of the norm, you can use river rocks as some of the materials for your countertops. Materials like river rocks are what make DIY kitchens more attractive and preferable to most homeowners.
Once you have collected enough rocks, you should attach them to the plywood using Thinset concrete. Then grout them into place so that they do not let anything that spills through. A stone countertop is great for its natural interesting look. They are also resistant to heat and not very easy to scratch.
- Mosaic countertop
Another great idea of making a cheap countertop is by simply using the things that you already have in the house. With plywood as your base, you can use pieces of tiles or old tiles to come up with some great art of your own. If you do not have these pieces of tiles, you can cheaply and readily find them in many tile stores. Some store owners give them away for free if you ask nicely. If you are looking to make it much more interesting, you could throw in some coins, pebbles or even some broken dishes.
This DIY kitchens project could take you anywhere from a day to two days; you need to focus on the countertop till you are through. Avoid unnecessary breaks so that you don’t end up spending more time than necessary on a single project.
