Do you love the look of stainless steel countertops? They simply make my heart sing, but I'd never considered attempting to get the look without professional help. Check out how these homeowners cut the cost by leaps and bound and did it themselves.
We checked in with Linn and her husband over at The Home Project where they've been working their way through their first home making the space as efficient as possible. The kitchen is only 90 square feet and needed some updating. The end result is a thing of beauty.
They loved the look of stainless steel counters and in a space this small it works well to add a little glitz to the room. The downfall is that ordering countertops of this style from a retail establishment doesn't come cheap. Looking to keep the price down, they checked into more affordable methods.
After speaking with a local a local metal shop, they were able to take the cost down to $20 per square foot (which was far better than the big box retail quote of $150/sqft). The key was making a template of their old countertops. Once that was done, the custom cut piece was delivered and they glued it in place. The look is great. Use it on an island, a prep space, a full length of counters, no matter what, this is hands down the most affordable option we've seen yet!
• Read More: DIY Installing Stainless Steel Counters from The Home Project
Related: Rust-Oleum $400 Kitchen Makeover in the Test Lab
(Image: The Home Project)
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Gorgeous!!!
You have to be pretty careful about the gauge of SS counters, right, to make it stable? I've thought about SS counters because they're durable and sanitary, but is it really possible to get a thick enough gauge that won't be noisy and won't buckle?
Also, good choice not to go with a SS backsplash as well; I think those are too bling-y.
@Shawnamuffin: I always thought they had another cheaper material to give the structure beneath the SS skin, maybe I'm wrong. You're right you'd have to have a hell of a thick gauge to span a countertop like that and not deflect under the weight of a cantaloupe, which is likely why they can get expensive. I'd say over 1/4" thickness minimum.
@Shawnamuffin and @Jess13: The metal does not have to be super thick, but there does need to be a base of some sort underneath the metal. You can see in the pictures here how it's glued down. Stainless steel is a great counter surface and working with a local metalworker is IMO the best way to get what you want for a good price.
If you don't like the look of stainless, but like the idea of it as a surface, look into powder coated steel. This is what we have in our kitchen. It's almost impossible to hurt, as long as you don't cut directly on it. Hot pans, water, spills - no problems.
Speaking of stainless steel in the kitchen, I have a question for y'all -
We have white quartz countertops in the kitchen--which we love--and are thinking of installing a stainless steel backsplash on the wall behind the sink. We would do it ourselves, but I have two concerns. I worry about water seeping through the bottom (where the bottom of the stainless backsplash would meet the top of the countertop) and creating a god-awful mess on the wall behind. My other concern is that the stainless would peel loose from the wall.
Any thoughts?
@catherine:
A nice bead of caulking between the counter and the backsplash should keep water from seeping behind your cabinets. If you're really worried, I'd fold over the edges of the stainless to create a panel with a bit of thickness, so that it sits on top of your counter before you do the caulking.
If you use the right adhesive, the stainless should stay in place. I can't recommend one, but I'm sure this could be determined with a little research.