Rust-Oleum $400 Kitchen Makeover in the Test Lab

Many of us were blessed with homes and apartments that boast less than stellar countertops. Maybe replacing them just isn't in the budget or you're not looking to invest a great deal in a rental you won't be staying in for long. Either way, Rust-Oleum has a new product on the market that may give pretty great results for very little money! Last week, Janel from Apartment Therapy was in New Orleans and got a chance to try out this inexpensive kitchen transformation product. Is it too good to be true?

This product is similar to other brands of countertop refinishers on the market. The process is rather elaborate: first your countertops are cleaned and then an adhesive is applied. Flecks of new color go down and are then sealed.

Is it worth it? Does it work well? Janel gives the countertop kit a cautious thumbs-up; it is foolproof, she says, but it's messy, and definitely a commitment of time and energy. Read on to get the full scoop on the countertop kit, see photos of it in process, and also read more about the accompanying cabinet transformation kit.

• Read more: The Under $400 Kitchen Makeover…In a Box - Apartment Therapy

Have you ever tried a countertop coating product like this one?

(Image: Janel Laban)

Comments (9)

I'm trying to come up with a low cost solution for my terrible countertop. (I'm talking pink, then a hastily painted coat of white, then contact paper.) For me, $250 isn't cheap. I'd rather spend that kind of money toward a total replacement rather than a temporary solution. However, Rustoleum also sells a much cheaper $20 countertop paint. Also, I found a company called Giani that sells a faux marble countertop paint for $50. These are options I'm currently considering, and I'd appreciate any feedback from people who have tried these!

Slightly off topic but what about that paint for refinishing old refrigerators? Does that work? Ours is getting lots of rust spots but I can't really afford to replace it.

stealthkitten - I used the less expensive Rustoleum countertop paint in my kitchen and I really liked it. My countertops were smooth, so all I had to do was clean them well and then apply the paint. It's been about 6 months since i painted them and they are holding up well.

stealthkitten - we used the $20 Rustoleum paint in our kitchen and our basement workbench top three years ago and it has held up very well on both. It's not going to make your kitchen drop dead gorgeous, but as a medium-term solution to cover up poorly chosen formica (faux pink marble in our case) I highly recommend it.

and/or- has anyone tried the Rustoleum countertop coating?

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=447

I am DYING to try this in black on my countertops in my apartment! Anything has got to be better than the horrible dingy grey i have now.

ah....I need to refresh the page every so often before I post. :P

ClinkscalesArts & JMooney: Thank you for the reviews!

Ugh..a blight on all rental apartments with pink countertops. We have them too. At least it is better than the ugly faux marble in the front bath.

I used the Rustoleum countertop paint ($40/quart) on my kitchen countertops about a year ago.

At first, they looked great. Much better than the stained and scratch formica the paint covered.

A few downsides though - it chips easily, so be careful not to drop things on it (even from just a couple inches) and definitely never cut directly on it.

The other downside is that it stains easily. Maybe not any more easily than matte formica, but right now I have a big mess where my husband's coffee maker leaked and an odd spot where the pink ink from a bread bag transfered.

I'm planning on doing touch-ups soon, which brings me to my main point: buy enough to leave extra for touch-ups. You have to get the color mixed by the paint person at the hardware store, which means a second batch might not match perfectly.

I lived in an apartment once where the management had used this countertop transformations product, it held up better than the countertop paint alone and hid stains better, but still was prone to chips.