• Countertop resurfacing can bring new life to a kitchen or bath.Modern elegant kitchen image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  The countertop surfaces in your home work almost as hard as you do. They handle tough messes, hot pots and pans, sharp knives and abuse from various items placed on them. After several years, you may begin to notice cracks, chips and dents in the surface. If your counters are in need of a face-lift, consider the many resurfacing options available to make them look new.
  
  

Laminate Veneers

• Many laminate countertops are solid wood or particle board covered in laminate veneers. The veneers are cut to size and affixed with an industrial grade adhesive. Carefully remove old, damaged laminate veneers with a chisel or the flat end of a screwdriver. Fill in any damaged areas of the countertop with wood filler. Trim new laminate sections to the correct size with a utility knife or circular saw and apply them to the counter with adhesive.
  
  

Concrete Resurfacing

• Just about any countertop can be resurfaced with a fresh layer of concrete. Refresh an existing concrete countertop by cleaning the surface with an alcohol-based cleaning solvent before applying a new coat of concrete. You can also resurface tile and laminate counters. Screw a layer of wood or concrete board on top of the old counter surface or use an orbital sander to etch the surface to receive the concrete layer. Smooth the concrete with a trowel or create texture in the wet concrete as desired.
  
  

Painting

• A simple idea for resurfacing a countertop is to paint the surface with a specially formulated acrylic paint. Ask your local home improvement center or industrial paint retailer to recommend a suitable product. Countertop paint is rated to withstand high temperatures from heated plates, pots and pans. The paint is also more durable than traditional paint and provides a smooth, durable surface that will stand up to several years of normal use. Etch the surface of the counter with medium-grit sandpaper or an orbital sander, clean the surface with an alcohol-based solvent and apply a primer followed by one or two coats of paint.
  
  

Countertop Cover

• Consider resurfacing your countertops with counter sections designed to fit right over the old surface. Several companies create and install a product that conforms to fit snugly over your existing counters like a cover. Choose from granite, stone, glass or tile surfaces. Once the countertop cover is bolted, glued or cemented in place, only the new granite or stone surface will be visible.