Can You Paint Granite Countertops?

Painting granite countertops is a DIY-friendly way to quickly transform your kitchen for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

While it may seem intimidating, Tim Haas from Giani, a prominent brand in the countertop refinishing industry, says homeowners can rest assured it’s a simple DIY process. “Our goal is to make this product easy to use, even for the beginner,” he says.

If you’re considering painting your granite countertops, read on to learn if this is the right project for you. You’ll also find step-by-step instructions and the alternatives to painting.

Is Painting Granite Countertops a Good Idea?

It depends. Your unique circumstances and preferences will determine if this is a good fit. These include your budget parameters, personal style and how long you plan to stay in your home.

Some pros and cons to consider include:

Pros

• Cost-effective: DIY kits cost around $200 compared to granite countertop replacement, which can cost thousands.
• DIY-friendly: Kits are widely available and don’t require advanced skills or tools.
• Fast: This project can be completed in a weekend. “You start on Friday night, you’re done by Sunday,” Haas says.
• Convenient: Unlike replacement, painting keeps your current countertops in place and only out of service for a few days.
• Environmentally-friendly: Painting granite countertops extends their use and keeps them out of the landfill.
• Customizable: Paint kits come in lots of colors and finishes to achieve your desired look.

Cons

• Lower resale value: Potential buyers may balk at buying a home with painted countertops.
• Durability issues: High-use painted countertops can chip and scratch so they may require touch-ups.
• Low heat-resistance: You can’t set hot pans directly on painted countertops.
• Shiny finish: DIY kits use a final clear coat with a glossy finish. If you don’t like this look, factor it into your decision.
• Textured finish: Using a roller to apply the paint and epoxy can leave a textured finish.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Granite?

For best results, use a paint kit manufactured for use on granite countertops.

Most kits available to homeowners provide a specially formulated water-based acrylic paint and topcoat system to create a marble, granite or quartz look. The durability, performance and final appearance of these products would be difficult to duplicate with typical acrylic paints.

Several manufacturers make kits marketed to homeowners. Popular brands include Giani‘s line of countertop kits, Rust-Oleum’s Marble Countertop Coating, and Daich Coatings’ SpreadStone and LuxRock lines.

How To Paint Granite

Which kit you use will determine the exact steps, but each follows a similar progression.

Plan

Draw a diagram of your countertops and plan out where you want to place any veining or texture details. Haas recommends doing some online research. “Find examples of counters you like online and mimic the veining or texture for your own kitchen,” he says.

Clean

Haas recommends using xylene or lacquer thinner as a first step to removing the stain-repelling sealer found on granite countertops. “You need an aggressive solvent to take out any remaining sealant resin that might be on the surface,” he says. “Use a rag, and wipe it down one time.”

Wear gloves and eye protection when using these solvents, and provide adequate ventilation.

Next, wipe down the countertops with rubbing alcohol, then again with an abrasive scouring pad, like Brillo makes. “It’s vital to do all this,” Haas says, “You need to make double sure the surface is clean.” Wipe down a final time with a lint-free cloth to remove any remaining dust or debris.

Prime

Use painter’s tape to mask off sinks, faucets, appliances, backsplashes and walls. Apply the provided primer or base coat with a brush and roller. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended dry time before proceeding.

Detail paint

This step can vary widely depending on the product used and the desired look.

To achieve a marble look with Giani or Rust-Oleum kits, applying a mineral paint over a white base coating mimics the gray veining found in real marble. “We provide veining materials made of crushed stone and resin in different proportions,” Haas says.

The paint is applied with an artist brush, then sprayed with water to diffuse the pigment. A clean brush is then used to spread the paint a bit for a wavy, natural look.

If creating a speckled granite appearance, often two colors of paint are applied with a textured sponge over a base coat to emulate the color depth of real stone.

If using a Daich kit, this step involves applying two coats of a rock paint that contains pieces of small stones. This is rolled and brushed onto the surface and allowed to dry before sanding to a smooth finish.

Seal

The topcoat sealer is the key to a successful granite painting project, because it protects the surface and provides long-term durability.

Rust-Oleum has a one-coat acrylic sealer. Giani uses a two-part self-leveling epoxy that, according to Haas, “has a more robust chemistry than the acrylic-based sealers.”

The Daich kits requires two coats of topcoat sealer. Topcoats are applied with a brush and a roller. Giani is self-leveling, but Daich and Rust-Oleum can leave a lightly pebbled texture.

Alternatives To Painting Granite

If painting granite is not for you, consider honing it instead to change the appearance.

Honing involves sanding your countertops to remove a high shine finish for a toned-down matte look. Use an orbital sander with increasing-grit sandpaper to polish off the shiny finish. Begin with 100-grit and work up to 1,000-grit.

For a less permanent change, try contact papers made for countertops. They’re durable and come in various colors and textures, like marble or black slate. These are easily applied and provide a fast and inexpensive way to update your granite countertops.

If you change your mind, removal is also simple. Use a hair dryer over the surface to warm the adhesive, then slowly peel back to remove. Any residual adhesive can be removed with Goof Off or Goo Gone.

About the Expert

Tim Haas has been with Giani paint products since its inception in 2009. The head of the original product development team, he’s now the head of business development for the company and proud to bring a quality product to homeowners.