Natwerk Designs

Anyone have some good techniques for covering god-awful kitchen countertops? Rental. god-awful landlord too!?

I live in a rental with some really annoying "issues"... its the little things that bug you, having to hold the toilet lever when flushing, grout on the tiles, lousy workmanship and a godawful kitchen counter and sink. I keep waiting to find a sink cheap on Craigslist, of course the super will tell me he doesn't have time to do it for months and months. Anyway I want to do something about the really old yellow laminate countertops that are stained and "knifed." I've seen peel and stick floor tiles done on HGTV but I keep wondering what about the cracks in between, won't food get in there? Painting... I haven't been able to find melamine paint (and I really dislike painting. give me glue and I'm ok, painting I make a big mess) Anyway cheap and easy are the watchwords as I'm pushing 60 (&loving it) and I have to do it myself, and am on an extremely limited budget. Any ideas? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. First get permission from the landlord to make changes then I would put tile down on top of the counter in a color that pleases you!
2. If your landlord is being as awful as you say he is, I would suggest that you find a new place to live. It might be a little more per month, but you wouldn't have to spend your own money fixing the things that the landlord should be doing. As to the peel and stick tiles for the countertop, not a good idea. Painting the plastic laminate isn't a good idea either...You'll get it all painted, and then slide something across it and the paint will lift off, or just scratch. If you really want to stay there, write a note to the landlord and tell him everything that is wrong with the place and if he wants to keep you as a tenant, he will start fixing the things that are on your list, and if he doesn't, you will find a new place to live, and he will have to fix them anyway to find someone to live there!!!
3. I don't know if I can help with the countertops because even with DIY I believe in doing it right. Big home improvement stores sell preformed melamine countertops with built in backsplashes. Wait until you find that sink, save up and do it right. They're very easy to install and will work better than tile or paint. The toilet issue should be easy to fix. When you push the lever down the flapper should come up far enough to clear the drain in the bottom of the tank, then fall and seal as the water drops down. You should be able to either shorten the chain, hook the chain through a hole farther out on the inside arm or both. Just make sure there's a little slack left when it's in the down position.
4. I've been there. I once covered a really nasty counter with butcherblock looking contact paper. It was really cheap to do, & even though it was obviously not real wood, it looked much better, easier to clean. Just be careful with knives as it will cut the plastic. As I learned from several slumlord apts, don't spend alot of money fixing up their property. I did, & when I moved, they raised the rent.