Looking forward to a kitchen upgrade project? We don’t blame you. While kitchens are utilitarian spaces for cooking, they can also be blank canvases that reflect homeowners’ sense of identity and individuality. They should match the design and functional needs of the people who use them the most.
Nobody knows your kitchen better than you. You know where it falls short and what to improve. So, do-it-yourself kitchen countertops might appeal to you.
As a reputable kitchen remodeler in Glendale, CA, Payless Kitchen Cabinets hopes to dissuade you. You’re likely biting off much more than you can chew, and you won’t realize it until you’re neck-deep in the project. Find out why you should leave countertop installation to our pros below.
What Makes Do-It-Yourself Countertops Attractive to You?
Let’s break down why you feel drawn to DIY projects in the first place. Some homeowners point out perks such as:
- No labor or service costs
- Creative freedom
- Learning new skills
These attractive benefits inspire people to embark on various home improvement projects to make their homes work for them. However, you’re better off working closely with an experienced remodeler who brings personal visions to life for a living.
The Perils of DIY Kitchen Countertops
DIY projects are perilous journeys with hazards that extend far beyond broken materials, glue mishaps, and comical paint splashes. One mistake can cost thousands of dollars or even put you on bed rest for several weeks. Read through the list below before you embark on DIY countertop installation.
Picking a Subpar Material
Kitchen countertops come in countless materials, from natural stone and wood to synthetic stones and laminate. You need products that fit your lifestyle and budget. If you choose a material sheerly based on its attractiveness or price, you might be sorely disappointed later on.
For example, many homeowners gravitate toward marble surfaces because of their expensive-looking elegance. However, you may have teenagers who like to cook but don’t think much about the care and maintenance of natural stone. They might forget to use a cutting board when chopping veggies or attempt to clean the surface with a harsh chemical.
Thus, marble is subpar for your household and will quickly look worn. A solid surface material, like acrylic, might better serve your family.
Choosing Colors or Designs That Clash With Your Kitchen
Have you ever entered a room and thought that something just didn’t work? The wall color doesn’t mesh with other shades. Some patterns clash with the overall design.
That can happen to you with do-it-yourself countertops. Some surface colors and patterns just don’t mix with other design elements. Since countertops are permanent fixtures, you’ll have to change the other elements to match your counter space.
Lacking Sufficient Structural Support
Some countertop materials are much heavier than others. A marble or granite surface weighs more than laminate or acrylic. Your cabinetry might have a low weight threshold if your current countertop is a lightweight material.
If you purchase a heavier countertop, like natural stone, you’ll need to replace the cabinets with more solid ones for proper structural support. Otherwise, the cabinetry could collapse from supporting too much weight.
Not Accommodating Fixtures and Appliances
If you have customized or built-in appliances and plumbing fixtures, you will need countertops and cabinetry that accommodate those conveniences. Undermount sink issues are a fairly prevalent example.
Undermounts require waterproof countertop materials like natural stone. Otherwise, water will seep into and weaken the countertop. So you can’t simply downgrade your material to save money without choosing a different skink.
Another example involves updating free-standing appliances with built-in versions. While these options streamline the look and feel of your kitchen, they require countertop and cabinet materials that allow easy access for maintenance and repairs. You’ll limit your counter options with certain utilities.
Getting the Measurements Wrong
Are you good at math? We certainly hope so! Installing do-it-yourself kitchen countertops involves:
- Rough sketching the room: You need a visual you can easily edit while doing the math.
- Choosing where to divide and cut the countertop pieces: Those counter chunks aren’t going on top of the cabinetry in one piece. You’ll divide them into manageable sections that fit together like puzzle pieces.
- Double-checking the current length and width: The size of your current countertops will help you determine the new countertop measurements.
- Factoring in material weight: Remember, your cabinetry must be able to support the countertop material.
- Calculating the amount of material needed: Once you have the area, you can order the measured material and direct cutters on where to break the slab up.
Improper measurements can lead to cracked countertops later on. You could also wrestle with an uneven countertop surface that slopes to one end. Measuring the materials and double-checking your work might be the least glamorous part of the job, but it is arguably the most important if you care about function.
Purchasing the Required Tools
One of the most expensive investments within any remodeling project is purchasing the equipment and materials needed for the task. When a remodeler handles professional countertop installation, they already have the tools on hand. Plus, they repeatedly use those tools for numerous projects.
So, they get their money’s worth from their equipment. How often do you plan to use your tools? If you need them for a one-time project, you’ll likely lose money to a purchase that hogs storage space and collects dust.
Kitchen remodelers also have access to wholesale countertop prices since they frequently purchase significant material amounts. Wholesale costs less than retail.
Facing Potential Injuries
Weigh the risks before trying do-it-yourself kitchen countertops. Many materials are exceptionally heavy, like granite and marble for instance. One false move could lead to a life-changing injury, such as:
- A back strain
- A broken toe or foot
- Crushed hands and fingers
- Knee and leg strains
At best, you’ll pause your project for bed rest and over-the-counter pain relievers, questioning why you started it to begin with. At worst, you’ll end up in the hospital and struggle with recurring pain at the injury site for years.
No or Little Warranty Coverage
It’s not just your health and safety on the line. You can also jeopardize your countertop materials. If you drop a marble slab on the floor, you’ll pay out of pocket to replace it.
Many manufacturers offer material warranties, too. However, those warranties come with conditions that often require professional remodelers to handle the materials. You’ll render the warranty null in many cases if you install the countertop by yourself.
Wasting Your Resources on Poor Results
It’s not just money you could lose. Think about the time and energy you’ll spend on potentially lackluster results. A professional countertop installer might need one to three days to complete a project.
An unskilled homeowner might need double the time to navigate the project for the first time. That’s almost a whole week spent on removing and replacing the countertops. You could spend that time with family or recovering from an exhausting work week. Leave the grunt work to the countertop specialists.
Working With Payless Kitchen Cabinets’ Specialist in Glendale, California, Yields Better Results
Home improvement projects like do-it-yourself kitchen countertops seem glamorous and fun until you dive into the nitty, gritty details. Then, you quickly realize they involve sweat, dirt, and tears, especially when you have no former experience. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer or overspend for quality countertop installations.
Payless Kitchen Cabinets can help you overhaul your entire kitchen in Glendale, California. We’ll help you decide whether to install countertops first or last and inform other pertinent decisions. Call 866-482-0919 to schedule a consultation. Talk to our designers today.
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