Artificial stone is a practical and inexpensive material that is widely used in decoration. Such materials allow you to give the kitchen a solid and attractive appearance, while they are durable, durable and resistant to moisture. In this article, we will tell you how to make such a tabletop with your own hands.
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What to make of? Brief description of the material
Artificial stone is a composite material that is made from various fillers, polymer resin and pigments of natural origin. Its type will directly depend on the type of polymer resin used. Artificial acrylic stone, which is durable and resistant to various chemicals, is very popular.
If earlier the cost of such an artificial material was high, and working with it presented certain difficulties, today it is on sale you can find liquid acrylic, which is easy to use and allows you to independently perform high-quality kitchen countertops.
Of its advantages, we note the following:
- Complete environmental friendliness.
- Ease of maintenance.
- Maintainability.
- Variety of colors.
- Long service life.
- Strength.
- Water resistance.
- Affordable cost.
At the same time, it should be noted that there are certain disadvantages. First of all, it is a tendency to the appearance of abrasions, scratches and chips on the surface. Therefore, such a surface should be handled carefully and carefully. However, you can independently repair the surface, restoring its original appearance.
Artificial stone countertops manufacturing technology
The manufacturing technology of such a countertop is not particularly difficult, therefore, it is quite possible to do this work on your own. To do this, you need acrylic and basic materials. Each of us can carry out such work, even if he does not have the appropriate experience in repair work.
To make it yourself, you will need the following:
- Two-component adhesive.
- Waterproof plywood used as a backing.
- Artificial leaf stone.
Of the tools required:
- Fraser.
- Drill.
- Circular saw or side saw.
- Jigsaw.
- Grinder.
Before proceeding directly to the repair work, you should decide on the appearance of the countertop and its dimensions. It is necessary to measure the available free space at the sink in the kitchen, and then complete a detailed drawing with detailed accurate calculations.
In the event that sheet material is used, we can recommend the following sizes for you. Length - 76 centimeters and width - 60 centimeters. The height of the ends is 36 mm. The backsplash and skirting boards are made up to 7 centimeters high. Cutouts for the hob and sink are made with a milling cutter, after which the edges of the holes made are processed manually with sandpaper.
Strips about 8 centimeters wide are cut from plywood. Such stripes will subsequently form a frame. A corresponding frame is made of plywood, into which the cut and processed “surface” of stone is glued onto the sealant. The ends of the board material should be pasted over with decorative edges or adhesive tape.
It is recommended to grind the edges of the plywood with a sander immediately before fixing the tabletop, which will completely remove burrs and minor damage.
The manufacture of stone countertops from slab material is difficult, so this technology is not widely used today. Most homeowners prefer liquid acrylic, which is easy to use and allows you to do the job yourself.
Acrylic Liquid Stone Countertop
Liquid acrylic stone is an extremely simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly material that allows you to create original looking kitchen countertops. The homeowner can easily purchase a ready-made liquid material or make it with his own hands.
The manufacture of countertops from such a stone can be performed in a direct and reverse way. When using the direct method, you will need to make blanks from chipboard or fiberboard sheets, after which the “liquid stone” is applied to the blank from a pistol. The thickness of the material layer is about 2 centimeters. All that remains is to wait until it hardens and sand it with an appropriate grinder and manually with fine sandpaper.
The use of the reverse manufacturing method is more laborious, but at the same time material consumption is significantly reduced. In this case, you will need to make blanks from fiberboard, which are 5-6 millimeters larger than the size of the future countertop. Such blanks should be glued together with epoxy glue, then cut out the corresponding holes for the hob and sink, glue along the contour of the plywood blank and process them with a grinder.
The completed workpiece is installed in the kitchen, plumbing is installed, after which the existing cracks are covered with plasticine. All that remains is to spray the liquid stone, which is performed in full accordance with the instructions. The prepared composition hardens quickly, therefore it is necessary to act carefully and quickly. It is recommended to lay glass cloth on top of the finished workpiece, and then spray. This will provide the necessary structural strength.
Subsequently, the surface is sanded, the edges are milled, and the table top is leveled if necessary. All such work is not difficult, so making such a piece of furniture with your own hands is not difficult.
Stone Countertop Repair
No matter how carefully you use such a tabletop, over time, microscopic chips, cracks and other damage will appear on it. Repair of artificial stone surfaces is not difficult, which will allow you to restore the original appearance of the kitchen surface.
To eliminate large chips and cracks, it is necessary to degrease the damaged area, slightly widen the crack and fill it with two-component glue. After the glue hardens, the surface is sanded and manually polished.
Small spots and shallow scratches can be sanded down with sandpaper. To do this, initially use coarse-grain sandpaper, gradually switching to fine grain. You can also additionally polish the surface with a drill and a special felt nozzle.
If it is necessary to eliminate swelling and stains, then using a router, a defective area is cut out, after which a patch is poured from the remnants of the liquid material. All that remains is to wait for the material to harden, polish and grind the repaired countertop.
Conclusion
Making a stone countertop with your own hands is not difficult, so you can do this work yourself. The use of liquid stone allows the manufacture of original, strong and durable kitchen countertops. At the same time, the affordable cost of such material significantly reduces the costs of the homeowner. If necessary, you can independently repair the coating, restoring its original appearance.
Do-it-yourself countertop (video)
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