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<title>Refinishing cultured marble countertops</title>
<link>http://www.myfrugallife.com/blog_sharee.html</link>
<description>Don't know what to do with your old scratched ugly cultured marble countertops with a built in shell sink? Refinish them with paint! I have used this method on all my counters and it has worked beautifully with little to no maintenance!</description>
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<title>Instructions for refinishing cultured marble sink/counter combo</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:05:46 GMT</pubDate>
<link>http://www.myfrugallife.com/post36614108_sharee.html</link>
<description>&lt;p&gt;To make this project easier I removed my faucet and drain. &lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;This made it a lot easier to get a solid coat of primer over everything besides the fact that I needed a new one. &lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Also I used a grey primer base because&amp;nbsp;and a tan stone spray with black flecks.&amp;nbsp;The variation with the grey and the tan with black flecks is very nice.&lt;/p&gt;&#xD;&#xA;&lt;p&gt;Here is the materials list that I used.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Sand paper - I used a medium grit sand paper. The purpose is to get the sheen off and get the surface ready to accept the paint.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Primer - I used Glidden Gripper Grey Primer for Superior Deep color Result (per the label) For the counter and Kilz spray for the sink in white.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Spray stone - I used Rust-Oleum American Accents Stone in Sienna Stone. It looked a little pinkish on the cap but when you put it over grey its beautiful.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Envirotex - This is a name brand for a polymer resin. Which is like putting 50 coats of polyurethane on at once.. It give a great shine as you can see in gator girls work.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Paint roller - I have a small foam roller that I use for all my little projects that works great.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Paint brush - Any will do really. I used it to get the &amp;quot;nooks and crannys&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Tape - Painters tape or masking tape to tape edges of counter and to make the line in the sink.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Disposable cups - use to pour the envirotex down the backsplash.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Paint spreader - kinda like a big putty knife. I bought a wide one and a not so wide one. I smoothed the edges down on the smaller one to create a kinda rounded edge for getting in the curves of the shell sink.&lt;/p&gt;&#xD;&#xA;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Now most of these can be purchased at home depot or lowes even walmart.(where I got most of my stuff)&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;However the envirotex can usually be picked up at a craft store like Michaels, Joanns, and Hobby Lobby. Its realatively inexpensive ranging from 9-30 dollars depending on the amount you are getting.&lt;/p&gt;&#xD;&#xA;&lt;p&gt;Step 1.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Clean your surface of any debris and sand well. If you own a belt sander its what I used for the flat surfaces and did the rest by hand.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 2.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Wipe all the dust off from the sanding.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 3.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;With trial and error I have found that painting the sink white first is easiest and gives the best results.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Don't worry about taping the sink yet.. just spray the Kilz white spray paint evenly over the entire sink area getting an even coat.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;To avoid drips dont get to close to the surface. If you do get drips.. wipe the excess and let it dry and sand and reapply if necessary. Let it dry.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 4.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Tape the sink about a 1/4 the way down and tape paper to the bottom so the sink is completely covered with the exception of the &amp;quot;rim&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 5.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Prime the entire counter top using your foam roller and brush with the Glidden Gripper. Let it dry. Follow Basic instructions on the Glidden can.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 6.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Spray the Rust-Oleum over the entire counter to get the desired color/coverage. This is the point that you would add the glitter for the sparkle if you so desire. Let it dry&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 7.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Follow the instructions on the envirotex. Stir very well. If you don't you can end up with soft spots that won't dry.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Step 8.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Start envirotexing your counter by working from the top down.. What I mean is start with the back splash and work your way down to the sink.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Pour some envirotex into one of the disposable cups and slowly start pouring down the back splash. Use your paint spreader to &amp;quot;scoop&amp;quot; the puddles back up.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Do this a few times to get the stuff to stick.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Then pour some on the counter and start working it around saving the sink for last.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Don't for get to clean up your edges under the counter with a foam brush.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;To get the envirotex down the sink use the same method as with the backsplash.&lt;br /&gt;&#xD;&#xA;Let it all cure per the manufacturers label&lt;/p&gt;&#xD;&#xA;&lt;p&gt;Also this would be a good time to mention that I made paper cones to fill the wholes where the faucet and drain were to prevent any drippage.&lt;/p&gt;</description>
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