How Much Does It Cost to Refinish, Resurface, or Repair Countertops?

Refinishing vs. Resurfacing

Your countertops help define your kitchen's style and functionality, and it pays to keep them in good condition. Unfortunately, chips, scratches, burns, and water damage are potential issues that harm the aesthetic of your counters. Eventually, you’ll need to choose between refinishing, repairing, or resurfacing your countertops.

• Refinishing a countertop is one type of repair to the surface finish. It includes buffing out scratches, sanding away stains, adding a coat of epoxy, and recoating the surface with a sealant.

• Resurfacing can include both the removal and replacement of worn laminate or tiles and the addition of a new surface.

In the case of stone, resurfacing and refinishing are often used interchangeably. While these are types of repairs, they don’t include all repairs, such as fixing a crack.

"Refinishing countertops is a great way to "polish" the look of an area without a remodeling price tag,” says Andy Kilborn, Expert Review Board member and owner of Andy's Handyman Service in Des Moines, IA. “To get a seamless look, consider hiring a pro, as it can be a tough DIY."

Cost to Refinish Countertops by Method

There are different refinishing methods based on the type of countertop or the damage you’re dealing with. Options include epoxy, re-laminate, polymer resin, and paint, which vary in cost. Check out the following table for countertop refinishing costs.

Epoxy Countertop Coating Cost

Repairing epoxy resin countertops costs anywhere from $100 to $600 or more, depending on the type and extent of the damage. Epoxy coating costs about $4 to $8 per square foot. Although this is a tempting DIY job, a smooth, professional finish requires skill and experience.

A pro removes the old epoxy layer and installs a new one in extreme cases. This is an excellent chance to update the look of your kitchen with colored or patterned kits.

Re-Laminate Countertop Cost

Re-laminating a countertop costs $200 to $650, or about $3 to $6 per square foot. Expect to pay $100 to $300 for materials and an additional $35 to $85 per hour for labor. Re-laminating works best for already laminated countertops, and it involves adding a new layer of laminate to the countertops to hide any damage marks.

Polymer Resin 

Like epoxy resin, polymer resin costs about $4 to $8 per square foot and is a great choice if you want to mimic the look of popular materials, like granite, for a lower cost. It’s best to leave this job to a pro who can apply the polymer resin correctly for the smoothest appearance. 

Countertop Paint Cost

Painting over countertops can give them a new look and costs $6 to $15 per square foot for the paint and sealant. You’ll need to seal the countertop paint to prevent chips and general wear and tear from regular use. Keep in mind that paint doesn’t work with all countertop materials; it works best on tile, laminate, or wood, and it doesn’t work on granite or marble.

Cost to Resurface Countertops by Material

The cost to resurface countertops will vary based on materials, but it generally ranges from $3 to $20 per square foot. Like marble and slate, some materials are more expensive to resurface but will last longer than less costly materials.

Laminate Countertop Cost

Laminate countertop resurfacing costs about $3 to $7 per square foot, although re-laminating the countertops is usually the most cost-effective option if your laminate countertops are showing a lot of wear and tear. Laminate countertops cost $10 to $40 per square foot for the materials.

Granite Polishing and Sealing Cost

Resurfacing granite, including polishing and sealing, ranges from $4 to $10 per square foot, depending on the damage and work needed. You may opt to repair small chips and cracks yourself using a DIY granite epoxy resin repair kit for $35 to $100. Extensive damage might warrant complete replacement or resurfacing. The cost to replace countertops with granite comes out to $40 to $60 per square foot for the stone.

Marble Resurfacing Cost 

Professional resurfacing for marble countertops ranges from about $4 to $20 per square foot, including $2 to $7 per square foot for polishing and sealing. Because marble is a natural stone like granite, many DIY repair kits for small chips and cracks cost the same as they do for granite. 

Slate Resurfacing Cost

Slate costs about $3 to $8 per square foot for resurfacing, similar to other natural stone countertops. Durable and nonporous, slate is more expensive to install than most other natural products, but it’s easy to care for.

Corian Restoration Cost

Professional resurfacing or refinishing for Corian countertops costs about $4 to $9 per square foot. Corian is nonporous and a solid surface, so you don’t have to seal it. You can buff out scratches, dents, scuffs, and even some burns with sandpaper and epoxy for about $30. 

Quartz Countertop Cost

Resurfacing quartz is similar in cost to Corian at about $4 to $9 per square foot. This material usually needs resurfacing due to burns from setting hot pots and pans on the counters, which don’t handle heat well. Quartz countertop installation costs $50 to $200 per square foot for materials and labor.

Caesarstone Countertop Cost

Caesarstone is a brand of quartz countertops, and resurfacing it costs between $4 and $9 per square foot. While it benefits from being resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks, it’s porous and requires sealing. Like standard quartz, it’s vulnerable to heat damage. ​​Caesarstone countertops cost $55 to $75 per square foot for the material.  

Tile Countertop Cost

The average cost of resurfacing tile countertops runs from $6 to $18 per square foot if you hire a tile contractor. In most cases, this process involves removing and replacing tiles. On rare occasions, some homeowners choose to epoxy coat the surface.

Replacing grout—the most common type of repair for tile countertops—is a simple DIY project that costs around $30. This involves removing the old, failing grout and applying the new. If any tiles do crack, professional tilers have the necessary skills to remove the damaged pieces and replace them for a seamless repair. The cost to regrout tile professionally runs from $150 to $2,500 or $10 to $25 per square foot.

Wood or Butcher Block Resurfacing Cost

Resurfacing wood counters costs $4 to $9 per square foot. Solid wood is durable, and if the surface is reclaimed wood, any minor marks and scuffs add to its character. Scratch marks and pitting are easy to repair by sanding them down and refinishing. Wood countertops cost $20 to $70 per square foot if you’re interested in adding them to your kitchen. 

Countertop Repair Costs

Countertop repairs will cost around $100 to $800, with the cost depending primarily on the material and the extent of the damage. Some countertops will require repairs to buff away burns, cracks, or scratches before you can refinish them with resins or paint. 

Material

Countertop repairs cost around $10 to $12 per square foot, with most countertop repairs covering about 30 square feet. The cost can vary depending on the material.

Type of Damage

The type of countertop damage impacts the cost of repairs. Repairing a small chip or crack will fall in the lower end of the cost range for each material while buffing out burn marks or resurfacing entire countertops will be more expensive. You should consult with countertop contractors to get quotes for repairs and replacements and compare them to decide which will be more cost-effective.

Labor Costs

The labor cost to hire a pro is about $35 to $150 per hour, plus materials. A minor repair may take about an hour and may be charged at a flat rate of $50 to $100, while larger repair projects can take about 6 hours.

Geographic Location

In general, the cost to refinish or repair countertops is about the same no matter where you live. Urban areas may be more expensive than rural areas, and a contractor may charge more if they need to travel a long distance to your home.

Cost to Replace vs. Refinish or Repair Countertops

It's more cost-effective to repair or refinish countertops rather than replace them. In fact, repairing, resurfacing, or refinishing countertops can save you up to 60% of the cost of installing new countertops. Consider all of your options before hiring a contractor, including the materials involved and the level of damage your countertops have sustained. 

When to Resurface or Refinish Countertops

It's possible to restore countertops made of tile, marble, wood, and laminate. You may consider these options over replacing the counters if the existing countertops have minor to moderate damage or you want to make updates on a quick timeline. Plus, refinishing can give most countertops a new look, even mimicking the appearance of natural stone like granite, if you want to refresh the look of your kitchen.

When to Replace Countertops

Replacing countertops is more expensive and time-consuming, so many homeowners only do so when there is extensive damage or during a renovation when the rest of the kitchen will be under construction for a longer period of time. It’s a better option if the damage is so severe that a repair would leave the counter structurally weakened. It’s also a good idea if the cost to resurface would meet or exceed the cost of replacement.

Opt to replace the countertops if there is a risk you’re going to be unhappy with the quality of the repair. For example, matching up laminate colors isn't easy. You may find that after paying for the repair, you decide to replace the counters anyway.

Countertop Refinishing: DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Experienced DIYers can save an average of $250 on labor by repairing or refinishing countertops on their own. DIY kits and supplies cost about $30 to $50, plus the cost of the countertop materials. Fixing minor scratches or buffing away imperfections from general wear and tear is usually DIY-friendly. However, leave larger refinishing projects to a pro because there’s the risk of creating more damage during a DIY job. Countertop contractors will ensure that repairs and refinishing work are seamless.

Hiring Professional Countertop Contractors

Countertop pros charge $60 to $100 per hour, depending on location. You can try hiring a handyperson for some repairs for $50 to $70 per hour. If you want to make sure you get the best finish possible, consider paying extra to employ someone with the necessary skill set, especially for refinishing or resurfacing projects, rather than attempting this project yourself.

Questions to Ask

When you’re shopping for quotes, get at least three quotes and ask as many questions as possible. This makes it easier to assess which contractor is offering the best value. Questions to consider include:

• What professional accreditation (if any) does the contractor have?

• Does the contractor specialize in countertop repairs or specific materials?

• Does the estimate include all of the materials and additional fees?

Find a countertop repair pro near you to look at the counter before settling on a price to ensure you know exactly what work is required. For example, you may think you only need a simple refinishing, but the contractor may be able to identify additional problems. Countertop specialists have the skills to review the work involved, advise you on the best way to proceed, and complete the work in a timely manner.

FAQs were summarized from this existing cost guide text using automation technology and were thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.