Stone Coat Countertops Instructions
Stone Coat Countertop epoxy produces very consistent results if these simple directions are followed. If you have any questions please contact us. Consider the type of material you'll be coating. If you'll be making a new countertop out of MDF no seal coat is required. If you'll be coating a raw wood slab or wood top you'll need to seal the surface with thin coats of Stone Coat Countertop epoxy. We have found that it takes about one ounce of material for every square foot of raw wood to seal. Use a flat squeegee to apply seal coats. Use a gloved hand to apply to the edges.
One gallon of stone coat countertop material will cover 20 square feet of countertop. It is your choice to do one or 2 flood coats on your project. A second flood coat will be done in clear material to improve the flatness, smoothness, and build of the surface. If you plan on machine polishing your surface we recommend a second flood coat.
Apply a base color on your surface. We like Behr paint primer in one over raw MDF. We apply 2 coats of base color and sand with 220 grit sand paper after the paint is dry. If you are installing over Laminate countertops you need to first degrease the counter, second sand the counter with 80 grit sand paper, then third prime the laminate with a bonding primer. We like to use the bonding primer we stock on our products page or you can use, XIM Peel Bond.
Mask the area you work in with plastic. The stone coat countertop material will soak through paper. Mask anything you don't want coated. If Stone Coat countertop epoxy overlaps your masking make sure you de-mask before the material fully hardens so you don't lock in the masking tape.
Stone Coat countertop epoxy is an easy 1:1 mix ratio, just make sure you don't guess. You need to mix equal parts to get great results. Mix Stone coat countertop epoxy with a drill and hold on to your bucket so it does not spin. The material is very thick. Watch our video on how to mix the material for further instructions.
Spread the material as soon as your done mixing so it wont generate heat in the mixing bucket. Don't mix more than 2 quarts at a time until you have experience with the process. Use a 1/8 x 1/8 x 1/8 square notch trowel to spread the material. Use a a nylon bristle paint brush to apply to the edges, and break surface by chopping with the brush as seen in my How-To videos.
Now comes time to color. Use the methods in our many videos to apply color. You can use our pigment powders or gloss spray paint, don't use water based paint to color the Stone Coat countertop epoxy, only use what we show in the videos. Have fun with the color and practice on a sample board to get the results you desire. Our training videos will give you a lot of ideas. You have about a 45 min working time once you mix in an environment that is 65-80 degrees.
After the color is complete it's time to pop any bubbles still in the surface. Use a small propane torch with sweeping motions to pop the bubbles and move the color around. This comes with practice but it's not very hard. Let the material dry and keep dust and lint under control as this takes place. If you see something fall into the curing surface you can use tweezers to pull it out and if it's still flowing it'll self level again. A torch may help to level the imperfection as well. Don't hold the torch in one place long, keep it moving to avoid burns.
As the material drys you can time it where the drips on the underside of the edges can be scraped off with a smooth hard plastic trowel, old credit card, or putty knife. If the drips cure you can sand them off with a sander and 80 grit sand paper. I like to use a grinder with a 50 grit metal sanding disc after the drips are cured on MDF substrate after the material is dry.
Decide if you want a second flood coat and follow the same steps but no color. Sand the dry surface with 220 grit before the second coat. You'll find that without all the color and technique to do as in the first coat, the second coat will lay out very quickly and very flat. Use a torch a few times waiting 10 minutes between torching and then get off the material and let it cure. You need to be in a temperature controlled environment of 65-80 degrees. Each coat takes 6-8 hours to tack up and 24 hours to fully dry. You'll use about the same amount of Stone Coat as you did in your first coat.
If you want the ultimate finish order our polishing kit and use a sander and polisher to remove and tiny imperfections and polish the top to the sheen of your choosing. If you choose to polish your countertops after wear and tear you can absolutely polish them back to new! If you want to change the color down the road just degrease, sand, and re-coat! Clean your new tops with any countertop cleaner made for products like formica or corian. Many cleaners can be found at Home Depot or Wal Mart.
The material is very heat resistant but we recommend using trivets or hot pads. Don't slide large heavy sharp objects across the surface. As with any fine finish you need to handle with care. Remember, if you damage the surface you can polish it out. Make a small sample project if you want the practice and you'll get the hang of the material quickly! Enjoy and thank you for choosing Stone Coat Countertops. Stone Coat countertop epoxy will dry to the touch nicely overnight, and be ready for light use in 72 hours. Your surface will continue to cure harder and harder over 30 days. Be nice to them during the curing process. We like to machine polish our tops 5 days after the last coat. These instructions are in addition to our videos and written instructions with our kits. There are many variables involved in this process which makes each Stone Coat countertop job unique! Please make small samples to make sure you'll love your top, and get used to the products.
Stone Coat Countertops Metallic color packets are designed to be mixed directly with Stone Coat countertop epoxy after mixing the 2 parts. The color powders are also designed to be mixed with 91% isopropyl alcohol and sprayed into the surface using a spray bottle for unbelievable color and effect. Mix and match with base color options and these accent colors to create 100% unique countertops! Each packet contains enough Stone Coat Metallic powder to mix with a 2 gallon kit or do multiple jobs of spray accents. When mixing with 91% isopropyl alcohol take half a packet and pour powder into a spray bottle, then pour 12 ounces of 91% isopropyl alcohol and shake well before using.
Stone Coat Base colors are designed as a multi use product. You can tint up to 2 gallons of our epoxy with each 8 ounce Base Color, you can prime over old laminate, you can also add small amount to small batches of clear Stone Coat epoxy to lay out veins and add unique color effects.