Are you looking for alternative bathroom countertops?
Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what we’ll be going over in this post.
1. Unfinished wood board
If you’re in the planning stages of a bathroom renovation and you’re wondering which material to use, consider unfinished wood. Here’s why.
For starters, unfinished wood, especially the right type, is the perfect choice for someone on a budget. You can get quality wood at affordable prices. All you need is to combine that with elbow grease to produce a beautifully finished bathroom countertop.
How to Create an Unfinished Wood Board Countertop
- Select your preferred wood
There are so many types of unfinished wood that might be good for your bathroom countertop. We’re going to run through a few that are genuinely worth considering; oak, pine, and maple. Of course, these are just a few options. There are countless unfinished wood options available to choose from, all with their benefits.
- Alter the board to your project required dimensions
If you’re comfortable with your abilities in cutting and matching the wood to the countertop, then, by all means, make this a DIY project. Don’t forget to mark out the wood where the sink and faucet (if separate) will go.
However, if you’re uncomfortable with the DIY process, you should hire a professional to install it for you. You don’t want to do your bathroom countertop twice.
- Install
Apply the caulk before placing the countertop on top of the surface. Next, install the sink and faucet (if separate) and re-connect the plumbing. When installing, be careful to watch out for things that can void sink/faucet warranties.
- Sealing
One of the most critical steps to take when installing a new unfinished wood bathroom countertop is sealing the wood. Bathrooms are a place where water can go rogue, touching down on any and all surfaces. Therefore, you need to protect your countertop by sealing it with a varnish.
- Maintain
Maintenance is something to be mindful of over the years of having your unfinished wood bathroom countertop. It will need to be resealed every few years depending on the wood.
2. DIY countertops
There are some great DIY countertop ideas that exist which we recommend you consider for your bathroom renovation.
Floating Vanity
The floating vanity is an excellent possible option for your bathroom, considering it’s easy to do yourself and is incredibly affordable.
Before you get started, you need some supplies.
- 1 X Whitewood (doesn’t have to be white wood) Panel = 16”x96”
- Lengths in order to secure walls and support vanity = 2”x2” or 2”x4”
- Circular or table saw set at 45-degree angle
- Feather board (magnetic)
- Screws and wood glue
- Supplies for wood finish
Step 1 – Wood Alterations
Get the wood to the correct dimensions for your bathroom and the sink which it will hold. Then, at a 45-degree angle, mitre the long-edges with a circular or table saw. Use a magnetic feather board to ensure you’re cutting straight.
Step 2 – Join the Boards
Support, from behind, the 2’x2’. Glue, predrill, and screw into the two boards. Make sure you have quality wood glue and have it mitred as tightly as possible once you’ve completed that, sand and finish.
Step 3 – Install
When you’re ready to install the floating wood vanity, mount the 2’x4’s along the wall where the vanity will rest. For extra support, drill into studs. Next, cut the hole for the sink and begin the process of putting it in and linking the plumbing back up.
Step 4 – Sealing
Seal the wood to protect it from water damage, and be sure to maintain it over time.
Concrete Countertop
Concrete countertops are a great idea if you’re on a budget and want something that can look nice but be relatively easy to DIY. Maybe not as simple as the floating vanity, but still easy enough that an ordinary person can achieve it.
Step 1 – Prepare
You will need to measure everything according to the width of your bathroom, the thickness you’re looking for in the countertop, and in accordance with the sink and faucet, you’ll want to either install or reinstall.
When creating your concrete countertop, consider how thick you want it to be, the standard ranging from 1’ to 2’.
Step 2 – Construct
You will need to create a template to understand the laminated plywood box required, which will hold the cement while it dries. Then, craft in accordance with the sink and faucet requirements, and make holes for them so you can avoid cement in those areas.
Step 3 – Install
You will need a rebar to ensure the cement has some structural integrity. Following all the prep work and installed rebar, you can mix your concrete and get ready to pour. Ensure you screw in cap-boards to avoid overflow.
With your second cement batch, you’ll cover the sink moulds while filling in the rest of the form. Again, it will take a few days to set.
Step 4 – Finish
The final step once you’ve added in your sink and faucet is to polish the concrete countertop with an abrasive pad as well as water-feed to smoothen sides and edges. When it comes to large flat surfaces, use a disc sander with diamond discs. While doing this, constantly apply running water to prevent clogging the surfaces.
3. Laminate countertop
There are many benefits to considering laminate countertops as the way to go for your bathroom countertops.
Laminate countertops’ pros include their affordability, DIY-friendly design and application, easy maintenance, and numerous design options. However, when it comes to the cons of laminate countertops, they include laminates’ short lifespan, difficulty to repair, and their susceptibility to burns and delamination.
Laminate is highly affordable at, on average, $29 per square foot. Of course, this price can vary depending on the design (of which there are many). However, as a starting point, it’s still substantially cheaper than other countertop material options.
Design options in regards to laminate are endless. It can literally be anything you want it to be, faux marble, stone, wood grain patterns, you name it, and it’s likely a readily available laminate pattern.
Considering laminate is made from plastic resin, it makes it easy to clean and more difficult to stain. However, on the other side of that, the laminate does wear down. It is near impossible to repair, meaning it will need replacing.
