Refinish or resurface existing tile countertops

New to Real Estate · Fresno, CA · Member since 2025 · 49 posts · 29 votes

Hi Everyone,

We just got our clear to close this AM and trying to plan out as much as possible. We are trying to be budget friendly but also want to do something with our 1982 tile kitchen and bathroom countertops. Rather than spending the extra money on fully replacing them we came across doing a refinishing kit for example epoxy style coatings.

Has anyone tried that method?

Thanks in advance, Craig

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Kevin IveyPro Member

Flipper/Rehabber · Marysville, WA · Member since 2020 · 216 posts · 126 votes

10mo

if you don't meet current market trends/ competition on the MLS it could end up costing a lot more than the savings vs quartz. if it looks cheap there the alarm bells and over all impression set what a buyer is looking to pay they don't line item their price like we do.

I flip 3-5 houses a year solo for the last 6 yrs.

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Kevin IveyPro Member
Flipper/Rehabber · Marysville, WA · Member since 2020 · 216 posts · 126 votes
10mo
if you don't meet current market trends/ competition on the MLS it could end up costing a lot more than the savings vs quartz. if it looks cheap there the alarm bells and over all impression set what a buyer is looking to pay they don't line item their price like we do.
I flip 3-5 houses a year solo for the last 6 yrs.
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Craig Cann
OP
New to Real Estate · Fresno, CA · Member since 2025 · 49 posts · 29 votes
10mo
@Kevin Ivey thanks for your feedback. We were just gonna paint the cabinets they look good and didn't wanna destroy them trying to remove the tile counter tops.
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- Peter MckernanBusiness Member
  Residential Real Estate Agent · Irvine, CA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  10mo
  Quote from @Craig Cann:
  
  @Kevin Ivey thanks for your feedback. We were just gonna paint the cabinets they look good and didn't wanna destroy them trying to remove the tile counter tops.
  
  You should be able to remove the countertops, and replace them with quartz or something else without destroying them.. I just had some done for $2500.00 with material/labor. Quartz is fairly cheap, so you can get that done and increase the demand for the place with a smaller budget.
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Greg Kasmer
Rental Property Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2021 · 774 posts · 500 votes
10mo
@Craig Cann - I agree with Peter. I would get a few quotes to replace and then make your decision. You may be pleasantly surprised with the price point of new countertops compared to the cost to refinish including your time. Good Luck!
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Craig Cann
OP
New to Real Estate · Fresno, CA · Member since 2025 · 49 posts · 29 votes
10mo
@Peter Mckernan @Greg Kasmer the thing we were afraid about putting in quartz is the resident ruining the brand new counter top. Its. gonna be a rental not a flip. What's your thoughts?
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- Peter MckernanBusiness Member
  Residential Real Estate Agent · Irvine, CA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
  10mo
  Quote from @Craig Cann:
  
  @Peter Mckernan @Greg Kasmer the thing we were afraid about putting in quartz is the resident ruining the brand new counter top. Its. gonna be a rental not a flip. What's your thoughts?
  
  I do that in my rentals so that I don't have to touch it for years to come and you get a higher price for the rental since tenants/all people like upgrades.. I would have comps pulled on what is in the area and how fast they are leased out. The ones that are leased out are the more upgraded ones I would assume, unless they are priced very low.
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Craig Cann
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New to Real Estate · Fresno, CA · Member since 2025 · 49 posts · 29 votes
10mo
@Peter Mckernan
thanks
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James JonesPro Member
Investor · Collierville, TN 38017 · Member since 2017 · 592 posts · 445 votes
10mo
Tile refinishing kits work, but only in the short term. For rentals or flips, they’re usually a band-aid that starts peeling, chipping, or yellowing within a year, especially around grout lines. Epoxy looks great on Day 1 and terrible by Month 12 if the prep wasn’t perfect.

If you want the most budget-friendly option that still improves the kitchen/bath long-term, I’d look at:

1. Replacing tile tops with inexpensive prefab laminate.
It’s often cheaper than the labor and materials of refinishing, and it holds up way better.

2. If you insist on refinishing, hire a pro.
DIY kits almost always fail because tile and grout expand differently. Pros use commercial coatings that bond better, but even then it’s not a forever fix.

3. Consider resurfacing only as a temporary upgrade.
If you’re flipping, and the numbers justify it, resurfacing can be acceptable, as long as you’re honest that it’s not a lifetime product.

Bottom line:
Refinishing can work, but it’s the least durable option. If you want a clean, reliable, budget-friendly upgrade, replacing the tops is usually the smarter long-term move.
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Craig Cann
OP
New to Real Estate · Fresno, CA · Member since 2025 · 49 posts · 29 votes
10mo
@James Jones thank you and all the others. We talked about it tonight and we are gonna do the quartz tops. Appreciate everyone's feedback.
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