If you’ve spent as much time as we have wandering up and down the paint aisles at your local Home Depot, you might have noticed (and been equally intrigued by) Giani Countertop Paint Kits—all-in-one decorative painting kits that promise to help you “get the kitchen you’ve dreamed of without the mess, time or cost of replacement” by transforming your beat-up old counters into faux granite, marble, slate and more. We decided to try a few for ourselves to see if the end results really looked as professional as the picture on the box.
This week, we’re testing the Giani Marble Countertop Paint Kit, which creates the look of “white limestone cut by thin, sinewy veins and plumes of grey quartz” found in Carrara marble. Per the brand, “The simplicity of color and pattern make it a luminous addition to any kitchen or bath.”
The kit is definitely more labor-intensive than the granite version, which quickly becomes apparent given the longer list of included supplies: a primer, grey and white accent paints, three cans each of epoxy resin and activator, a roller arm and covers, detail brush, 2″ bristle and sponge brushes, a textured paint sponge, misting bottle, and practice board. Unlike the granite kit, this one also provides sandpaper, gloves, stir sticks, and a dropcloth, which means the only other thing you’ll need to buy is painter’s tape, safety goggles and a paint tray for the primer.
Now on to the step-by-step. (The much more detailed instructions, which you’ll want to read very closely before starting the project, can be found online.)
- Prepare your surface with a thorough cleaning and light sanding. Use painter’s tape to protect the wall and cabinets around the edges of your countertop.
- Roll on two thin coats of the primer, waiting four hours in between to dry. Let dry another four hours.
- Before you start painting on the veins, you’ll want to do a few practice runs on the included foam board. (It’s also a good idea to have a general idea of how you want the pattern to look; spend some time on Google Image Search to study the veins on a natural marble slab.) Once you’re ready, use the small artist’s brush to begin applying the Grey Veining Mineral, working in short sections.
- Using the included spray bottle, lightly mist the freshly painted section with water.
- Use the dry bristle brush to dab and feather the vein, giving it a soft, diffused look.
- Spread the epoxy over the countertop, using the bristle brush around the edges and backsplash and a roller for the center section. If you see any specks of lint or dust, use tweezers to remove them.
- Let dry. While the epoxy will be tack-free in six to eight hours, Giani recommends waiting at least 24 hours to use your dishwasher and two days before using the countertop. The full cure time is seven days; until then, don’t use anything stronger than mild soap and water to clean your counter.
And that’s it! Enjoy your new faux-marble look.
The verdict: While this kit was definitely a lot more work than the granite version—and does require some artistic skill beyond sponging on paint—we were shocked by how well it turned out. One colleague even told us that from across the room, it looked like real marble. We call that a win!
