Countertops
Discover what you need to know about countertops—from material choices and installation to the pros and cons of each.
How To Paint Laminate Countertops: A DIY Guide
If you're looking to refresh your kitchen or bathroom without a complete makeover, painting laminate countertops may be the perfect solution.
All About High-End Concrete Countertops
Considering concrete countertops for your next kitchen remodel, but not sure where to begin? Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about introducing this strong and stylish material as part of your kitchen renovation.
How to Clean Butcher Block Surfaces
Learn how to sanitize and protect your butcher block with these easy DIY steps.
Marble Accent Trends to Try in Your Home
Love the look of marble? Read this guide to gain some stylish ideas for adding a touch of the luxe stone with fewer worries.
15 Beautiful Kitchen Countertop Ideas and Designs
Find inspiration in these stunning surfaces—some timeless, some trendy, many DIY-able!
How to Install a Butcher Block Countertop
Carpenter Nathan Gilbert helps a couple replace their laminate countertop with butcher block. Then he demonstrates how to apply a mineral oil finish to it.
How to Cut a Granite Countertop
Cutting granite for kitchen countertops whether indoors or outdoors—is a DIY-able job. But there are some caveats to consider before getting started.
How to Install a Quartz Countertop
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor learns how quartz countertops are manufactured and then helps install one in a homeowner’s kitchen.
Kitchen Countertop Options
Read our guide to kitchen countertop options, which looks at cost, appearance, and durability in essential work surfaces.
How To Build a DIY Breakfast Bar
Read our guide to learn how to add more counter space to your kitchen with a breakfast bar.
How to Make a Concrete Countertop
Concrete countertops are gaining popularity in kitchens and bathrooms, and they also cost a fraction of what other traditional countertops cost. Kevin O’Connor explains how to make them.
Teak Island Countertop Install at the TOH Arlington Italianate Project House
Countertop manufacturer Paul Grothouse shows Norm the right way to install the new teak island top for the kitchen
Waterfall-Edge Countertop Fabrication and Install
Norm Abram travels to the Pennsylvania workshop of Paul Grothouse to see the dovetail key joinery of the kitchen’s waterfall-edge wood countertop, then back to Cambridge where the whole crew lends a hand getting it into the house and in place
Crafting a Teak Island Countertop
Norm Abram travels to Germansville, Pennsylvania, to see how countertop fabricator Paul Grothouse is crafting a beautiful 3-inch teak island top for the house
Buying Guide for Butcher-Block Kitchen Islands
No time to build it before Thanksgiving? Pick a readymade model that works for you
Restoring a Butcher-Block Countertop
When wood counters lose their good looks, here’s how to make them beautiful again, and keep them looking that way
How to Choose a Countertop
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner select a new countertop
How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor learns how to create concrete kitchen counters
All About Wood Countertops
From types of wood to maintenance, our experts help you decide what’s best for your wood kitchen countertop.
How to Build a Butcher-Block Island
Combine iron threaded pipe and butcher block to create a kitchen centerpiece.
Quartz Countertops: Buying Guide, Costs, and Care
With the look of natural stone, minus the maintenance, quartz countertops give granite a run for its money.
All About Stone Countertops: A Comprehensive Guide
See your options for stone countertops and which is best for your kitchen, plus learn about installation and maintenance tips.
All About Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands are multipurpose units that can enhance a kitchen's utility and appearance. Find our best kitchen island ideas here.
How to Maintain a Stone Countertop
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor learns important maintenance tips from stone countertop contractor Jason Keefe
How to Build a Home Bar
From our Hammer It Out series: Create a stately and sophisticated gathering place for mixing and serving drinks
All About Laminate
The stuff of retro 1950s kitchens is looking cool again, thanks to new patterns and vibrant colors.
How to Build a Laminate Counter
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares his secrets for fabricating a stylish new plastic-laminate kitchen countertop.
Kitchen Island Design Ideas
Searching for the right look for your next kitchen build? Here are 13 great designs to inspire and inform
How to Repair Laminate Counters
Quick tips for repairing damaged laminate counters with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva.
How to Install a Soapstone Countertop
This traditional kitchen topper is easy for a do-it-yourselfer to install
11 Ways to Save While You Splurge
Easy ways to cut costs, not corners, on some of the most high-end home-improvement projects
How to Miter Corners in a Laminate Countertop
A single cut through both layers ensures a no-gap fit