Knowing how to repair water damaged counter top will help you save some time panicking over your broken countertop. Instead, you can mark the damaged area.
You won’t miss it because a water-damaged countertop usually swells. The details of what you can do next are written below.
Along with the steps in repairing water-damaged countertops, we also included how to get water stains out of wooden countertops. Lastly, we included the topic of insurance and whether water damage on your kitchen countertops is included in its insurance coverage.
Steps In Repairing Water Damaged Countertops
Countertops often get in contact with water, so they are more prone to water damage. Although, that does not mean you just let your countertops, especially those near your sink, be damaged by water. Here are the steps you can do to repair your water-damaged countertops.
Step #1. Remove your sink
If the swelling due to the water damage occurred near the sink, you have to remove the sink first. Carefully remove the sink so as not to damage the laminate of the countertop any further. If you need a more thorough guide in removing your sink, watch this video.
Step #2. Use grease pencil
After removing the sink, mark the swollen parts of your countertop with a grease pencil. Feel through the swollen parts and mark both ends of those parts.
You can use a straightedge to double-check if you drew on the right spot. After double-checking it with a straight edge, transfer the mark on the inner side (where the sink used to be) of the countertop.
Step #3. Measure and cut
Measure the bulge, then get your oscillating tool and a wood cutting blade to cut across the marked section of the countertop. Do not cut the whole thing and leave a hole in your countertop. Just cut the area parallel to the affected surface, about ¼-inch in height.
Be careful in cutting and keep it as straight as possible. Do not tilt the blade upwards and cut through the top of the countertop. Cut as deep as the edge of the bulge.
Step #4. Straight edge
Get a straight edge and lay it on the swollen area. Depending on the width of the swollen area, you may need several clamps.
Also, make sure the clamps you use for your straightedge fits. Then, do a dry fit with the clamp and the straightedge and feel around the edges.
Step #5. Painter’s tape and glue
After clamping down the bulge, place a painter’s tape on it, so you do not swap anything up. Then, get your gorilla glue and activate it with water.
Put a bit of water inside the slot you cut, then put some glue in it. Settle the bond inside the space using a putty knife.
Then, use your straightedge and clamp to tighten the slot. Then, wipe away the excess gorilla glue.
Leave the clamp and the straightedge on the affected area for a couple of hours. Then, remove the painter’s tape and re-install your sink.
How to get water stains out of wooden countertops?
Water damage doesn’t just come in the form of bulges on your countertops, but it may also be stains on your countertop. You have to know that there are two kinds of stains. There are surface stains and deep stains.
If the stains on your wooden countertops are white, then they are surface stains. If they are a dark brown color or even black, then they may be deep stains. You can remove surface stains by rubbing a pad of extremely fine wire wool with lemon oil on the stained surface.
For deeper stains, here are the steps:
Step #1. Sand
Sand the finish of your countertop in the direction of the grain. Do this lightly.
Step #2. Bleach
After sanding the stained surface, blot some bleach on it. Repeatedly do this until the stain is removed. If the stain can’t be removed with blotting, leave some bleach on it overnight.
You can use commercial wood bleach in case standard bleach does not work. However, remember to follow the instructions on the commercial wood bleach.
Step #3. Clean
After bleaching the stain, clean your worktop thoroughly. Let your worktop dry and finish your countertop with food-safe oil.
After cleaning and finishing, build up the color of your countertop by working in layers.
Is water damage a part of my insurance coverage?
If you are insured, the good news is that kitchen damages are included in the insurance coverage of home insurance companies. However, they can be pretty strict with the cost of repairs.
Insurance adjusters may hire contractors for you, which may be good or bad news for you. Good because then you won’t have to look for contractors yourself. Bad because then you would not be able to screen contractors as you please.
The best move is still to consult your lawyer about what to do regarding insurance adjusters and the cost of your water damage repair.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article about how to repair water damaged counter top! We hope you have learned something about repairing countertops, removing stains, and water damage insurance.