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Encore Countertop Review & Giveaway!

A few months ago I was asked to review a countertop transformation kit from Encore, but since I had already painted my counters, I needed a guinea pig.  I called up my friend Julie and said, “Please don’t be offended by this, but you have pretty ugly countertops, would you like a free makeover?”  Luckily she just laughed, and then said yes!  You can see for yourself how “interesting” they were, with the green leaf print.

They always reminded me of those leaf sketches you’d do in elementary school. 🙂

I chose the Stirling Silver Encore kit, which I thought would look nice in her kitchen.

Day 1
The first day we applied the bonding coat.  You could still see the counters through the first layer but the bonding coat was definitley thick and heavy duty.

After a great deal of sanding, and a lot of sweating,  we added the second layer of the bonding coat. Once the second layer went on you could no longer see the green countertops underneath.  The kitchen already looked better!

The second coat was much easier to apply and made the countertops much smoother than the first.

Day 2
The second day we started adding color.  This layer was so much fun to apply because you could see the swirls of color and it was so pretty!

As my friend and I were putting it on we kept saying, “this is so cool!”  I tried to capture the look of the color in these pictures but they don’t really do it justice.

After the first color coat was completely dry, Julie and her husband, did a final smooth sanding and then painted on the the final color coat.

Day 3
This is what the counters looked like the next morning when I showed up.  I was amazed at the transformation!

It’s so cool that it actually looks like concrete and I love that a million people can use this kit but your counters will always be unique because everyone will apply the color a little differently.

After another very light sanding Julie and I painted on the final gloss coating.  It’s a very thin gloss but it seals the counters and gives them a little shine.  Here are a couple pictures I took while the gloss was drying.

The best part about the Encore kit, other than the fact that the transformation is beautiful, is that you can use your counters the next day!  It’s recommended you let the counters completely dry overnight, but then you can put all your stuff back on the counters!  When we painted our countertops I had to wait a week before I could do that!

Here are some “after” pictures for you to enjoy.

Can you believe how much more modern her kitchen looks?!  I think it even made the cabinets look better!

The gray color is beautiful, I absolutely love it.  Julie and her family love it too and they are glad that this is the only kind of green they’ll have on their counters from now on! 🙂

Here’s another close up, just because it’s so pretty and I couldn’t resist. 🙂

Here’s a breakdown of Julie, and my opinions, of the product and the refinishing process.

Pros
* The product is very durable and thick
* The color is beautiful
* The directions and video tutorials are very helpful and easy to follow
* It took a lot of work over the 3 days but the work was pretty easy.  As Julie said, “if a 9 month pregnant woman and a girl friend can do it, anyone can do it!”  We also had a lot of fun throughout the process.

Cons
* The color was a little darker than expected (we still love it, but it is darker than the swatch online)
* Insufficient product amounts.  We had enough product to complete the project but on some steps we used every single grain of sand and then on other steps we had tons left over.  We wish there had been the same amount of product for each of the steps because on a few of the steps we were stressed out that we were going to run out of product.

Let’s look at the before and after again, just for fun.

What do you think of the countertop transformation?  I absolutely love it!

To find out more about Encore, the complete countertop refinishing system, and to see other transformations, follow them on Facebook.

I’ve had some readers ask what my friend thinks of her countertops after she’s had the counter tops for about a year. She is still very satisfied with them! She has had no problem with stains and only one issue with scratching. The scratch did not scratch the color off but more created an indentation in the counter. She said that the counters are a little softer but she has not had any flaking or any places where the color has stained or faded!

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About Anna

"Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Ask Anna. I have always enjoyed cleaning, organizing, decorating and helping people, so I've put that all together on the pages of this blog. I truly hope my tips help you in your home and make sure to contact me if you have a question!"

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Comments

  1. Rebecca says

    April 25, 2013 at 4:37 am

    This is awesome. I have very old countertops. Can you say 1970’s yellow what looks to be version of laminate back then. You can even see knife marks in the surface and I want to re do them badly. This product looks like it would fit the bill!! I had never heard of it until this post and I am glad I read this!

  2. Rebecca says

    April 25, 2013 at 5:16 am

    I hate my green corian countertops …. great to see an option besides ripping them out.

  3. Brandi says

    April 25, 2013 at 5:56 am

    I would love to try this on our kitchen counters!

  4. Kristin McPhie says

    April 25, 2013 at 6:25 am

    I would for sure do my kitchen!

  5. Kara D says

    April 25, 2013 at 6:58 am

    I would definitely transform my kitchen!

  6. Rachael says

    April 25, 2013 at 7:20 am

    Would love to use in our kitchen remodel

  7. tia bennett says

    April 25, 2013 at 7:33 am

    My countertops are old laminate and an upgrade would be perfect! Thanks for the opportunity.

  8. Jaclyn F. says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:04 am

    I would definitely do my kitchen!

  9. Paula says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:14 am

    I love this! I would love to paint over my foux butcher-block 1982 counters!

  10. samW says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:18 am

    I think I would try it in my bathroom first!

  11. Cindy Bechinski says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:21 am

    Wow, it does look like a lot of work but much cheaper than replacing them all!

  12. Christine (iDreamofClean) says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:24 am

    This is quite interesting to me! I just moved and am not impressed with our countertops AT ALL. I’ve been trying to decide between a re-do and new counters so winning this would definitely be a great way to make up my mind 🙂

  13. Morag says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:25 am

    What a great idea – I had no idea there were products like this. My kitchen could do with being brightened up.

  14. crazy4boys says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:33 am

    Do yellow countertops with weird colored flecks count as ugly? I think so! I’d love to do a re-do.

  15. Kathie H says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:40 am

    Beautiful! I would definitely change my kitchen. First!

  16. Barb Garber says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:45 am

    I’d love to transform my counters. yucky yellow.

  17. Brett says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:52 am

    Looks so great! I can’t wait to get a chance to turn our pink kitchen countertops to concrete!

  18. Candace Pecaut says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:03 am

    Looks beautiful Anna and Julie! I love the transformation!

  19. Jen Archer says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:29 am

    I would definitely do my kitchen counters! Mine are an even uglier green. I have completely repainted the walls and cupboards in my kitchen, but still have to look at the ugly counters. By repainting walls, I mean I primered 3 coats over the 70s mushroom paneling before I could even paint. I have been wanting to do my countertops so bad! Thanks for the chance.

  20. Stephanie Morency says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:46 am

    i would do my kitchen first, then buy more to finish off 2 bathrooms. 🙂

  21. Amy Bounds says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:57 am

    We would definitely do the kitchen.

  22. Kami Balmforth says

    April 25, 2013 at 9:58 am

    I’d love the sterling grey! I’m doing al all white kitchen here soon and it would give me the perfect contrast! Thanks for hosting this!

  23. Flamingoer says

    April 25, 2013 at 10:29 am

    I am renting and we have terrible looking counter tops that just do not “clean” up. I would like to show this to my landlord and see what they tink about it!!
    THANKS!

  24. Amy says

    April 25, 2013 at 10:37 am

    Gosh I’d be hard pressed to pick one but I think my kitchen over my bathroom.

  25. rachel j. says

    April 25, 2013 at 10:56 am

    would love to win this countertop makeover! if not, i will look into purchasing it anyway…love the look!

  26. Casie says

    April 25, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Hi Anna,
    This is so cool! My husband and I just got our first house and the counters in the kitchen are terrible it looks like someone put linoleum on them, I would definitely use this on them.

  27. Anne Haun says

    April 25, 2013 at 11:45 am

    I would redo my bathroom counter tops.

  28. Crystal says

    April 25, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Countertop looks great!! What a transformation!!

  29. rachel says

    April 25, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    My kitchen!!

  30. Dawn says

    April 25, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    I love how the counter-tops look. I need this!

  31. Heather Cardenas says

    April 25, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    I would be doing my kitchen because it needs a bit of an update before we list it for sale here in early summer:)

  32. Michelle says

    April 25, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Looks nice! Would love to do this in my bathroom.

  33. k says

    April 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    I NEED THIS SO BADLY!!!! I have some of the ugliest laminate counters.

  34. Janet C says

    April 25, 2013 at 2:12 pm

    My counters really need a make over and don’t have the$$$ to replace

  35. Gail says

    April 25, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    My kitchen counter tops with out a doubt!

    • Suzanne says

      April 25, 2013 at 2:51 pm

      My countertops were built in the 70’s so you KNOW they need a makeover! Would love to win this.

  36. Brenda A. says

    April 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    I would love to redo our kitchen counters in the onyx! Thanks for the great giveaway.

  37. Heather H says

    April 25, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    My kitchen in a heartbeat!

  38. Heather Chandler says

    April 25, 2013 at 7:25 pm

    We recently added some cupboards and newer counter top to add kitchen storage. However, the newer counter top does not match the current one. When we put it in, my husband promised we could either replace it or cover it with a product like this. I REALLY hope I win this giveaway so I can have a matching kitchen.

  39. Stephanie Lanphear says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:12 pm

    I would do my bathroom!

  40. Jenna J says

    April 25, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    What a great idea! Never thought of painting our lime green counters, was just dreading the idea of tiling. Thanks!

  41. Jessica Austin says

    April 25, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    Kitchen!!

  42. jamie lynn says

    April 26, 2013 at 12:10 am

    i’ve been DYINGGGG to redo my kitchen countertops that are probably from the 50’s or 60’s. i would certainly love to win this kit!! thanks so much for the awesome giveaway!!

  43. Makayla says

    April 26, 2013 at 7:30 am

    I would definitely do my kitchen countertops! Beautiful results!

  44. Stephanie Hicks says

    April 26, 2013 at 8:19 am

    I would definitely re-do my kitchen. We love the house we bought…with the exception of the very dated BLUE countertops. They go with nothing! I’ve been dying to change them, but can’t afford the price of new countertops…this would be perfect!

  45. Deanna hale says

    April 26, 2013 at 8:35 am

    My bathroom could definitely use this!

  46. Tracie says

    April 26, 2013 at 9:18 am

    I’m tempted to try this in my bathrooms! How cool would that onyx look?!

  47. LaurelB says

    April 26, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    I have been wanting to try this on our ugly formica counters in the bathroom.

  48. Erin Boehme says

    April 26, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    I would transform our bathrooms. They are straight from the 70’s and need a color change immediately.

  49. Courtney says

    April 26, 2013 at 1:54 pm

    what a cool option! I’m so nervous about altering my beige countertops even though they have burn marks!

  50. Nicole W says

    April 26, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    This stuff looks great! And I love that you can use the counter the next day. I would transform my kitchen counters for sure!

  51. Sherry Sch says

    April 26, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    Wow! I’d do my kitchen countertops. Mine are original to my house (1974?) and are DARK brown. Hideous!

  52. Cindy K says

    April 26, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    Would absolutely do my kitchen if I won. I have a very cheap looking light blue color from the contractor when they built he house and it just looks so ugly. I hate it! This looks like a project I could do!

  53. Lisa says

    April 26, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    I would definitely use this on my kitchen

  54. Wendy says

    April 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    My kitchen is an old and needy disaster!

  55. susan says

    April 26, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    I would change my kitchen counters

  56. Pamela says

    April 28, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    My kitchen! My countertop is a sort of evergreen-ish/turquoise swirl thing from the late sixties. It is horrifying.

  57. Erica W says

    April 28, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    My blue kitchen counters for sure!!!

  58. kit says

    April 29, 2013 at 7:36 am

    I love the sterling grey color. Would love to update both baths and kitchen counters with this product. Thanks for the info. Fingers Crossed I am chosen. Thanks for the info and chance to win, Anna! Love your blog!

  59. Nancy Carr says

    April 29, 2013 at 4:46 pm

    Great way to update. Please enter me.

  60. Nicole Vosburgh says

    April 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Our kitchen!

  61. Barbara Medeiros says

    April 30, 2013 at 9:09 am

    I have soapstone counter top in my bathroom that is stained & ugly, I wonder if this would work on that, I know the rustoleum product can’t be used on soapstone. 🙁 Also can it be used in the sink? Would love to win this! 🙂

  62. Kalina says

    April 30, 2013 at 9:42 am

    I would do my kitchen counters!

  63. Emily S says

    April 30, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Wow, this turned out great! We have the same countertops that Julie and Nathan had and want to redo them so bad! We’ll definitely look into this!

  64. Jess says

    April 30, 2013 at 9:54 am

    We recently bought our first home, and this would be amazing to try on our 70s kitchen counters!!

  65. Amy says

    April 30, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Love this! I would makeover my kitchen!

  66. Vanea says

    April 30, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Would love to do thisat our house!

  67. Amanda S. says

    April 30, 2013 at 5:47 pm

    I would use the countertop in my kitchen.

  68. Norma Jean says

    May 1, 2013 at 10:37 am

    I would redo our master bath countertop!

  69. Diana Johannesen says

    May 1, 2013 at 11:12 am

    Nice idea….what do you have to lose!

  70. emilee says

    May 1, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    would defiinitely use on our 1930 bathroom counters since we have old railway ties as our kitchen counters don’t think i’d want to cover this up!

  71. Carol Anne says

    May 1, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    My kitchen is in mid renovation, so this is perfect time for this giveaway! thx.

  72. Gloria Davis says

    April 29, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    I just finished the first of the color applications. In my bathroom I have metallic paint in copper and the cabinests are copper penny. I know , sounds gross but with bamboo painted over the copper it is awesome and people go ape over it.
    My question: Is it possible to add a few flecks/swirls of copper pain onto the last layer of color? ( I am using the dark brown or expresso color.

    thanks

    • Anna says

      April 29, 2014 at 10:39 pm

      Yeah of course! I’d add it before putting on the gloss coat. I’d love to see a picture, send me a picture if you think about it. 🙂

  73. Ashley says

    May 19, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    Do you have any updates from your friend on how they are holding up?
    I’ve heard about staining and scratching being pretty bad with concrete counters, so I’d love to hear how this product compares. : )
    Thank you!!

    • mreynolds says

      May 23, 2014 at 11:06 am

      Hey Ashley,

      I spoke with Anna’s friend about how the encore countertops are holding up. She’s had the counter tops for about a year and is very satisfied with them still. She said that she’s had no problem with stains and only one issue with scratching. The scratch did not scratch the color off but more created an indentation in the counter. She said that the counters are a little softer but she has not had any flaking or any places where the color has stained or faded. Hope this answers your question!

  74. Katie says

    December 1, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    I am wondering if you are still pleased with your Encore countertops. Have they been holding up to routine wear and tear.

    • mreynolds says

      December 3, 2014 at 9:40 pm

      Katie,
      I spoke with Anna’s friend about how the encore countertops are holding up. She’s had the counter tops for about a year and is very satisfied with them still. She said that she’s had no problem with stains and only one issue with scratching. The scratch did not scratch the color off but more created an indentation in the counter. She said that the counters are a little softer but she has not had any flaking or any places where the color has stained or faded. Hope this answers your question!

  75. Renee says

    May 12, 2016 at 5:32 am

    After trying the Encore countertop and the Giani Granite countertop, which one would you recommend?

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