How To Refinish A Porcelain Enamel Table Top

Porcelain has become synonymous with bathroom fixtures and tile, but porcelain enamel can be found on other household furnishings as well. The ceramic material is used on stovetops and cookware and may be substituted for wood or stone on tabletops. But no matter where you find it in use, you also often find chips and rust from the underlying metal. If you need to refinished a damaged porcelain table top, you'll find it to be a bit simpler than patching up the complex surface areas of fixtures and tile. A porcelain enamel tabletop can be made to look presentable again with home refinishing.

Step 1

Move your table outside to a patio or a lanai, and line the floor beneath the table with old newspaper. Set up a floor fan to add more ventilation to your work area. Put on a respirator and butyl chemical gloves.

Step 2

Use a coarse-bristled paint brush to apply a thin layer of acid etching to the table top. Sit the paint brush in a bucket of water after you've applied the etching. Allow at least ten minutes to pass for the acid to sit.

Step 3

Wipe the acid off of the table top, using a damp cloth. Place the cloth into the bucket with the brush, and then wipe the table top with a dry cloth. Use a blow dryer to get rid of any residual moisture on the table top.

Step 4

Rinse your paint brush, and then use it to apply a coat of epoxy primer onto the surface of your table top. After the first coat dries, apply a second or third coat to level out any inconsistencies in the surface of the table top. Rinse your brush when you are finished applying the primer.

Step 5

Use your brush to apply a layer of acrylic topcoat and seal the table top's primer. Allow the first coat to dry, and then apply a second.