Giani Granite Paint Review! Remodel on a Budget!

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Look what Giani Granite Paint did for my kitchen!
BEFORE
AFTER
Giani Granite Paint for Countertops has literally changed our life- well our kitchen anyways!! I call it the “miracle paint”! Seriously- this stuff is totally awesome and is SO easy to apply! Do you want to remodel your kitchen? Think you can’t afford to replace your countertops? Don’t replace them-repaint them! With Giani Granite Paint for Countertops you can turn your old yucky laminate countertops into beautiful granite-looking countertops!
I was really excited & nervous when I first heard about Giani. Can it really look like all those beautiful pictures that they have posted on their website? It can’t be that easy to really make your countertops look like granite can it? I was so sure I’d ruin it. It is SO simple! In fact I did the whole kitchen by myself- my husband didn’t even help at all! It would be nearly impossible to ruin it- the process is SO simple! I was so proud of myself!
Here’s how we transformed our kitchen from BLAH to WOW!
Step 1: PREP– Wipe down ALL surfaces that you are repainting with a degreaser! Make sure that your caulk is water-based otherwise the paint will NOT stick to it! It’s very simple to re-caulk it with water-based caulk if it’s not- we had to fix ours. Only took a few extra minutes.Take all outlet plates off. Tape any surfaces you don’t want painted.
Step 2: Paint using your primer color they send you. (Mine was black) Giani has it very simply laid out. Each can has a number on it so you know which can you should use first. We had the color “Bombay Black”, so my instructions will include the colors we received for this set.
(Comes with all paint colors, 2 rollers, sponge, practice paper, CD, & sponge brush! All you need to supply if you want it is gloves and paint tape!) Notice the numbers on each can! It’s really simple- you can’t mix it up!
Here is how out countertops looked with the black primer paint. It paints SO easy. A tiny amount of black paint went a REALLLLY long way. For my whole kitchen we didn’t even use a whole 2 pints of black paint- see how dark it is?
Let primer paint dry for at least 8 hours (we dried overnight). When it dries the color is not so shiny.
Step 3: Sponge on the next 3 colors in order. We used the Pearl Mica, Black, & Bronze to sponge on our countertops. This is very simple, although the most nerve-wrecking part for me- I was scared to mess it up. It was really easy though- you just DAB on paint using the sponge provided. Do NOT rub it in or try to paint it on- DAB ONLY!
They also provide a CD to watch which is very nice- I suggest watching it! We actually watched it several times. It gives you some tips on how to dab your paint and apply your clear coat. I tried to dab quickly so I did not get pictures in between each color- but this was how my countertops looked as soon as I was finished dabbing all 3 of my colors.
Let dry at least 4 hours (again, we let it dry overnight). We have 2 small children so all of our painting was done at night to ensure small hands staying off of our wet paint!
Step 4: Apply the clear coat. Twice (waiting 4 hours in between each coat). You can paint it a 3rd time if you want but we did not. Here’s how it looked after our clear coat was applied.

**A quick note- it was a little hard to sponge paint the backsplash- do it VERY lightly as it tends to run. This was pretty hard. We tried to do the whole backsplash with the granite paint since we had a laminate backsplash, but had too many problems with the large areas running, so we just repainted the backsplash with a different color.**

After your clear coats are applied, you will need to wait 72 hours before putting your appliances back on your countertops, and 2 weeks before using any chemicals to clean your countertops. You will also need to put some clear acrylic caulk around your sink to ensure that no water seeps into the paint- it was very simple to do. Honestly, I highly recommend waiting as long as humanly possible (if you have small kids it’s tough!) before using your countertops again.
We waited 4 days before placing anything on them and about a week later we did rip off a tiny dime spot of paint and had to repaint & fix it. I wrote Giani about this and they were fantastic at telling me how to fix it, and letting me know that it might take up to 3 weeks to completely dry in high humidity areas. (we live in Florida!) I’m not sure how the long term effect will treat my countertops but I would do it again no matter what. I love absolutely love them.

We’ve had quite a few people come over to check out our countertops now and they have all LOVED it! I can promise you if I EVER need a new countertop I will be buying Giani Granite Paint. I highly recommend this product! It is an amazing way to save money & transform your kitchen. The 2 kits we used cost about $100. If we had re-installed laminate countertops- the cheapest ones at Lowe’s, it would have cost $130-not to mention the extra work!

And installing real granite countertops would have easily set us back a few thousand dollars! Buying Giani Granite Paint is a HUGE way to help stretch your remodeling budget!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I did receive a free product to review in order to form my own opinions. All opinions are 100% my own. Yours may vary.

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134 Comments

  1. I would love to have Chocolate Brown for our main bathroom

    bamagv at aol dot com

  2. I am a follower #1

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  3. I am a follower #2

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  4. I like Sicilian sand!
    mannasweeps (at) gmail DOT com

  5. I added you as a friend on facebook – Marianna Sweeper Ballard

  6. I follow you on twitter @mannabsn

  7. I follow this blog on google friend connect

  8. Follow your blog (2)

  9. I added Giani as a friend on facebook – waitin for them to accept me to post that you sent me!
    Marianna Sweeper Ballard

  10. I like Sicilian Sand…for my kitchen which is in need of help!
    rlawrence110(at)yahoo.com

  11. I sent Giani a friend request & waiting to post!
    Michele Caldwell Lawrence
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  12. I'm a GFC follower
    Michele
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  13. I'm a GFC follower #2
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  14. I've sent a Facebook friend request to you
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  15. I follow you on Twitter
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  16. Katherine says:

    I would love to redo our countertops with the chocolate brown!

  17. Katherine says:

    kitchen countertops that is!

  18. I would like the chocolate brown for my kitchen counters.

  19. bayctygrl says:

    I would love the sapphire blue on my kitchen counters!

    hippopurplemonkey at yahoo dot com

  20. bayctygrl says:

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  21. bayctygrl says:

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  22. bayctygrl says:

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  24. mickeyfan says:

    I'm betting there would be enough chocolate brown to do both the kitchen and bathroom (both very small).

  25. Missybeez says:

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  26. I like the Sicilian Sand color for all my bathroom counter tops.

  27. Following on gfc

  28. Like you on fb (Cynthia Conley)

  29. MommyTrenches says:

    i'd love to have roma red!
    mommytrenches at gmail dot com

  30. MommyTrenches says:

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  31. MommyTrenches says:

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  34. I would love to paint my kitchen with the chocolate brown.

  35. following on twitter

  36. I am following you on Twitter

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  37. Roma Red is my choice and I would do my kitchen!

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  38. Follow with GFC

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  40. Follow you on Twitter~Deb55106

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  41. Like Giani on Facebook (Ssbucks Saving) 🙂

  42. I follow your blog on Google Friend Connect (Ai Mei)

  43. Like Giani on Facebook (Ssbucks Saving) -2

  44. I follow your blog on Google Friend Connect (Ai Mei) -2

  45. I follow you on Facebook (Ssbucks Saving)

  46. I follow you on Twitter 🙂 (SSBucks)

  47. I like the Sicilian Sand color for our kitchen and bathroom. We have an old home with 70s style greenish color counters in the kitchen and yellowish in the bathroom. Yuck!

  48. I like the chocolate brown style!

  49. The chocolate brown would look great in my kitchen!

  50. I follow your blog on google!

  51. I follow giani on facebook

  52. i follow you on facebook!

  53. i'm following you on twitter! (FrugalFL)

  54. I tweeted for you! (FrugalFL)

  55. I would love the Bombay Black! We have had our house on the market for 9 months with no luck and will need a bigger home by June as we are expecting our second child. I would love to give our kitchen a little extra to pop to help sell our home.

    Love your blog!

  56. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

    I like the sicilian sand!

    christinajwarren at hotmail dot com

  57. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

    I like the sicilian sand!

    christinajwarren at hotmail dot com

  58. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

    I like the sicilian sand!

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  59. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

    I like the sicilian sand!

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  60. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

    I like the sicilian sand!

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  61. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

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  62. Christy & Andrea Barnett says:

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  71. I like the Sicilian Sand and would like to remodel our old, scratched copunters in the kitchen.
    emmaspeel(at)gmail.com

  72. I posted on my facebook
    id Emm Enger

  73. I'd like the Chocolate Brown color for my kitchen.

  74. I would use the Sicilian Sand in my kitchen.
    kirbycolby at gmail dot com

  75. I follow your blog #1
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  76. I follow your blog #2
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  77. I follow you on twitter @Aerated.
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  78. Chisum's Crew says:

    I would use the Chocolate Brown in our kitchen and bath. We live a small home and I'm thinking there would be enough to do both. trinitygsd at yahoo dot com

  79. Let me TRY before I buy!! says:

    I would like to try the sicilian sand.
    emilynewman79 at gmail dot com

  80. Let me TRY before I buy!! says:

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  81. Let me TRY before I buy!! says:

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  82. i like chocolate brown

  83. nhmoose99 says:

    I would choose the Sicilian Sand. My kitchen counters could use a nice makeover.

    nhmoose99 at yahoo dot com

  84. nhmoose99 says:

    GFC follower nhmoose99

  85. themacpack says:

    I love this..We just bought a house that needs tlc. I would use this to fix some things in the house! The color I like is: Sicilian Sand

    themacpackatcoxdotnet

  86. I Like Giani on Facebook and told them you sent me, id Emm Enger #1

  87. I Like Giani on Facebook and told them you sent me, id Emm Enger #2

  88. I follow your blog #1

  89. I follow your blog #2

  90. I Follow SurvivingaTeachersSalary on the Facebook, id Emm Enger

  91. I Follow SurvivingaTeachersSalary on Twitter
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  92. I shared on facebook today, id Emm Enger

  93. Stephanie Manner Wagner says:

    We have this bar in the family room & the back would be perfect on it.

  94. I would like the Sicilian Sand for my Bathrooms.

  95. I'd love the Chocolate Brown and I'd redo my ugly green formica countertop with it.

    shel704 at aol dot com

  96. Like Giani on Facebook and left a message that you sent me: Michelle Hudak

  97. Like Giani on Facebook and left a message that you sent me: Michelle Hudak
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  98. GFC follower
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  99. GFC follower
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  100. Like you on Facebook: Michelle Hudak

  101. Following you on Twitter @auntiethesis

  102. Anonymous says:

    I love the bombay black and would use it in the kitchen.

  103. I shared on facebook today, id Emm Enger

  104. I would use Sapphire Blue in my kitchen. Thanks.

    president(dot)peaches(at)hotmail(dot)com

  105. My dad wants to redo his kitchen, this looks great for him. I really like the sapphire blue, but would probably do the sicilian sand

  106. follow gfc

  107. Storm, The Psychotic Housewife says:

    I'd totally love to have the Bombay Black for our kitchen! It would look awesome with our red walls. 🙂

    stormraven at gmail dot com

  108. Storm, The Psychotic Housewife says:

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  109. Wow, your countertops look great. I'd love to try the Chocolate Brown color to cover our mismatched countertops.

  110. FDP 4 Life says:

    i would love to remodel our kitchen, i love the chocolate brown color
    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

  111. faithfullyfrugal says:

    I would chooe Sicilian Sand or Chocolate Brown. It would be for my kitchen which is stuck in the 80's. It needs a make over so badly!

    Thank you for the entry,

    nikkidavissells(at)gmail(dot)com

  112. faithfullyfrugal says:

    I am a gfc public follower as Nikki Davis. #1

    Thank you,

    Nikkidavissells(at)gmail(dot)com

  113. faithfullyfrugal says:

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  114. faithfullyfrugal says:

    I follow you on twitter, nikkidavis05.

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    Nikkidavissells(at)gmail(dot)com

  115. I like the Sicilian Sand.

  116. I'm a GFC Follower.

  117. I'm a GFC Follower. 2

  118. kathy pease says:

    i love the sapphire blue 🙂

  119. kathy pease says:

    1 google friend klp1965
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  120. kathy pease says:

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  121. kathy pease says:

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  122. I'd love the sicilian sand. I have hideous blue countertops that I can't afford to get rid of.

    pandahugger(at)gmail(dot)com

  123. Added giani as a facebook friend.

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  124. kelley l added you as a friend.

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  125. pandahugger76 is following you on twitter.

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  126. kelley is following you on gfc

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