Epoxy countertops ?

[The emperor has no clothes]

We (mostly me) are remodeling the entire interior of our motorhome. It's an old 97 Winnebago Warrior. One of the projects I'm at a crossroads at is the counters. 3 in total. I was pretty well convinced of tile for the kitchen and bathroom. I already have everything I need, and I'm pretty good at it. But the kitchen table converts into a bed, and I don't think it would hold up to the flexing. I think it would look weird having different surfaces right next to each other, so I've convinced myself of something else.
  Anybody ever done epoxy counters ? I think my choices have come to it or Formica. I'm not a huge fan of it. Although it does hold up well.
  Any advice appreciated. (Well, almost any) 

[Rams]

Flexing?   It's not a trampoline, or it is? 

Rams

[Serk]

Flexing?   It's not a trampoline, or it is? 

Rams

[Bret SD]

I would buy some epoxy materials and start playing around with some different techniques, colors, patterns etc. It'll cost you some time and money but the resulte may please you for years to come if you git'er done right and it looks awesome.

[msb]

Rob...Epoxy wouldn't be a bad choice, although labor instensive...also consider  Corian or Laminate  (lighter and can get to look like granite, quartz, marble, etc) or even engineered quartz for the countertops.  Will stand up to anything, easy to install, easy to maintain, and they look good. The one thing to remember when installing any hard/rigid finished surface....the substrate and structure need to be solid as well. You're right to be concerned about "flexing" (proper industry term is "deflection"). It needs to be minimal, and in an RV that can be difficult to attain. There are ways to improve your safety margins in this regard...let me know what you decide to use and I may be able to offer up some suggestions.

[dconstruct55]

Corian, or "Solid Surface" would be a great choice Rob, go on the Wilsonart website and check out the colors. Can look like granite or quartz. I think actual quartz is too rigid. Also, out here in AZ, the epoxy MAY warp and deflect in high temps, especially considering that your rig will be sitting in the driveway for long periods closed up.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Rob...Epoxy wouldn't be a bad choice, although labor instensive...also consider  Corian or Laminate  (lighter and can get to look like granite, quartz, marble, etc) or even engineered quartz for the countertops.  Will stand up to anything, easy to install, easy to maintain, and they look good. The one thing to remember when installing any hard/rigid finished surface....the substrate and structure need to be solid as well. You're right to be concerned about "flexing" (proper industry term is "deflection"). It needs to be minimal, and in an RV that can be difficult to attain. There are ways to improve your safety margins in this regard...let me know what you decide to use and I may be able to offer up some suggestions.

Thanks, Mike   The Corian is a good idea. Probably a little out of our budget range though.

Corian, or "Solid Surface" would be a great choice Rob, go on the Wilsonart website and check out the colors. Can look like granite or quartz. I think actual quartz is too rigid. Also, out here in AZ, the epoxy MAY warp and deflect in high temps, especially considering that your rig will be sitting in the driveway for long periods closed up.

Thanks  We will be taking it up to Alaska this spring, and be leaving it there. We are planning on being full time SnowBirds.

[Patrick]

I just helped a neighbor make his countertops. He decided on Stone Coat epoxy, pretty easy to work with and you can do anything you want with it design wise.
I'm going to use something similar on our other kitchen counters.
I'm also a big fan of Corian. I'm not big on granite.

[Hook#3287]

I would think Formica would be your best choice due to weight.

I'd stay away from tile, no flex, tiles can easily crack and the grout will discolor.

They got some good looking Formica these days.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I would think Formica would be your best choice due to weight.

I'd stay away from tile, no flex, tiles can easily crack and the grout will discolor.

They got some good looking Formica these days.

I think your assessment is spot on Bill. And I had hoped you'd way in on this, Thanks. It truly is amazing how well Formica holds up for years, if not decades. But.....I'm probably going to come off as some kind of snob, or something. I've had many campers, motorhomes, cabins, and homes over the years. Almost ALL of them have had Formica. The kind you lay yourself mostly, sometimes the pre fabbed counters. After doing tile counters and floors the last 18 years I'd rather not go back. I probably made the mistake of laying out the options to Brenda.
$100 for Formica
$200 for Epoxy
$600 for Corian
She had never heard of the epoxy. I made the mistake of showing her a YouTube. She's all over it now ! I worry about an epic fail though. I know my first tile job, I did pretty good. By my 7th or 8th though, I was much better. These guys doing these videos ain't their first rodeo. We might be out a couple hundred and some time. But, I've found in retirement, time is cheap.  It's going to be a while, I still have many cabinets, beds to build. Flooring to lay, etc. But, we might find ourselves in the epoxy business in a month or so.

[Patrick]

I didn't think you wanted formica, didn't think you liked it.

I like formica. Its easy to do and lasts. But, I don't mind working with hardwood nosing.

[Hook#3287]

I probably made the mistake of laying out the options to Brenda.

Sounds like you've (and by "you've", I mean Brenda) decided on epoxy.

You can always add cool stuff to the epoxy.   Or not.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I probably made the mistake of laying out the options to Brenda.

Sounds like you've (and by "you've", I mean Brenda) decided on epoxy.

You can always add cool stuff to the epoxy.   Or not.

I'm just the tear crap out and build stuff guy. She has decided on a gray and burgundy themed interior. I think she wants to go with metallic colors of silver, black, burgundy in the epoxy. We'll see, like I said, it could be an epic fail.  (but, at least I can blame her now)

[CoreyP]

I have Corian counter tops and even though they are out of style, I like them. The material is easy to work with and they last forever. If you get scratches or whatever you simply sand the top down. You can bull nose the edges or whatever else shape you want. Won't burn, stain or anything else. Nail polish remover is  it's one weak spot.

[The emperor has no clothes]

We (mostly me) poured the counters. I’m not very good at taking pics. But I think they came out ok. I made a number of mistakes. I would definitely be better if I ever had to do it again.

[Jersey mike]

Hey that’s pretty cool looking. Good colors

How did you do it, in place or in a mold? How much epoxy did you use?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Hey that’s pretty cool looking. Good colors

How did you do it, in place or in a mold? How much epoxy did you use?

I think the best way would be in place. But because I had 3 separate counters in a 24' motorhome, getting the motorhome pretty level and all 3 counters perfectly level at the same time was going to be too hard. After fitting new counters in place, I removed them to sawhorses in the garage and did them in there. The temperature range for a good cure is 70*-85*. For weeks I had the epoxy project on hold because it was still hitting 100* here. Then when temps started to moderate it got too cold. It went down to a high of 70*. We finally got in the right temp range after a few days. I bought a 2 gallon kit of epoxy. I only used a little over a gallon. There is also a table that I didn't take a pic of because it's not installed yet. Brenda has picked the color scheme in the motorhome of gray, maroon, black. The coloring that I added is a metallic mica. It looks pretty cool in the light.

[Jersey mike]

Hey that’s pretty cool looking. Good colors

How did you do it, in place or in a mold? How much epoxy did you use?

I think the best way would be in place. But because I had 3 separate counters in a 24' motorhome, getting the motorhome pretty level and all 3 counters perfectly level at the same time was going to be too hard. After fitting new counters in place, I removed them to sawhorses in the garage and did them in there. The temperature range for a good cure is 70*-85*. For weeks I had the epoxy project on hold because it was still hitting 100* here. Then when temps started to moderate it got too cold. It went down to a high of 70*. We finally got in the right temp range after a few days. I bought a 2 gallon kit of epoxy. I only used a little over a gallon. There is also a table that I didn't take a pic of because it's not installed yet. Brenda has picked the color scheme in the motorhome of gray, maroon, black. The coloring that I added is a metallic mica. It looks pretty cool in the light.

The time you waited paid off. I like them. Real good design patterns. Hope they hold us and you get years of use.

[Alien]

I'm in the process of doing concrete countertops.  I'm pretty sure that's exactly what you DON'T want in an RV though.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[Hook#3287]

Looking good Rob

[hubcapsc]

How thick is it? You just poured it and it leveled itself? -
it looks smooth and shiny...

-Mike

[Jersey mike]

It looks like it has “depth” to it which is one of the things I like about it.

Did you pour the colors first and make the design and then add a clear to top it off?