DIY Countertops Under $60!

[@gflores7018]

Counter top looks great , awesome job Jack of all trades Stefani. Thank you for the video.

[@mrhobbs5713]

I was skeptical but the white washing was a great touch. Looks good!

[@debbiechristy9960]

WOW, what a MAJOR undertaking - very impressive outcome!!

[@shindees7676]

Stefani you make it look so easy, I complain at the start every time watching saying to myself that is impossible for the normal Joe soap of a DIY'er but when I watch the whole way through I am pleasantly surprised how easy you make it look. I do love how you explain what us non carpenters can use when we don't have the big tools. The workshop looks amazing by the way. Plus just to add maybe it is an American thing, but ye dress your outdoor shops/garages like we do indoor houses in Europe. Here in Ireland we have 4 walls, a roof, lighting & electricity for our garages & that is it, we have untreated concrete floors, no insulation etc nothing like ye do.

[@T_Jonesy]

Clever, inexpensive solution. Looks great.

[@michaelsylvester7272]

Hi Stefani, I love your workmanship and the passion you put into your work.

[@patricehollywood6014]

Actually I have a $60 pocket hole jig, and a $50 electric planer. And all you need are clamps. A few bricks then those tie downs and you are good.

[@billj5645]

With the glue between boards it was not necessary to use pocket screws. However what you could have done was use your 2 caul clamps to align the boards, add the pocket screws either side of the clamp then move the clamp down to the next pocket screw location. This would align the boards better and the pocket screws would hold them that way. I built a desk for my office using laminated 2x material. I started with 2x6, cut off the edges then ripped each one in half. I glued them up with half the boards flipped upside down to reduce any problems if my saw was not set perfectly 90 degrees. I tried staining with gel stain but it did not come out even enough so I sanded it all off and use clear poly.

[@summermiller660]

If you have water, you definitely need both.

[@gingerrob7328]

Great, economical and as always a well thought out project made to look easy by you. Thanks and keep them coming.

[@clickster1883]

Devin’s skills as a human paperweight are amazing! 😆

[@HomeWithStefani]

😂😂

[@sgtsol7934]

It's looking great ❤, can't wait to see when it's almost done. You guys are really making the place look amazing. Can't wait to see more Stefani!🎉

[@bevlove]

Beautiful work!

[@coppertopjohnson9782]

The reason you and your channel are so addictive...beautiful products and you make it look so easy. Seriously, Stefani, the way you produce the beautiful renovations or projects is mind-boggling. Loved the choice of the butcher block counter. Although, I had to snicker at Devin standing on the counter while you attached it. 😊 Thanks for sharing, and I am totally looking forward to all the new projects you are going to produce in that shop. ❤❤

[@semosancus5506]

Love to see you building stuff like this. There are so many opportunities to build much cheaper, but nice looking things with a few simple tools and some know how. I'm a bit older than you all and I bit of advice I'd pass down is to buy the best tools you can afford. Milwaukee and Dewalt are generally good bets. They will produce better work and be more pleasurable to work with. This is especially true for larger stationary tools.

[@maybee...]

Your joints turned out beautiful!

[@lightspeedguru]

This is my favourite method of building counter tops. For future reference, the pocket screws were not necessary. Glue and clamps are all I use and it turns out great! I also use 2x4s instead of wider boards to reduce warping over time. Biscuits, dowels or splines can also be used to assist alignment during the glue up to make things easier. 🙂

[@seandennis7611]

Totally agree and if using the pocket screws and glue then clamps not really needed because the screws are doing the job for you was watching that and thinking people who dont have all that many decent clamps can get by with one or the other. Other than that its a good project and execution cannot say I would do better as I dont have a planer so would be doing plenty of sanding afterwards.

[@apex007]

Came here to say the same thing :D Would have been easier and less warped to use higher grade 2x4s

[@ReductioadVeritas]

I've seen too many split boards to give you the reason on this one, if peace of mind, longevity or versatility is your priority, either screws or pegs or dovetails will work charms

[@rodanvsandrew]

This turned out great. I think I'll do the same. The only difference is that I'll probably use biscuits to align the tops during glue-up to avoid having to sand top too much after the glue-up.

[@robertkerby2581]

You did an amazing job, and your countertop which looks exceptionally beautiful! Excellent Craftsmanship, too! Well done!

[@CHDean]

6:13 I’ve never used them, but would “biscuits” have lined up the boards more consistently?

[@nataliemartinez5950]

wow great timing I'll be making a coutnertop from scrap wood we found in our basement for a DIY dog kennel this week! Don't have a planer so there will be a ton of sanding, but I'm excited!

[@cybersewingschool874]

Fab tute! I have plans to build a wall unit similar to this in a few months and needed a countertop. I LOVE this inexpensive solution!

[@bigharrybushcraft8364]

Excellent build! Those cabinet door/hinge swings can definitely make you go to plan B sometimes.

[@serafinsilva1055]

I saw your Tuff Shed commercial. Very nice.

[@cliff5240]

Turned out really nice!

[@Red_Queens_Jubilee_Club]

Your attention to detail is amazing. The countertop is beautiful. I’d love to have a wood counter so I could pull things out of the oven and not have to ensure I protected the countertop. The work you have done thus far is incredible. Send Devon out to my house for a kitchen redo.

[@sottx8268]

Hot pans from the oven will burn a wood counter

[@Red_Queens_Jubilee_Club]

@@sottx8268 that gives character, but burnt and melted Formica just looks like crap.

[@Romans828girl]

Depending on your finish, that might be a mess. I'm going to use butcher block in my upcoming build, and I intend to finish it with polyurethane to protect from water damage. I would be afraid to set something too hot on a polyurethane finish.

[@Romans828girl]

I'm probably gonna cut up my drop into cutting board & trivet sizes and stain them one color darker than the countertops. Then they'll be decorative and can just live out on the counter. That makes protecting the counter finish just as convenient as not protecting the counter finish.

[@michaelschneider-]

+1.. Super project.. As they say; "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".. We'll follow suit! Thanks.. Vail, CO.. (subscribed)

[@pamelairvin3164]

Shop worktops need to be durable and inexpensive whenever possible; you checked off both boxes to create a great surface that is lovely in appearance. Great job! Blessings!

[@samme5513]

Excellent work love it

[@johnbarker5009]

Super, that came out looking great!

[@patricehollywood6014]

I love it. Great affordable option

[@andreaa8057]

I love all your work!

[@melanieeaton3344]

You soo inspire me! Just gorgeous!!!

[@oreobenavidez953]

Outstanding job looks stunning 😊

[@michaeladle84]

Looks great and it gives me ideas for future products. My only concern is will the pine start to get spotty/splotchy and turn more yellow with time,,,,or will whitewashing seal it enough? I know you need to use a pre-stain treatment before staining prime to prevent splotching? But whitewashing is a diluted paint. I know if you just paint pine, the resin in the knots will eventually bleed through. Perhaps a painting expert can answer this question.

[@michaelschneider-]

+1.. Nice touch the shed ceiling! .. Its the details,,,, Cheers, M/S

[@vickigonya9432]

That is a great idea!! And you did an outstanding job!! ❤

[@robradican1121]

Thanks for the tips and some of the issues you ran into!

[@joelhenry4643]

When you put it through the planer it has to be leveled with another board underneath it and some shims. Looks great. I was surprised with little drying these boards did not bend more.

[@norcross26]

I love the projects. I would invest in clamps. You can't have too many clamps. I use the Jorgensen clamps. Big med and small for all different projects. The only 2 things I don't like and you have no way of controlling these unless you go with a different wood is the knots and the seemless look. It looks great, though. Great job on all of it.

[@MrBassmaster400]

if I could add one suggestion. On the bottom side of the counter top, I recommend adding cross pieces to at each end and about every other 4' apart (two screws in each board across). This will help avoid "cupping" and "twisting".

[@Romans828girl]

Good idea.

[@roy.mclean]

Beautiful, but a lot of hard work. Planing, ripping, joining, flattening some more, sanding and not to mention lifting the big piece for finishing and installation. Did you consider a torsion box construction? I use it for workbenches, counters and shelves whenever I can. They are strong, flat and light. The only tools you need is a hand saw and maybe a block plane to smooth edges left by the saw. Maybe a finishing sander for smoothing the whole thing when it's done. They don't even require clamps, but I just use weights (like cinder blocks or plates from the weight bench) for glue up. I don't mean to troll the work you did because it looks great, but I just want to throw the torsion box option out there for a DIYer who might not have access to a big planer, Kreg jig, table saw, clamps, a partner or other tools. Nice job! Nice editing for the video!

[@Romans828girl]

You just taught me something. I had never heard of a torsion box. I am now on my way down that rabbit hole. Thank you!

[@donnamcknight3175]

Your so talented!!!

[@KaeWhitaker]

It looks so good!!!

[@MakeshiftFrank]

Awesome video. What kind of paint did you use for the white wash?

[@MoteOfDust430]

Lovely job

[@funnyriverred2501]

I would be afraid to build anything in there its so nice!

[@CheyenneNixon-p8m]

2:02 Once you get the feel of it and you get the ideas of building things it just gets in your system and you love it😊 The worst thing you can do is make a mistake just always watch your hands around blades don't wear loose clothing around planers or things like that table saws etc. Go for it you got to build something build you a little table or a table for shoes when you come in the door that's so cool If you're afraid of electrical equipment use a hand saw 🪚 It's a good workout 😁 😊 I think you'll have fun building a one of a kind just for you

[@alancongratssoonyoullhead5273]

Great job 👏🏼👍🏼

[@lauzierepatrick]

How did you make your rip cut straight on the 2x10s? I can't get a straight cut...any advice?

[@chodito12345]

I wish I had your skills. Love your channel

[@billysmether6237]

You could pour epoxy on top. Super hard finish instead of the soft pine.

[@javiershobbies]

great video, thanks for sharing!

[@markkosseifi7120]

I loved it ❤ thank you

[@kenmckeecma]

She is an excellent host, enjoyable to watch. She is very attractive, and seems very tall. Please keep the videos coming.

[@sustainablelife1st]

Lumber companies will make cuts for you, so you could have bought the 16s or 14s an had them cut to 13 for hauling. I don't have all those tools, so I always get my cuts done at the lumber co. Looks nice.

[@lostnationfarm1613]

Love it! How's it holding up, now, a year later? Any problems w/ areas that get wet/damp regularly?

[@rohitmalik2071]

Looks great! Apologies ahead of time if this is a dumb question. When joining the two boards in the length direction, I believe you used 1 @ 8 feet & 1 @ 4 feet, did you encounter challenges with the board warping or not aligning after screwing them together? Is that a common challenge given the long length of this particular countertop? Any suggestions? Thank you, Rohit

[@rayreyes2490]

Awesome Job!!! (you make it look so easy😅👍🏻)

[@jerinnepalmer6536]

Looks great!! What are the dimensions of your cabinets & countertops?

[@debandmike3380]

The warping is because you're buying wet wood from Lowe's or Home Depot. that's about the lowest quality wood you can get. To alleviate some of the warping use a circular saw and run relief cuts under it as needed it won't be noticeable but it'll allow the wood to flex back down flat without too much resistance.

[@caseykittel]

Yes. And two other reasons as well. All of the pocket screws are pulling down. Could use threaded rods and drill through all three boards. This would prevent you from needing clamps too. Also channels could be routed out on the bottom of the counter top and metal brackets could be screwed into those pockets to keep all three boards twist and warp resistant. Also, when you screwed the boards together you made the bottom of the boards even, but if you would have made the top even you would not have had to sand as much.

[@loveart4007]

Great job!!

[@kyleclark5290]

Have they cupped at all? If not 100% kiln dried I could see cupping being a huge problem.

[@kirkchurchil8216]

Pawn shops and market place you can buy most everything she has here for like 3-500 bucks. I got my table saw for 100 bucks a few years back, and it’s not one of the new junky aluminum ones.

[@robertevans6481]

It looks great. And a lot of cost savings...

[@porkchop3094]

Great look.

[@bubbleobill267]

Nice work. Using biscuit joints would have negated the use of screws.

[@JudiChristopher]

BEAUTIFUL

[@pcatful]

Good job! And good idea keeping your hair tied up when using power tools.

[@Faithisjamming]

What are the dimensions of the building?

[@BackupBAGChannel]

It’s the fanciest workshop I’ve ever seen.

[@jamesstewart5005]

My house would fit inside.

[@Lou-bg1xc]

Yeap. That looks great.

[@naturallymarisa]

With the poly - since you did it in long strips, did you find that the overlap area was tacky? How did you work around that? Or is that just an AZ problem I have due to low humidity? 😅

[@HomeWithStefani]

I didn't have that issue with this water based poly! It's very easy to work with. I know the oil based can get tacky like that though.

[@naturallymarisa]

@@HomeWithStefani I’ll have to try it on my next project. I normally use water-based polycrylic and it dries too quickly out here.

[@Romans828girl]

@@naturallymarisa I wonder if you could boil some water or run a humidifier in your work area to bring the humidity up temporarily? I live in Tennessee and have the opposite problem, so I have no idea if that would work; just a thought.

[@naturallymarisa]

@@Romans828girl It's a good thought, but I don't have an indoor workshop. However, I've used that method at my old house and it does work!

[@robbinluo2810]

No stain. How about its resistance to water?

[@paullangan193]

So it should SAY "how to make a $60 Countertop with a $300 planner?????? nice job. You projects are very well explained.

[@selamoa8141]

What is the paint colour of the exterior wall please?

[@HomeWithStefani]

Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore

[@ChitoLimson]

Nice job, Steph… When I saw you planing, I noticed the Ridgid was drifting a bit. Got me worried a little. BTW, this is the first I’ve seen pocket screws joining the planks together. Whatever works right? So there’s hope for people without biscuit joiner! Thanks for the hack! Of course, it helps to have a dutiful partner to step on and secure the boards while you screw.

[@SvdSinner]

I initially cringed at the idea of soft pine as a countertop in a shop. But at $56, you can replace it every 5 years, which you can't do with a more durable countertop. And lets face it: any shop countertop (if used) will experience wear and tear.

[@striketochill]

Do you think this type of counter would work in a kitchen?

[@jasonargentieri8954]

It would if you put like 5 coats of polyurethane

[@jnattress]

Don’t think I didn’t notice the outlet cover screws head slots nicely aligned! It’s the details that matter.

[@TrainFlood]

The gaps and bowing is an artifact of using pocket screws before clamp Up. Simply put, they were not necessary and actually caused the problems. Would have been better and more time efficient to prepare and execute a perfect glue up without the screws.

[@vmoutsop]

You didn't leave room for wood expansion with all those screws to secure the counter top.

[@brianwohn]

Exactly! It's going to more than likely crack or split as time goes by. Hope not - nice way to make a cheap counter, but bore out some slits in those corner blocks so it can move front to back... do it now before its too late :)

[@michaelschneider-]

@@brianwohn ..."Inexpensive counter" .. Never cheap. .. Cheers, M/S

[@lindaroyal8161]

It looks amazing. Actually, anyone doing a kitchen on a budget, could use this instead of butcher block, same look for a lot less. Question - I thought wood counters tops needed to be sealed on both sides?

[@schizoinparadise3224]

ita really great.

[@addeenen7684]

In the Netherlands it would cost 4 times as much. Polyurethane: E22. White wash: E24. Sandpaper at least E10. Screws: E10. Tape: 2E. Handsome paperweight guy: free. Douglas wood: E10 per meter * 20cm, so at least E150.

[@sajidrafique375]

Amazing

[@AlexeiTetenov]

Planing the boards after you joined the boards to 16 feet long may have created a better result.

[@brandotex]

Did you work with Andrew Kai? He used your video

[@schelinx]

why it looks so light?

[@sooc777]

Oh good. All I need is $56 to buy supplies and $5000 to buy tools.

[@MongoloidInventor]

Stop crying. Its a DIY channel. Do you expect people to create stuff out of thin air??

[@katesmith2910]

All of these can be rented though…

[@TheDrblu]

Or borrow from friends and family

[@barbdenise9908]

😂

[@lesliebooth2833]

😂😂😂

[@RhettGibson]

A rubber doormat would keep the planer from sliding.

[@HomeWithStefani]

Good tip, thanks!

[@Benessaih.y]

أحب عملك ❤

[@yusifme3534]

tools you used to prepaid counter cost over $2000 😂

[@hectorcobos8879]

once you have already paid for the machinery is ok...otherwise...it really amaze me how many tools you all have, great job though!

[@MrChewy63]

Love that project! Addictive right?! Lol

[@williamhoward8319]

should have sealed boath sides before installing

[@jimmollica7618]

Tap and caulk the edge

[@24revealer]

Should have bought a biscuit joiner to keep you boards even.

[@michaelschneider-]

+1 .. I'd thought the very same strategy.. "biscuits" A Norm Abrahams specialty..

[@lebleb9501]

I just have to say- butcher block for $500 doesn't sound so bad went you think of all the work these two did. They already have equipment, a team of two and with experience. How long did this job take? If these two were charging for their work - how much would it have cost? So title is misleading. I would have just paid the $500 or gotten a cheaper type of counter top for a workshop.

[@Mixdplate]

Great project with nice finished product. However, title is a little misleading. Between the cost for a planer, the other special tools, and time, it would have been more cost effective to get the butcher block. I realize you mentioned a planer was not needed but without it, not only would you have been in a mountain of sawdust and sandpaper, this would have taken 3X as long to achieve the results you did.

[@thehungrygoldfish]

Just steal the tools, then it’s free! Problem solved!

[@CHDean]

13:58 Aah…to be young and able to so easily crawl into base cabinets.

[@robertburton304]

Where Can you Buy 2 x 10 ' Boards for under 60 Dollars ? Pocket hole Screws must have been the 60 Dollars mentioned...

[@markdixon7772]

I hate to say it, but that’s not going to last. There’s a reason why it was warped and you didn’t allow for any seasonal movement (humidity) by fastening like that. It may last a few years but eventually those pocket screws-which are better suited to join two right angles, not two boards on a flat plane-will fail. And there’s no way a Ryobi table saw can effectively joint that lumber. Probably better off making a jointing sled, ripping the stock down to 2” or 3”, and making a butcher block top