Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on tackling the horrendous tiled counters in my kitchen. It seems like the previous tenant or landlord had a good idea to tile the area, but unfortunately, it was done really poorly. The counter looks dirty and is a complete hassle to clean since it's so uneven. Plus, a chunk of the tile on the overhang has fallen off over time. The design is all mismatched and it's a bit kitschy in a bad way. Right now, we have a butcher block slab on one side to make it somewhat functional, but the entire counter measures about 6ft x 2ft.
Here's the thing: I'm in a rental, and my landlord is pretty laid-back. He bought the property sight unseen as part of another deal and probably doesn't even know about these counters. He usually deals with major issues but has let us paint and make minor changes. I want to improve this situation without going overboard since I don't want to dump too much into a rental, but we plan to stay here for a while because of the price and space.
I'm considering tiling over the existing counters since I used to make tile and could save some money that way. But would it be a mistake to tile over the mess? Should I attempt to remove everything first or hire someone for that? Any thoughts would be super appreciated!
3 Answers
I’d love to help out! If you can upload some pictures of the tile work, I might be able to offer some specific ideas on what you can do with it or how to handle the situation!
Honestly, I'd hesitate to spend my own money making improvements to a rental property. Your best bet might be to let your landlord know the counters are falling apart and ask him to take care of it. If there’s a chance you could negotiate a rent reduction for improvements, that's worth considering too!
Wow, tiled countertops and a rental? That's a combo I wouldn't recommend. While it might feel tempting to throw some money at fixing it, maybe look into alternatives like Formica or butcher block instead. Since you’ll be there for a bit, those materials could end up being easier and sleeker! Plus, removing the tiles shouldn’t be too crazy if you’re careful not to damage the cabinets beneath them.
Good point! I forgot to mention, my downstairs neighbor actually got some rent taken off for home improvements. So, maybe it’s worth bringing that up?