Refinishing Formica RV, Camper, and Boat Tables and Countertops

Many RVs, especially older ones, have Formica tables and countertops.  While there is some appeal to upgrading to more modern and luxurious materials, such as granite or composite solid surface, these are usually cost prohibitive for the average RVer.   Exotic materials like granite or even ceramic tile may also add a lot of unwanted and unnecessary weight.  The added cost will almost never increase the trade-in or resale value.  If you plan to keep your RV a long time the pleasure you get from using them might be worth the investment, but you might also enjoy less expensive alternatives too.

If you have faded Formica, you may have gotten discouraged looking for solutions to restore the color and shine on the Internet.  Mostly what I found in my initial search was that it could not be restored, but had to be sanded and painted or the faded Formica ripped off and replaced.  Some folks recommended various waxes and furniture polishes, but in my own attempts, none of them worked.  A good aerosol furniture polish made it look good while it was wet, which was encouraging, but as soon as it dried (in minutes)  it was back to its old dull, faded color.  Not an acceptable solution.

Then my wife suggested trying the SC-1 detail spray we use on our dirt bikes.  And wa-la! Instant success!  We had a badly faded walnut grain Formica table in our nearly 50 year old sailboat.  I thought I was going to have to paint it or get a new one.  But the SC-1 brought it back to like new condition with just a single application!  So far it has lasted 5 years and still looks good!

A second trick for restoring old table tops is to replace missing or damaged edge trim.  It is easier than you might think.  The edge trim was long gone from our boat table, exposing the rough edge of the plywood it was made of.  I bought some iron-on walnut edge tape at my local home center, sanded the old edge, and ironed on the tape,  trimmed it with a razor knife, then sealed it with a good clear coat and now instead of ugly old exposed plywood the edge is a nicely finished walnut that matches the restored Formica table top.  You can also get iron on edge tape in the form of white Melmac for edging shelves.  I didn't want to take any chances ruining my wife's good iron so I picked up a used one at a thrift store for a couple of bucks.  You can probably get away with using your regular household iron if you are careful with it.  Use a thin cloth like a dish towel between the iron and the tape.

Of course, if you want or need to change the color of a table or countertop or if the surface has been physically damaged by scraping or badly stained beyond redemption, you can still paint.  Sand the old surface to remove any contaminants and smooth out imperfections, fill any holes, then clean it with rubbing alcohol or acetone, the paint according to the paint manufacturer's instructions.  A gloss paint will be shinier and easier to clean but a semi-gloss will hide imperfections better and still look good.  Satin or matt finishes should be avoided as they will be more susceptible to dirt and stains and harder to clean.

Replacing Formica provides a new countertop that should last many years.  It usually requires removing the old Formica, properly preparing the surface, and gluing on new formica.  Getting really tight seams and corners requires a bit of practice and expertise so you might want to have this done by a professional for best results.  Sometimes you can apply new Formica over old but it is more common to remove the old, worn out material.  For a more temporary solution you might get away with installing self-adhesive vinyl tile over the old Formica.  The vinyl tiles are fairly easy to cut to fit and the self-adhesive style avoids the tedious task of applying adhesive.  You might even get some short-term satisfaction covering old, ugly Formica with Contact paper but it probably won't be very durable or last very long.

Another option for RV tables is to simply replace them.  Most of them are removable and can be easily replaced by a new table, available at most RV stores.  Or you could custom design and make your own if you have the DIY skills and tools to do so.  Butcher block cutting boards can sometimes be found in a size to match smaller tables, like the ones in front of an RV sofa.  Some tables  have interesting or even useful designs like road maps.  Replacement tables can be had for $30-$100 and you can even order them custom made to your specifications.  Custom made tables can run into the hundreds of dollars, depending on size, material, and features you specify.  Brand new, ready made tables can be purchased at RV stores, usually for less than $50.  I have always admired ones that had a good U.S. map image on them.

There is no need to live with ugly tables or countertops.  With a little creative effort they can be restored to give new life to your RV, camper, or boat.

Happy restoring!