Formica countertops are durable and last a long time but at some point you may want to give your Formica countertop a facelift. For under $200 your counters will look like new! Here's how to turn your Formica countertops to stone.

Before you start you will need ammonia cleaner, some fine sandpaper, a small roller and a dozen foam rollers. You'll also need primer, 4 cans of Rustoleum Stone Creations spray paint and 1 can of polyurethane clear finish.

Now that you have all your supplies together it's time to get started.

1. Schedule your kitchen off limits for 3 days. Make arrangements so that you can serve meals without using your countertops. Eat out, order pizza, or use an alternative to your counters.

2. Clean off the entire counter area. Use a soft brush and run a vacuum over them.

3. Wash them with warm soapy water and let air dry. Repeat.

4. Now wash them with the ammonia cleaner and rinse well. Let them dry and then repeat the process.

5. Now it's time to lightly sand the surface. You can do this by hand or you can use a palm sander which will make the task much easier. The light sanding will remove grease that has soaked into the countertop and it will also rough up the surface so that the paint has something to adhere to.

6. Once you are done sanding wipe everything down with a warm soapy cloth. Rinse and let dry.

7. Next you need to tape everything off that you aren't painting. Don't get lazy and skip this step. You are going to be working with spray paint and it will get all over!

8. The primer is applied to the entire counter using the foam roller. You need to work slowly so you don't get air bubbles. Follow the directions on the can and let dry the entire recommended time.

9. Now it's time to spray the counters with the stone paint you purchased. Rustoleum is what I recommended but of course there are other great products on the market. You've already chosen your color so now it's time to apply. When you spray it you will notice it has a bit of a pebble effect. This is what provides the stone effect.

10. Apply the first coat and let dry. You will need at least 3 of the 4 cans you purchased, perhaps all 4. Keep one for a spare for touchups later on.

11. Apply your second coat making sure that you get any spots that were missed with the first coat. Let dry.

12. Apply the third coat and a fourth coat if necessary. The more coats the thicker the application will look.

13. Once your paint is completely dry - 24 hours preferably - then it is time to apply the polyurethane. Use your foam roller and go slow so it doesn't bubble on you.

14. Apply as many coats as you like until the preferred look is achieved. Between each coat be sure to let it dry thoroughly.

That's it. Suddenly your kitchen looks like it has had a complete facelift.

Now remember your countertops need the same consideration as any new counters. Make sure you don't cut directly on the top as it will cut and scratch. Don't sit your hot pots or pans directly on the counter, use a trivet. Clean it regularly and feel free to reapply the polyurethane at any time to keep it looking fresh.

It's truly an amazing transformation turning your Formica countertops to stone.