Dear Mary:

I have really cheap countertops in my kitchen. I hate them. I am thinking about trying the Modern Masters desert sand countertop finish kit, which allows you to refinish a countertop yourself. What do you think? Are there other ways I can upgrade my countertops inexpensively?

— Sarah, e-mail

Dear Sarah:

I do not have firsthand experience with the product you mention. However, I have read up on it and find it to be impressive. The cost appears to be about $250 to resurface 20 linear feet of counter. Compared with replacement, that is quite economical. I assume that you're pretty handy with do-it-yourself kinds of projects or you would not be considering this. The product appears to be readily available online, so why don't you take some time to find reviews and personal experiences of people who've used it to resurface their countertops?

If you decide to move forward, here's my advice: Figure out how much it will cost, how long it will take to complete and how difficult it's going to be. Then double all three — the time, effort and money. That probably will come very close to reality. Good luck! This looks like a great project that could give you a brand-new appreciation for your kitchen.