Zinc countertops

I am interested in having a zinc metal countertop put in my kitchen and would like an antique finish applied (distressed). Is zinc metal safe to have as a countertop, is it expensive to install and what is the upkeep on them. Any info is helpful.

I am considering using galvanized sheet metal for my kitchen countertops and backsplash and need to learn about caring for the surface. What sort of sealants, oils, or waxes will prevent staining from foods and spills?

Kelly, Nancy: I think solid zinc metal is considered safe.

However, I do not think galvanized metal is necessarily safe unless you are confident of its origin. Galvanized metal is steel sheet (which is magnetic) that has been dipped in molten zinc and sometimes has a chromate conversion coating (read that as hexavalent chromium) -- I wouldn't use it for a food surface.

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

We are so very interested in anyone having any info. about zinc countertops. How to get them, who will fabricate them,...and how to age them! We have a Tudor style 1917 home, we want the old sinks and appliances back, and aren't the least bit interested in granite. We are grateful for any info.

(P.S. I believe there are zinc countertops with brads on the edges in the movie "Meet the Fockers" [link is to product info at Amazon] ---these are what we want and believe belong in certain areas of our kitchen.)

Happy to share any serious restoration resources we have accumulated!

Thank you, Maggie and Matt

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I tried to find an answer to the various questions on how to distress a zinc metal countertop.

I am very interested in knowing how I can accomplish this myself. The zinc sheet is a blue grey currently. I want to distress/age it - very much so. I understand various acids, i.e. vinegar, etc. will do this.

I would like to know and would greatly appreciate any food safe suggestions you may have.

Thank you,

Mona: The blue-grey color, and some miscellaneous scratches that your zinc may suffer, probably already comprises the distressed look for zinc. You could try 'painting' it with a strong solution of table salt & vinegar and see what darkness that adds, but zinc doesn't turn green & brown like, for example, copper or brass.

Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Through experimenting on a piece of zinc for a countertop, using different types of food safe acids, ie., vinegar, lemon, I have so far found, tomatoes (from a can) to be the most distressing.

Mona F(returning)
- Brampton, Ontario, CANADA

To Maggie J (and all others!)

Wondering if you ever located a source for zinc countertops? I, too, am on the search - was first looking for pewter, but have only found one supplier - in Normandy France! 5X the cost of granite, before shipping and installation (gulp!) So now I'm on the hunt for zinc... seems to be very hard to come by in the NW, which is OK, if I can find a reliable source somewhere in the US.

Any ideas? Thank you!

I had zinc countertops installed in Oct. 06. I want to tell anyone considering this product it is very difficult to use. There are stains surrounding the sink area from the water that gathers while washing dishes. It scratches very easy and various foods and products leave blackish gray stains on it that will not polish out. I am very disappointed as the countertops look like I haven't wiped them. Yes, they are "old world" which is what I wanted but the look of not clean doesn't go well with a kitchen. The expense prohibits me from changing them too soon but I will in another 12 months or so.

R E P L Y

April 10, 2008 This is a good point. Anyone wishing to use decorative zinc in a a home should be aware of what they're getting into. Zinc is a very active metal and will react with the environment constantly. In no time at all it will develop a tenacious patina of black or dark grayish oxides that is by no means even in appearance and shows the history of everything it came into contact with. You can try to stave off the inevitable by applying clear coats or waxes but be ready for their eventual failure. Or you can do what they do in restaurants and bars which is clean it every day (better start with some thick stock!)! James M (returning) - Chicago, Illinois

I recently installed a zinc countertop in my home for my kitchen. I am very pleased with how it turned out. We had a local sheet metal shop do the bend for the corner and soldered the seams. I found this company Rotometals in California. They were very helpful with my questions and purchasing the zinc from.They are the only ones I found that you can order right on website. I had the metal ship directly to my sheet metal guy. I strongly recommend them for a source to get zinc sheets and the best prices even with shipping them to the east coast.

Ed. note: We appreciate your suggesting a source, Dana, and are glad you were happy; but with the anonymity of internet forums, testimonials aren't of much value and often draws shills posting with fictitious names, claiming that some other company is better, and the race to the bottom commences :-)

Zinc counter edging? Am so excited I found this website. My question is does any one know where I can get decorated edging for a zinc topped kitchen island?

July 17, 2008 I am a do-it-yourself homeowner interested in a zinc countertop. Your site has some really good information on this topic. There is a local roofing company who has zinc sheets (28"x120")for a very reasonable price. They are .020 thick. I am covering my existing laminated countertop with zinc. Will this thickness be ample? I am not doing any welding (as I don't know how)! Thanks very much. Jennifer Smith hobbyist - Louisville, Kentucky September 25, 2008 I just had Zinc countertops installed today and they are wonderful. I purchased the zinc a few years ago with this in mind and found a sheet metal company that makes stainless countertops to fit them for me. I bought the sheets at Home Depot that look like pressed ceiling tins to use for the backsplash. The zinc was around $60.00 and the backsplash was about the same. I don't know what the cost for installing is yet, they are billing me. Has anyone heard of using zinc for a shower surround? I am looking for a thrifty way to make a new surround and I think I would like the ping noise the water would make. Please advise if anyone has any ideas on this. Thanks, Andi Andi Kunert home owner - Des Moines, Iowa S I D E B A R Hi, Andi. Please search the site and you will find other threads like letter 13388 about zinc for shower surrounds. Zinc must freely "breathe" lots of carbon dioxide to resist white corrosion in a wet environment. It may not be a good idea. Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey December 6, 2008 This is for Andi in Des Moines. I went on the may house tour in Dubuque, Iowa a couple of years ago and one of the houses was a mine foreman's house with addition. fantastic job in keeping to the spirit of the original. used concrete countertops etc. but the master shower was concrete bottom sloped to the drain, no lip that way, and was made out of corrugated metal on the top and sides above a 2 or 3 inch lip around the other 3 sides. it fit into a sloped ceiling and looked fantastic. the architect did the labor as he was just out of school and friends with the owners. He said that he used a couple of coats of a really good auto wax about twice a year to keep the shower from rusting and with the wax being a really good brand that you just sprayed it down with the shower head after using it. no chemicals to cut the wax finish. it had been in for a couple of years and hadn't started rusting as yet with 2 people using it every day. hope this helps you. Lois Gross - Clinton, Missouri

I have installed solid zinc benchtops in my period home in France and it looks fantastic. Be aware that zinc tops are a 'working' surface it will be effected by various foods (acids and alkalis) causing light and dark discolourations - I personally love this characteristic as the hues are usually rich and the look changes constantly. You can however periodically buff the surface back with a buffer or very light graphite paper if you want to get it back to a uniform finish or apply a metal sealer if you don't want the finish to change.

The treatment or aging of zinc is called patination. The zinc reacts to various chemicals. You can artificially age the zinc with different effects depending on the chemical and pattern of sanding / buffing and application of the chemical. The effect I used on my benches was achieved with copper sulphate (you can usually buy it from a chemist) which give the zinc a rich dark patina (the more you use the darker it is) - just buff it in with small circles - and if you don't like the effect you can always buff back and try again.