Laminate kitchen countertop

[Sam Leon]

I have one unit due to be vacant in 2 months and I am planning the action list.

The kitchen laminate countertop is OK on the top side, but the edge especially the rounded corners are peeling off and chipped.

I think it was put in back in 2001 by last owner and I haven't seen any matching patterns in local home stores.

So I am most likely looking to re-laminate everything.

Question #1 is, is it OK to put a new layer of laminate over an existing one IF the existing laminate is sound?

Question #2, which is to go one step up to solid materials, such as granite, marble, corian etc...but I am not sure for a smaller unit like a 1/1 typically for a single person, doing that will not bring up my rent even $1, *MIGHT* make the unit more appealing, not sure it's a big factor though, not like  granite on a 3/2 or 4/3.  Thoughts?  Anyone upgraded countertops for a 1/1 and feel there is a return for it?  Whatever decision I make, I will be doing the same for other units in the same building within the next year.

[Dawn Brenengen]

How large of a space are we talking about?  This is one thing I would do to "harden" my rentals.  If I'm replacing counter tops anyway, I'd stick a slab of level 1 granite in there and call it a day.  That way I shouldn't ever have to worry about replacing them again.