Things You'll Need:
- Power palm sander
- Tape measure
- Laminate sheets
- Router with laminate bit
- Contact cement
- Brush
- Laminate roller
- A half-dozen 1-inch dowel rods, 3 feet long
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Step 1
Sand down the old laminate with your palm sander, taking off the gloss and shine completely. Clean up all the dust.
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Step 2
Measure each span of the countertop. Transfer the measurements to your sheets of laminate.
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Step 3
Use your router with laminate bit to cut the laminate, making each piece about 1 inch bigger all around than the size of the area that it's going on.
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Step 4
Spread contact cement on the back of each laminate piece, and lay them face-down so the cement can dry. Spread more contact cement on the surface of the countertop. The cement will feel dry to the touch, but will bond immediately to any other surface coated with cement, so don't let them touch before you're ready to apply the laminate.
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Step 5
Hold up the narrow strip of laminate for the front vertical edge of the countertop, positioning it right in front of the span where it will go. Press it there all at once. Use your laminate roller to seal it against the countertop.
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Step 6
Use your router with the laminate bit to trim off the excess of the front piece, running the bit along the top and bottom edges of the cabinet.
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Step 7
Lay dowel rods on the top of the countertop, spanning the width and sitting about every foot to 18 inches. Position your large top piece of laminate on top of the rods. Then begin pulling out the rods, starting in the middle. As you pull them out, press down the laminate and apply the roller to it. When all the rods are down and the laminate is applied, trim the edges with your router.
