Do It Yourself: Laminate Countertops to Corian Countertops

Countertop laminate is a form of plastic that's manufactured in sheets, then cut and glued over the countertop frame with contact cement (a compound that bonds to itself, but not to your fingers). Normally, the laminate is installed over a plywood or particleboard surface, but you can also laminate over other existing laminate, provided it's not loose or damaged. It's important to de-gloss the old laminate so the new laminate will stick. Corian is a form of laminate.

Things You'll Need

• Vibrating pad sander
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Razor knife
• Laminate sheets
• Contact cement
• Brush
• Power router
• Laminate-cutting router bit
• Laminate roller
• A dozen dowel rods, three feet long by 1 inch thick

Instructions

1. Buff out the old laminate surface of the countertop with your vibrating pad sander and medium sandpaper, taking off the shine and getting it dull and flat. Wipe up the dust.

2. Measure the top and front edges of the countertop, everywhere there's going to be laminate. Transfer the dimension to sheets of laminate, adding an inch around the perimeter of each measurement (so the cutout laminate will be an inch bigger all around than the surface it's covering). Cut out the pieces with a razor knife, scoring and snapping the laminate.

3. Coat the backs of the laminate pieces with contact cement, using a brush. Coat the Corian surface of the countertop as well, brushing the cement over all the areas that will be covered by laminate. Allow the contact cement to set for about 15 minutes, until it's dry to the touch.

4. Hold up the cut laminate piece for the front edge of the countertop, positioning it in at the area where it will go, leaving an inch overhanging on all sides. Press it to the surface all at once. Roll a laminate roller over it. Use your power router and laminate-cutting bit to trim off the overhang.

5. Lay dowel rods on top of the countertop, with the ends facing forward, a foot apart. Set the cut laminate for the top of the countertop over the rods, so they hold it off the surface. Get the piece properly positioned.

6. Pull the dowel rods out from under the laminate and toward you, pressing the laminate down to the surface gradually as you remove each rod. Continue until the whole piece is making contact with the surface.

7. Press your roller over the laminate. Trim off the overhang with the router.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear eye protection when you use the router.

References

• ThisOldHouse.com: Installing Laminate on a Countertop