View Full Version : Installing laminate countertop
rosemary loveland
Mar 5, 2007, 07:10 PM
I will be purchasing ready laminte for a home store. I do i carefully cut the ends so that the ready made ends can be glue on to lool professional? I can i cut the laminate itself (it already comes glued down to particale boad. Can i use a table saw? Thanks for help!:p
nmwirez
Mar 5, 2007, 10:30 PM
I WILL BE PURCHASING READY LAMINTE FOR A HOME STORE. i DO i CAREFULLY CUT THE ENDS SO THAT THE READY MADE ENDS CAN BE GLUE ON TO LOOL PROFESSIONAL? i CAN i CUT THE LAMINATE ITSELF (IT ALREADY COMES GLUED DOWN TO PARTICALE BOAD. cAN i USE A TABLE SAW? tHANKS FOR HELP!:p
Do not cut the countertop if you are questioning how to do this. Take measurements of what counter spaces are needed and have the supplier pre-cut the corners and ends. Knowing what countertop materials are sold in big box stores, precise cuts and self-edge laminating requires precision tools. Renting a table saw with a finish cut blade will cost you more in the end.(unless you have a friend that knows how to do counter installations.)
jp33
Mar 14, 2007, 02:00 PM
Not that I am a professional but I have had some luck building my own countertop. The laminate is the easy part, especially if you just want simple edges. You would need to make sure your mdf or plywood base is cut to pretty close tolerences. My first attempt at this was to build a countertop for part of my wet bar, so I wasn't too worried it it wasn't perfect. You got to start somewhere. Gluing the laminate and cleaning it up is the easy part if you have a couple tools such as something to score the laminate and a rounter to cleanup the edges.
EMERIL LAGASSE
Mar 18, 2007, 02:49 PM
You can do it
Set on saw horses
Use masking tape at start of cut and end to avoid chipping
Cut top upside down with clamped straight edge
Sand edge if needed
Apply ends
Skill level 1 to 10 (9) :cool:
nmwirez
Mar 18, 2007, 10:53 PM
I WILL BE PURCHASING READY LAMINTE FOR A HOME STORE. i DO i CAREFULLY CUT THE ENDS SO THAT THE READY MADE ENDS CAN BE GLUE ON TO LOOL PROFESSIONAL? i CAN i CUT THE LAMINATE ITSELF (IT ALREADY COMES GLUED DOWN TO PARTICALE BOAD. cAN i USE A TABLE SAW? tHANKS FOR HELP!:p
Hi RL,
You did not mention if 45 corners were being cut also. Those should be already available at the supplier. Emeril has it spot on if it is only end cuts. That won't be as difficult as I may have made it sound originally. The self edge strips can be applied with contact cement such as Weldwood. Edge cleanup with a router on the topside makes for a real professional finish if you have the tools. Nm