Kitchen Countertops: Icing On The Cake
(part three of a kitchen renovation series)

by: Liz Roberts

Now that you have your cabinets either painted, restained or refaced, it’s time to consider your countertops. You may even prefer to install just new countertops, forgoing the cabinets, which is fine as well. This is the most used area of your kitchen and it does wear out the quickest. Installing a new laminate top will not only add to your cooking area’s look but also making food preparation and cleaning up much easier.

Most homeowners are in a battle when it comes to picking countertop material. Stone is very elegant but expensive. Any granite top can make an ordinary kitchen look like Bobby Flay’s workspace. However this is not a medium for do it yourselfers. Stone is heavy and has to be professionally cut. Wood is a good choice and can be installed by any handy homeowner. It can run into money though, depending upon what you purchase. The easiest and cheapest counter top is the laminate. It’s a snap to install and comes in a variety of colors to match any kitchen’s décor. However it does have a down side. Laminate is not long lasting due to its’ composition. It’s made up of many layers . The first layers are composed of kraft paper ( what your grocery bags are made of), followed by a layer of decorative paper. Finishing these is a clear, melamine plastic coating. You can buy a more durable variety which only comes in solid colors. This has one sturdy layer of plastic as opposed to the decorative paper and melamine. An average square of these two tops can range anywhere from $5 to $20. Laminate does have its’ good points though. It is impact resistant and easily kept. If you are careful, and wipe up spills right away, you can have your countertops for a good many years.

As with refinishing and painting, you have to prepare the existing countertops’ surface. Thoroughly sand and clean the areas where your laminate will be installed. Remove any paint or varnish. The ideal base should be an unvarnished and cleaned plywood or particleboard.

The laminate to be used on flat or vertical surface should be 1/16th inches thick. Horizontal surfaces require a laminate with a 1/32nd inch thickness. Both can be easily cut with either a circular, saber or back saws. A simple utility knife can also do the trick as well. Any saw blade has to be fine toothed for a smoother cut. Remember to put a strip of masking tape where the cut line will be to prevent chipping. When using a power circular or saber saw, cut from the backside of the laminate. Sawing this way prevents any major or minor chipping. If using a handsaw, cut from the front side at a low angle. If employing a utility knife, remember to use the special laminate cutting blades that come with it. Also use a straightedge or steel square to guide the knife for a smooth and even cut. You must cut your laminate sheets oversized to allow for trimming. If you want you can also use a fine tooth handsaw for creating smaller sheets.

After cutting out all the sheets, you can start on application. Either use an epoxy adhesives or contact cements for the job. Use coarse sandpaper to roughen the countertops surface base. Dust off residue with a light brush or compressed air.(you probably have a can around to clean off your computer). After sanding, using a small a paint brush the epoxy or cement onto the cleaned counter surface. Apply a smooth thin layer to it and also the back of your laminate. Let both surfaces dry according to the adhesive’s instructions. If using cement, then it’ll be dry to the touch once thoroughly dry. Be very careful when laying your laminate sheets. Keep in mind that 50 to 75 per cent of the bonding strength is present during the first contact. Make sure that the sheets are positioned properly before the glued areas touch each other. With the trim strips along the counter’s edge you may have to apply two to three coats of adhesive. Once the drying period is over then start installing the laminate over the base. Keep both the laminate and the base apart until they’re correctly positioned. To do this you have to place dowel rods (your local hardware store will have these)a foot apart and in some cases wax paper. The rods are to be repositioned every time an inch of laminate is secured to the base. Larger dowel rods are to be used on bigger sheets of laminate. Vertical surfaces don’t require dowel rods. The sheets are simply pressed into place. These are to be completely moved once the sheets are in place.

Use a paint roller to apply pressure to the newly applied sheets. Lean hard on the roller, rolling back and forth to eliminate any air pockets that may be there. You’ll have to make a seam if two pieces of laminate are used to cover one area. First install the largest piece into the desired position. Now place a narrow strip of wax paper along the larger piece’s edge. Using your dowel rods, place the second piece next to the first piece. Begin at the seam and position this tightly against the larger section. You can tape the second piece in place if you want to. This helps hold the position. Use your roller to attach the second sheet of laminate. Now go back and very carefully lift the edge over the wax paper. Remove the wax paper and reposition the laminate.(if you want you can use a mallet and wooden block to remove any air pockets. Work from the center out to the edges)

It’s up to you if you want to use special or plastic moldings to finish off your countertops. You can also use thin strips of the laminate for a more even look. If doing this apply two coats of cement or epoxy to the edges and one coat to the strips back. Let completely dry. Position the strips and start applying pressure from the center to both ends simultaneously. Work shorter areas from end to end.

You may need to trim the laminate. Do this using a fine tooth backsaw, a router or a file. Run your hand along the bottom of your countertops edge. The overage should be at the bottom, facing the floor. You can use a file to finish off smaller pieces of overhang. If there’s a lot, the go with a router. Use a beveled blade for finishing. Larger pieces require a router with a carbide router bit. Make sure it has a bit of a bearing for easier use. Remember to clean the router’s base. Burrs can destroy and chip your new countertop. If using a guide, set the guide carefully. Bear down on the router and slowly move it along the laminate’s edge. Take off a little the first time and see where you stand. You can pare away a second time. Remove any surplus cement with nail polish remover and then a damp cloth.

A new countertop will add to your old or newly restained or repainted cabinets. It’ll finish off your kitchen to create a picture perfect look for the holidays. This is the greatest gift you can give your house this season.