A Free Guide To Installing Laminate Kitchen Countertops

Many individuals who like do-it-yourself home improvement products choose laminate when they install a kitchen countertop.  Installing laminate kitchen countertops is one of the easiest ways to upgrade the kitchen for a fraction of the cost of having a custom kitchen countertop installed.  Laminate kitchen countertops are durable, water resistant, and easy to maintain, while the price of a laminate kitchen countertop can be a great deal less than some other common types of kitchen countertop.  Laminate kitchen countertops also come in a wide variety of colors and styles that are easily matched to the existing décor in the kitchen area.

When installing laminate kitchen countertops, homeowners have two choices for the laminate material.  They can either purchase a preformed laminate countertop that is complete and comes in sections, or they can purchase a laminate sheet to be applied over an existing or base countertop.  Each type of laminate material has a different technique for completing the project and different tips for installing the laminate kitchen countertops properly.  Regardless of which type of laminate material is chosen, installing laminate kitchen countertops can be a fun and rewarding experience for all involved.

Individuals installing laminate kitchen countertops would be pleased to know that laminate countertops that come preformed require the least amount of work to install.  The first step is to measure the area where the new countertop will be located.  It is very important for the measurements to be accurate, so that after the preformed laminate countertop is purchased, it will fit perfectly in the area designated for it.  Many preformed countertops can be purchased in standard lengths, and any countertop area that is curved or has strange angle would be better left to a professional installation.  If the preformed sections of the laminate countertop are too long, they will need to be cut with a fine toothed handsaw to the proper dimensions.

When installing laminate kitchen countertops, the cutout area for the sink should be prepared prior to installing the countertop on the base cabinets.  Many new sinks provide a cutout pattern to help individuals cut out the right dimensions for the sink.  If the sink being used with the new countertop was present in the old countertop, then the old countertop can be laid on top of the new countertop and the dimensions for the cutout marked with a pencil.  The cutout can be made with a jigsaw, circular saw, or saber saw.  If any corners need to be joined, they should be glued together and allowed to dry prior to installing the countertop onto the base cabinets.

Once the laminate countertop is in one piece with all of the desired cutouts removed, it is time for installing the laminate kitchen countertop onto the base cabinets.  The new countertop should be placed on top of the base cabinets and leveled with a level to ensure that the countertop is sitting properly.  Once the countertop is positioned to the satisfaction of the homeowner, the countertop can be attached to the base cabinets using wood screws.  The screws should be applied from underneath and carefully positioned to ensure that none of the screws come through the top of the countertop.

The procedure for installing laminate kitchen countertops using a sheet of laminate is basically the same as for a performed laminate countertop except for the initial steps where the homeowner applies the laminate sheet to the existing countertop.  This is accomplished by sanding down the entire top of the existing countertop so that the adhesive used to apply the laminate sheet will adhere to the countertop properly.  A thin layer of adhesive should be applied to the top of the countertop and spread evenly over the entire surface of the countertop.

Applying the laminate sheet is easy as long as the homeowners takes their time and completes the process carefully.  The laminate sheet should be started at one end of the countertop and slowly pressed down evenly over the entire surface of the countertop.  Moving carefully from one edge to the other ensures that the homeowner will not have a lot of pockets or air bubbles present under the laminate sheet.  A heavy roller can be used to press down the laminate sheet and remove any air bubbles that may be present.  After the adhesive is allowed to dry, the countertop can then be installed onto the base cabinets.