Awesome video with a lot of helpful tips. Tackling our countertops soon and after watching this video I'm confident it will turn out great. Thanks MrKistel :-)
Thanks @MrKristel - I’ve watched this at least ten times. Gonna take on my first kitchen counter. ‘L’-shaped building from MDF up. Gonna do sides first so I don’t goof up the top. Too bad I can’t post pics here. Thank you for putting this together.
Bill, I think you are referring how to trim the last little bit of excess overhang near the adjacent wall. Obviously a large router will bump into the wall and not trim completely to the wall end. What I did in this situation was used a Dremmel tool with cutting wheel to cut the material relatively close, leaving just a tad bit of overhang. I then did the rest with a hand file.
Patrick, thanks for the comment and suggestions. Yes a proper J-roller is probably a better tool to roll freshly applied laminate. We could not find ours the day we were shooting this production and had to settle for the paint roller. Seemed to work well though.
Hi Joe. I do a little laminate for my woodworking shop mainly just for fixtures. I use the Weldwood contact cement you show but my question is do have an opinion about the lower VOC greener version Weldwood sells? As I get older I am more sensitive to the fumes. I have some shop fences I need to laminate and was wanting to get the opinion of someone with more experience about these low fume glues. Thanks for your time.
@Eiger19 .... Contact cement adheres wonderfully to contact cement so it is important to coat both surfaces that are to be adhered together. Once the cement is applied it should be allowed to dry to a tacky state prior to gluing the two surfaces together. When the cement is tacky is does not stick well to anything but other tacky contact cement so the dowels do not get stuck.
To cut the laminate you can also take the blade off the saw and flip it around so the dull edges go in to it first, (still tape it) you don't need to go too deep, I have also used this procedure for aluminum and vinyl siding and it works great.
The router that should be used here is called an" offset trim router" ,and lets the user router to within 3/4 " to any wall ,then clip small piece left with nippers, and file small area to finish !
Thank you for the video .... have question about the glue to be used. See people recommend weldwood contact (stong odor) and (3m fastbond 30-nf or titebond yellow interior/exterios that is water based. Thanks in advance
😕Common sense tells me of course the SIDE pieces process is basically performed in the same manner I assume but still would have liked to have seen that part of the re-do as well. Will be redoing kitchen countertops myself soon enough...doing the floor first this weekend....Thanks for the HOW TO video.
Thanks for the great video, I always wondered how to do that. Can you explain how you did the edges of the countertop? Not the routing part but the sides that look like they have the same countertop material, maybe 1" or 2" vertical. Hope you know what I mean. Thanks again!
hi! i think you could help me. first off this video is the one i think will be the most helpful to us. we intend on buying laminate sheets and installing them on top of our kitchen counters. however, the counters now area already laminate. can we do this right on top of the previous laminate? in this video it looks like it's being applied right to particleboard. don't want to try to chisel/pry it off if not necessary. (i believe the present countertops were installed pre-laminated...if that makes sense.) thanks so much!
I have never done this process over existing laminate but have heard of many others that have done so with success. The trick is getting the new laminate to stick to the existing smooth laminate surface.
+Jessica Nihan: Our local home improvement store said to sand down the existing laminate. +MrKistel: Do you do anything with sealing the seam or the countertop and the edge pieces?
Was gonna say, you didn't do the drop edge, but then saw the comments. It's a lot easier if you take the top off. You don't have to tape the two pieces together, place the short one first, then use the dowels, and ease the edge of the longer piece into place. then pull the rest of the dowels out from that mirrored cut edge, to the end. You also want to file by holding the file with the tang down, and at a slight angle, then push the file along the edge, not use down stokes like you did. this can chip the edge and give an uneven look. yes, i've done this for a living for several years. but, thanks for the video. not bad.
Thanks for the comment and good luck with your project. If you go to the hardware store that sells router bits many times they will have an example image or actual wood sample that shows the result cut pattern of the bit. Seeing an example like that is probably the best bet to make sure you get what you are looking for.
Kristen, thanks for the question. The quick answer is yes but see how I answered a similar question below.. "I have never tried but have heard others laminating over laminate with success. My thought is it will adhere better to the wooden substrate as opposed to the laminate. Existing laminate usually peels off pretty easily with some heat. I used an iron on this counter top to remove the old laminate. Once the adhesive gets hot you can peel back the laminate. "
A quick trick that might work is too lightly warm up the old section that has become loose. If there is remaining contact cement there it may reattach.
thanks! you should invest in some ear/eye gear. Found an old linoleum roller at a junk store, but after watching you, think I'll hire someone with the proper tools and skills. At least I know how it should be done!
It would probably to be a better practice to remove the existing surface before applying the new laminate. I have heard of some putting new sheet laminate over the old with success though.
I'm about to be putting piano black laminate on our aquarium stand, thank you for showing me how to do this without a damn table saw. I don't have the funds or space for a table saw big enough for 18" cuts inside the fence, and I wish others would stop telling me to buy one haha. Good tip on using the drywall for something to cut against, I was wondering how I would do laminate on a sawhorse haha.
I do not know if one type is known to have better adhesion properties then the other, but in either case I always make sure to be in a well ventilated work space. For this project I not only had all windows and doors open, but also fans going at the door entrance to move air fresh air through. Thanks for the comment and good luck with the shop fences.
Billy, in this case the countertop did not have much residual adhesive. The old laminate was removed using an iron; peeled right up not leaving much residual adhesive behind. The sanding brought up what remained. This countertop foundation, like most, was MDF board and I do not think it would have been wise to use solvents on it. MDF should not get wet and I would be concerned the solvent could degrade/dissolve the glues in the particle board.
Chris thanks for the insight and sorry we did not include the trimming next to the wall segment. Fact is it was not real graceful. The trick is to get it cut as close as you can and then finish it off with a metal file. In this case, I believe I used a Dremel sanding cylinder and took it down to about 1/16th of a inch. I filed the rest down with the metal hand file making sure to only file down. When you file you do not want to pull up on the laminate with the file as it may try to peel.
good video, lot a good stuff in there. In the interest of sharing experience, i would recommend investing in a j-roller (~$10). Most adhesives recommend 25 lbs per inch of roller, so if you're using a 9" paint roller you need to apply 225 lbs of pressure to ensure proper adhesion. that's :( my friend. Is your laminate for sure going to fail? probably not, but it opens the door for problems and that's bad policy. that's just my 2 cents, thanks for the vid, cheers!
How did you trim the edge flush where the counter meets the wall? The router wont reach into the corner. Could totally tell you were loopy after applying the cement. =D
I have never tried but have heard others laminating over laminate with success. My thought is it will adhere better to the wooden substrate as opposed to the laminate. Existing laminate usually peels off pretty easily with some heat. I used an iron on this counter top to remove the old laminate. Once the adhesive gets hot you can peel back the laminate.
@MrKistel, I am going to be re-micaing close to 80 display panels, average size 23" x 38". The panels fit in standing display units, roughly 3 panels high by 3-5 panels wide. The problem is each individual panel has a metal frame flush with the existing mica. How to route the excess new mica, or should I cut each panel as close to flush with minimal overhang, and then file/belt sand or?
MrKistel, did you do the laminate on the sides first (before the top piece went on)? If so, did you cut those exact? Or cut them larger and trim after they were adhered?
I really did like seeing the easier part done here, I thought I'd be seeing a little of the side strips but it;s not really necessary i guess since I do not really want a corner like that on my counters. If i can't figure a way to have my laminate roll over a routed edge to have the comer on the bottom like a granite type look then I will have to be doing a finished wooden edge or maybe some other prefabricated type thing. that straight 90 degree counter on the top edge is something they don't even do in cheap mobile homes anymore, it looks way late 70's thought process and its just sucking the life from even a cheap kitchen remodel I think. I would do all this in a second to a old camper that I have over in storage though LOL. hell I'd laminate the walls if I had free bee material. Your lower cabinet top there has a rounded edge I saw, that doesn't match at all man. did you do that round edge yourself or is it a prefab ? the part you can see at 7:58 the edge in the front of the sink. how is that done?
It's a 90 gallon reef. The stand I will be covering is 50"w x 36" h x 18" d. I'm also going to be doing the same to the hanging lighting canopy I built out of aluminum channel, thats 40x14x14.
Thanks for watching. Regarding the edges, I show in the video with the use of router and file. In the comments below I answer trimming the laminate very close to the wall. The rounded edges you see in the home stores are made in factories with special tools.
The way MrKistel did his edges leaves a square edge with a dark seam at the joint where you file the bevel. This is the traditional laminate look. Formica and Wilsonart, and probably others, will also sell you a preformed edge: Roundover, bullnose etc that you glue onto the substrate edge and that goes on seamlessly. It gives a look like a solid surface countertop. You can buy these edges in various lengths about 1 7/8" wide. Wilsonart has a video on how to install them.
Shellie, I removed the old laminate first. I apology for not showing this step. I used an clothes iron or a heat gun on low seating to lightly heat the laminate (glue) and peeled it back in sections. Heating a little section at a time and then peeling back that section and then repeating this process.
You didn't say anything about when the router reached close to the wall area, how did you router the last several inches where the body of the router would have hit the wall and not allowed you to finish trimming close to the wall ???
You use the same file that he used to file the edges...I would uce a larger and longer file. The file acts like a saw ...enough to remove small increments.until you reach the wall.
Stacy Medina Thanks Stacey, if you search the comments below I go into more detail to this specific question. In short i used a Dremmel tool to cut relatively close and then filed down to the finished edge.
the key is to cut from the back surface of the laminate to prevent rough cut or chipping - and to use a very fine tooth blade. and to tape both sides where cutting.
Hmm, might be easiest to build out the edges of the counter and make them square corners. You might possibly be able to cut the existing edge (45 degree part) off and add some wood to create new corners and then laminate.
I would probably try to peel the existing laminate off first and see how the corners are constructed. It may be that they are separate pieces of wood that can be removed. Otherwise I would probably cut and build verses bondo or just leave the counter a bit smaller.
In this case I believe I used a rotary tool like a Dremel with a cutting wheel. I carefully cut roughly leaving some material behind. Then I used a file to take it down to a flush edge.
I think it might have been 1/2 inch diameter and 1 inch in length. Make sure it fits your router (shank size) and that the bearing is at the bottom end of the bit.
The old laminate was removed using heat. I might have used a clothes iron on a low setting on a low heat setting or a blow dryer. Just have to be real careful not to use too much heat to cause a fire or to leave something like an iron sitting in one spot for long. After heating an area of old laminate I used something flat to pry it up slowly a small section at a time.
From Family Handyman article: scribe along the wall. Pull the counter away from the wall. Use a belt sander, with the belt traveling into the laminate to avoid chipping.
I would like to have seen some commentary on removing the old laminate. I'm sure that is the easiest part of this process but still would like to know how you did that step.
I used an iron on a low setting to heat the old laminate up. This soften the adhesive below it. I then used flat tools to pry under the laminate slowly why heating. I simply heated small sections at a time and peeled heated sections why was still hot/warm.
Can't get a router close to wall usually. Can get real close with a free hand cut with something else like sheers or maybe Dremel tool. Then file the edge flush with a file.
@@MrKistel From what I see I guess you can lay a block on top of the counter and score a line underneath and then break off the small area, then file? I have ordered material to redo my old kitchen and so appreciate your advice.
For this countertop the sink sits on top of the finished laminate surface. So the laminate sheets simply needs to be trimmed with a router for the sink openings.
thanks for watching. It is basically the same process as when applying laminate on the surface of the countertop. Cut strips a bit bigger then the area needed, apply adhesive, attach, and route the edges clean.
Thanks Paula, I routed as far as I could. For the last bit I used a rotary "dremmel" tool to cut close to the edge leaving a bit overhang. I then used a good file to take the rest down and flush it up. Just make sure to only file pushing down on the glued surface.
Awesome video with a lot of helpful tips. Tackling our countertops soon and after watching this video I'm confident it will turn out great. Thanks MrKistel :-)
Over the Moon Best of luck with your project. Thanks for the kind and encouraging comment.
Thanks Joe. The seam trick I never would have thought of in a thousand years.
Awesome, glad the countertop installation tips shown were helpful
Thanks @MrKristel - I’ve watched this at least ten times. Gonna take on my first kitchen counter. ‘L’-shaped building from MDF up. Gonna do sides first so I don’t goof up the top. Too bad I can’t post pics here. Thank you for putting this together.
Wow this sounds like an awesome countertop install project. Let me know how it goes, you got this!
You learn something everyday. Thanks 👌
Glad to hear it!
Bill,
I think you are referring how to trim the last little bit of excess overhang near the adjacent wall. Obviously a large router will bump into the wall and not trim completely to the wall end. What I did in this situation was used a Dremmel tool with cutting wheel to cut the material relatively close, leaving just a tad bit of overhang. I then did the rest with a hand file.
Patrick, thanks for the comment and suggestions. Yes a proper J-roller is probably a better tool to roll freshly applied laminate. We could not find ours the day we were shooting this production and had to settle for the paint roller. Seemed to work well though.
Very good video, even when you improvise with what you have at hand. I am about to do my counter top and this video really helped me a lot.👍
Thanks and best of luck with your countertop installation. Let me know how it turns out.
Hi Joe. I do a little laminate for my woodworking shop mainly just for fixtures. I use the Weldwood contact cement you show but my question is do have an opinion about the lower VOC greener version Weldwood sells? As I get older I am more sensitive to the fumes. I have some shop fences I need to laminate and was wanting to get the opinion of someone with more experience about these low fume glues. Thanks for your time.
@Eiger19 .... Contact cement adheres wonderfully to contact cement so it is important to coat both surfaces that are to be adhered together. Once the cement is applied it should be allowed to dry to a tacky state prior to gluing the two surfaces together. When the cement is tacky is does not stick well to anything but other tacky contact cement so the dowels do not get stuck.
never mentioned gluing the sides?
great video though thanks
To cut the laminate you can also take the blade off the saw and flip it around so the dull edges go in to it first, (still tape it) you don't need to go too deep, I have also used this procedure for aluminum and vinyl siding and it works great.
Thanks for watching and the tip.
Eric, Thanks for watching and the kind words. Looks like you have your hands full with some projects as well.
Thanks. I always get my shop fans going and also wear an organic vapor respirator. Thanks for your response. All the best in the new year. Allan
How did you router all the way to the wall with the counter top in place? ??
The router that should be used here is called an" offset trim router" ,and lets the user router to within 3/4 " to any wall ,then clip small piece left with nippers, and file small area to finish !
just use a chisel
Thank you for the video .... have question about the glue to be used. See people recommend weldwood contact (stong odor) and (3m fastbond 30-nf or titebond yellow interior/exterios that is water based.
Thanks in advance
In the video description I mention a contact cement product that has worked well in my experience
😕Common sense tells me of course the SIDE pieces process is basically performed in the same manner I assume but still would have liked to have seen that part of the re-do as well. Will be redoing kitchen countertops myself soon enough...doing the floor first this weekend....Thanks for the HOW TO video.
Thanks for the great video, I always wondered how to do that.
Can you explain how you did the edges of the countertop? Not the routing part but the sides that look like they have the same countertop material, maybe 1" or 2" vertical. Hope you know what I mean.
Thanks again!
hi! i think you could help me. first off this video is the one i think will be the most helpful to us. we intend on buying laminate sheets and installing them on top of our kitchen counters. however, the counters now area already laminate. can we do this right on top of the previous laminate? in this video it looks like it's being applied right to particleboard. don't want to try to chisel/pry it off if not necessary. (i believe the present countertops were installed pre-laminated...if that makes sense.) thanks so much!
I have never done this process over existing laminate but have heard of many others that have done so with success. The trick is getting the new laminate to stick to the existing smooth laminate surface.
+MrKistel ok thanks a lot. I think we're just going yo get new Formica countertops so there's less room for failure :/ thanks again though!
+Jessica Nihan: Our local home improvement store said to sand down the existing laminate.
+MrKistel: Do you do anything with sealing the seam or the countertop and the edge pieces?
Did I miss the part where you finished the sides of the countertop? Your video seems to have at some point magically applied laminate to the sides!
+gqjohn1122 wondering the same thing, thats why i watched this video lol
how did that router trm the top where the counter meets the wall?
gqjohn1122 lo
I was just checking the comments to see if anyone asked the asked same thing!!!
This guy enjoys giving people the illusion that a job is easy, unsubscribe him!
Was gonna say, you didn't do the drop edge, but then saw the comments. It's a lot easier if you take the top off. You don't have to tape the two pieces together, place the short one first, then use the dowels, and ease the edge of the longer piece into place. then pull the rest of the dowels out from that mirrored cut edge, to the end. You also want to file by holding the file with the tang down, and at a slight angle, then push the file along the edge, not use down stokes like you did. this can chip the edge and give an uneven look. yes, i've done this for a living for several years. but, thanks for the video. not bad.
Thanks for the comment and good luck with your project. If you go to the hardware store that sells router bits many times they will have an example image or actual wood sample that shows the result cut pattern of the bit. Seeing an example like that is probably the best bet to make sure you get what you are looking for.
Kristen, thanks for the question. The quick answer is yes but see how I answered a similar question below..
"I have never tried but have heard others laminating over laminate with success. My thought is it will adhere better to the wooden substrate as opposed to the laminate. Existing laminate usually peels off pretty easily with some heat. I used an iron on this counter top to remove the old laminate. Once the adhesive gets hot you can peel back the laminate. "
Great video. Gave me enough confidence to try it myself.
Do you have a video that shows how to fix a laminate corner where the old laminate has come up? I can pry up about a foot into the counter.
A quick trick that might work is too lightly warm up the old section that has become loose. If there is remaining contact cement there it may reattach.
Is it possible to do this over old laminate if I sand the heck out of it? Or will it not stick?
Very informative and thorough run thru.....good use of fast motion too...thanks
Eric Gatehouse Thanks for encouraging comment Eric
Can I do this on existing laminate that is in good shape?
thanks! you should invest in some ear/eye gear. Found an old linoleum roller at a junk store, but after watching you, think I'll hire someone with the proper tools and skills. At least I know how it should be done!
💥Great info and tips, thank you. What type of blade did you use in the circular saw.?? 🤟🏼
generally a blade with smaller and more teeth makes for cleaner cuts
@@MrKistel Thank you
I’m going to hire someone. That’s a lot of work!
Very respectable decision, i hope the countertop video was helpful in any case.
Good techniques in here for working alone, I found it very helpful.
KarasCyborg Awesome, it is great to hear you found the video helpful.
Great help and education. Thanks
Thanks!
How would you do a curve? I have a little piece by my sink that curves up
I am about to do this..do I need to peel up the existing surface before putting down my laminate sheet?
It would probably to be a better practice to remove the existing surface before applying the new laminate. I have heard of some putting new sheet laminate over the old with success though.
Great video now how do you do those small front face strips?
Thanks John, to put the laminate the sides of the counter top it is the same process. Best of luck with your project.
@@MrKistel Do you use the router again to make the top edge?
@@longjohnk yes the router is used again for side pieces
Great Video. Thanks for posting! How difficult was it to remove the old laminate?
Thank you. In this case it came off pretty easily.
Thanks for your comments and good luck with your aquarium project. Is it a saltwater or freshwater set-up?
I'm about to be putting piano black laminate on our aquarium stand, thank you for showing me how to do this without a damn table saw. I don't have the funds or space for a table saw big enough for 18" cuts inside the fence, and I wish others would stop telling me to buy one haha.
Good tip on using the drywall for something to cut against, I was wondering how I would do laminate on a sawhorse haha.
I do not know if one type is known to have better adhesion properties then the other, but in either case I always make sure to be in a well ventilated work space. For this project I not only had all windows and doors open, but also fans going at the door entrance to move air fresh air through. Thanks for the comment and good luck with the shop fences.
Great job on the countertop and the video!
Thanks for watching
Thanks, I know it is not the right tool for the job but it seemed to do the trick. Thanks for watching.
hi good video! how do you trim the corners were the router can't go to?
Like the music... really I am not being sarcastic... now it’s up to me to do as good a job as you did.. 👍👍
You got it man, let me know how it turns out!
Hello boss! Can i do this job at top of old sheet? Look in good condition is just the color...????
I have never tried to put new laminate on top of old laminate countertops however I know some say you can do it that way.
Billy, in this case the countertop did not have much residual adhesive. The old laminate was removed using an iron; peeled right up not leaving much residual adhesive behind. The sanding brought up what remained. This countertop foundation, like most, was MDF board and I do not think it would have been wise to use solvents on it. MDF should not get wet and I would be concerned the solvent could degrade/dissolve the glues in the particle board.
Chris thanks for the insight and sorry we did not include the trimming next to the wall segment. Fact is it was not real graceful. The trick is to get it cut as close as you can and then finish it off with a metal file. In this case, I believe I used a Dremel sanding cylinder and took it down to about 1/16th of a inch. I filed the rest down with the metal hand file making sure to only file down. When you file you do not want to pull up on the laminate with the file as it may try to peel.
good video, lot a good stuff in there. In the interest of sharing experience, i would recommend investing in a j-roller (~$10). Most adhesives recommend 25 lbs per inch of roller, so if you're using a 9" paint roller you need to apply 225 lbs of pressure to ensure proper adhesion. that's :( my friend. Is your laminate for sure going to fail? probably not, but it opens the door for problems and that's bad policy. that's just my 2 cents, thanks for the vid, cheers!
How did you trim the edge flush where the counter meets the wall? The router wont reach into the corner. Could totally tell you were loopy after applying the cement. =D
I have never tried but have heard others laminating over laminate with success. My thought is it will adhere better to the wooden substrate as opposed to the laminate. Existing laminate usually peels off pretty easily with some heat. I used an iron on this counter top to remove the old laminate. Once the adhesive gets hot you can peel back the laminate.
@MrKistel, I am going to be re-micaing close to 80 display panels, average size 23" x 38". The panels fit in standing display units, roughly 3 panels high by 3-5 panels wide. The problem is each individual panel has a metal frame flush with the existing mica. How to route the excess new mica, or should I cut each panel as close to flush with minimal overhang, and then file/belt sand or?
Timothy DeVorse I hope you figured out a good technique
Can I use sheet laminate to cover my old kitchen backsplash tiles?
Can't say I have seen laminate put over backsplash tiles before. My guess is it would not adhere to the tiles very well.
What kind of roller did you use for adhesive?
i did not use a proper roller in the video to lay the laminate countertop surface. i used a paint roller in the video to demonstrate an actual roller
Great video. Is this 'laminate' the same thing as Formica?
MrKistel, did you do the laminate on the sides first (before the top piece went on)? If so, did you cut those exact? Or cut them larger and trim after they were adhered?
Bridgette Rillema For the sides I also cut the pieces of laminate larger and then trimmed flush with the router. Thanks
Is there a video to show how to do the counter top with the contoured lip?
I would probably cut off the lip
thanks so much... I had no idea how to start my countertops. I got it now...... 😆
+Lucinda Ford SO glad to hear the video has been inspiring.. Best of luck with your project
You. Have a good handle on the instructions...good job...
Thanks for watching and the kind comment Rino
How do you keep your roller and paint brush from setting up? I would like to use the paint brush more than just once.
you can try to use acetone
I really did like seeing the easier part done here, I thought I'd be seeing a little of the side strips but it;s not really necessary i guess since I do not really want a corner like that on my counters. If i can't figure a way to have my laminate roll over a routed edge to have the comer on the bottom like a granite type look then I will have to be doing a finished wooden edge or maybe some other prefabricated type thing. that straight 90 degree counter on the top edge is something they don't even do in cheap mobile homes anymore, it looks way late 70's thought process and its just sucking the life from even a cheap kitchen remodel I think.
I would do all this in a second to a old camper that I have over in storage though LOL. hell I'd laminate the walls if I had free bee material.
Your lower cabinet top there has a rounded edge I saw, that doesn't match at all man. did you do that round edge yourself or is it a prefab ? the part you can see at 7:58 the edge in the front of the sink. how is that done?
Larry, thanks for the comment. Hope this demonstration of installing laminate on a countertop was useful for you.
It's a 90 gallon reef. The stand I will be covering is 50"w x 36" h x 18" d. I'm also going to be doing the same to the hanging lighting canopy I built out of aluminum channel, thats 40x14x14.
What do you use to remove the old adhesive from the wood base beside sanding?
How do you do the edges?? And, I saw laminate edges in HD that were bullnose...how do you do those with laminate??
Thanks for watching. Regarding the edges, I show in the video with the use of router and file. In the comments below I answer trimming the laminate very close to the wall. The rounded edges you see in the home stores are made in factories with special tools.
The way MrKistel did his edges leaves a square edge with a dark seam at the joint where you file the bevel. This is the traditional laminate look.
Formica and Wilsonart, and probably others, will also sell you a preformed edge: Roundover, bullnose etc that you glue onto the substrate edge and that goes on seamlessly. It gives a look like a solid surface countertop. You can buy these edges in various lengths about 1 7/8" wide. Wilsonart has a video on how to install them.
What kind of glue is tgat? I have some i need to repair.
it is listed in the video description area
I can't tell, did you put this right on top of the old laminate, or did you strip the old first?
Shellie, I removed the old laminate first. I apology for not showing this step. I used an clothes iron or a heat gun on low seating to lightly heat the laminate (glue) and peeled it back in sections. Heating a little section at a time and then peeling back that section and then repeating this process.
Ok - thanks! I watched someone else use an iron to remove a linoleum floor. Guess I'll be doing a lot of ironing soon! Thanks!
How did you cut the last inch near the wall?
How long do these laminate last? I know the Gianna paints last only a couple of years
Most of my experience with laminate has been positive. It seems to be pretty durable stuff and last for what seems like forever if not abused.
You didn't say anything about when the router reached close to the wall area, how did you router the last several inches where the body of the router would have hit the wall and not allowed you to finish trimming close to the wall ???
i describe this in some other comments below...
You use the same file that he used to file the edges...I would uce a larger and longer file.
The file acts like a saw ...enough to remove small increments.until you reach the wall.
very helpful tips with this one! I would like to know how you tackled the edges...thanks ! nicely done
Stacy Medina Thanks Stacey, if you search the comments below I go into more detail to this specific question. In short i used a Dremmel tool to cut relatively close and then filed down to the finished edge.
what did u do when you got to the wall end with the router? i'm guessing you couldn't get to the wall?
goner2007 I cut it fairly close with a Dremmel tool and cutting bit.. then used a file to smooth it to a flush edge
@@MrKistel That's what I was looking for..thank you.
the key is to cut from the back surface of the laminate to prevent rough cut or chipping - and to use a very fine tooth blade. and to tape both sides where cutting.
Good tip for when cutting sheet laminate
Is that river city ransom song during routing?
Great Show, You sure work hard.This was very interesting.
Great video, how do you cut, inside 90-degrees? Like your joining of laminate. Thank You, blk808hi
What do I do if the end of the countertop corners aren't 90degrees, but have a little bevel leading into both edges? I don't think this can wrap?
Hmm, might be easiest to build out the edges of the counter and make them square corners. You might possibly be able to cut the existing edge (45 degree part) off and add some wood to create new corners and then laminate.
MrKistel do you think I should cut the wood down, or just fill the bevel gaps with bondo, to make them square?
I would probably try to peel the existing laminate off first and see how the corners are constructed. It may be that they are separate pieces of wood that can be removed. Otherwise I would probably cut and build verses bondo or just leave the counter a bit smaller.
Can I install new laminate over old laminate? I see most people doing that online, and peeling up the old stuff looks laborious
I have heard success stories with that method
But you didn't tell me how to cut it at the wall. The router won't fit in there! Will it cut with a knife to finish it up?
In this case I believe I used a rotary tool like a Dremel with a cutting wheel. I carefully cut roughly leaving some material behind. Then I used a file to take it down to a flush edge.
I think it might have been 1/2 inch diameter and 1 inch in length. Make sure it fits your router (shank size) and that the bearing is at the bottom end of the bit.
how long will this last? I have heard the glue will eventually dry up and it will seperate.
Lin Lou Should last as long as the furniture if done properly
thank you very much for answering my question. I'm off to buy a Dremmel. Thanks again.
What size flush cut bit did you use?
How'd you get the old laminate off?
The old laminate was removed using heat. I might have used a clothes iron on a low setting on a low heat setting or a blow dryer. Just have to be real careful not to use too much heat to cause a fire or to leave something like an iron sitting in one spot for long. After heating an area of old laminate I used something flat to pry it up slowly a small section at a time.
Thanks for the demo,I'm just a little concerned with how to do the edges.
Best of luck with your laminate installation project. Keep me posted with how it turns out.
From Family Handyman article: scribe along the wall. Pull the counter away from the wall. Use a belt sander, with the belt traveling into the laminate to avoid chipping.
Many people suggest putting a second coat of glue on each panel for more strength. What do you think?
I would follow the directions of the contact cement you are using.
I would like to have seen some commentary on removing the old laminate. I'm sure that is the easiest part of this process but still would like to know how you did that step.
I used an iron on a low setting to heat the old laminate up. This soften the adhesive below it. I then used flat tools to pry under the laminate slowly why heating. I simply heated small sections at a time and peeled heated sections why was still hot/warm.
Thanks for that explanation.
Why don't the wooden dowels under the laminate get stuck to the counter?
Where can one buy laminate sheets?
How did you run the router over against the wall? You didn’t show that part.
Can't get a router close to wall usually. Can get real close with a free hand cut with something else like sheers or maybe Dremel tool. Then file the edge flush with a file.
@@MrKistel From what I see I guess you can lay a block on top of the counter and score a line underneath and then break off the small area, then file? I have ordered material to redo my old kitchen and so appreciate your advice.
@@marktapley7571 sounds like a great technique
Nice Job!
Thanks for watching
Very good job. Thanks
How Bout the sink areas...?
For this countertop the sink sits on top of the finished laminate surface. So the laminate sheets simply needs to be trimmed with a router for the sink openings.
How can you install that on a vertical surface?
thanks for watching. It is basically the same process as when applying laminate on the surface of the countertop. Cut strips a bit bigger then the area needed, apply adhesive, attach, and route the edges clean.
MrKistel thanks
This is great! Thanks!
Awesome video!! Thanks!
Great video. Thanks!
I am having a problem after i file a countertop.the next day i have to refile.i give a very good press
Thanks for watching and best of luck with your countertop laminate installation.
You wasn't no help at all.do formica grow over night,i know more.
Thanks for sharing!
thank you , hope it was helpful
Very helpful! I've subscribed to your channel and am working on building my own channel for landscaping and remodel projects.
Awesome, best of luck with your channel
Home Depot, Lowes, and cabinet shops.
nice job, thank u
Very helpful video, how do you route the laminate near the wall?
Thanks Paula, I routed as far as I could. For the last bit I used a rotary "dremmel" tool to cut close to the edge leaving a bit overhang. I then used a good file to take the rest down and flush it up. Just make sure to only file pushing down on the glued surface.
MrKistel Thanks, you've given me the confidence to tackle my countertops
Awesome!
Thank you very much. I'll go lay down my laminate now.
Best of luck