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Titusville, FL on Apr 28, 2012

Any suggestions for installing laminate counter tops?

I bought two 8 ft slabs of post form counter tops from Lowes. They would not do the installation without measuring for stove top/sink which I did not have at the time. I have contacted several cabinet/kitchen shops in town as well as handymen and nobody want the job. I am not considering installing them myself. What is the best way to cut laminate counter tops? What are the best tools? The part that scares me the most is cutting the 45 degree cuts to make the corner. The new countertops have a rolled backsplash and a rolled front edge. What makes the job so scary that the handymen/kitchen pros are backing away from the work?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thank you

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New counter tops
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Old counter top 45 degree seam that scares me.
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Straight Nails Constructi... Cumming, GA

First, measure your actual corner. Do not assume that it is a 90 degree angle. Any variance will allow for your cut to be wrong. Once you measure your corner, divide it in half and that would be your actual angle. (in other words, if your corner is actually 90 degrees, your cut would be 45 degrees. If it is 92 degrees, your cut would be 46 degrees). You can buy a kit that will allow you to "clamp" your corners together. Assuming you are cutting with a circular saw, buy a blade that has the ...»
most teeth that your saw can accomidate. Usually a 60 tooth blade would work. Clamp something sturdy like a 4 foot level against the countertop with clamps, so that the circular saw fence will ride along that straight edge, which usually makes a much straighter cut. Place duct tape along the cut line that you are going to make. This will help to prevent any "chipping" that may occur. Use the longest level you have to measure/level your cabinets without countertops. If your cabinet doesn't have a very slight pitch towards the external side of kitchen, shim the countertop so that they do so. The reason for this is as water sits on the countertop, this (again I say VERY slight) pitch will allow water to run towards the floor, and not back against the wall/backsplash. Use a standard adhesive that can be placed on top of the bottom cabinet walls, and the countertop can sit on. Then, find some strategic places to place some wood screws through the bottom of the cabinets into the countertop. It is VERY important to not place a screw that is longer than the thickness of what you are screwing through and the depth of the countertop. The screws are nothing more than to put some resistance to the countertop to secure to the cabinets. The glue you use will do most of the work. If you place them at an angle, this will take more distance when you place them. Use a silicone based caulk when you caulk against the wall to deter breakdown from the water that will splash upon it.

on Apr 28, 2012 · Like 1