Does anyone know how to lay laminate countertop

[binny]

on top of another laminate countertop?

The "experts" at Lowes and Home Depot both assure me that this can done. It would be a quick way to update our kitchen.
Basically its taking sheet laminate and just gluing it onto the existing counters which are in great shape but just blue.

Any ideas?

 

[rt2dz]

What do you currently have? I ask because around here, that while laminate will give you that smooth surface look that is in, it is considered the bottom or the bottom in countertops. It holds up to very little. While we have outdated tile, I would never go back to laminate.

I was just online yesterday looking for granite/silestone remnants (since we don't have a lot of counter) that could update our kitchen at way less than paying for a "new" slab. I’m also looking into cement counters.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

on top of another laminate countertop?

The "experts" at Lowes and Home Depot both assure me that this can done. It would be a quick way to update our kitchen.
Basically its taking sheet laminate and just gluing it onto the existing counters which are in great shape but just blue.

Any ideas?

I read the instructions for doing it a while back, and I find it scary. LOL But there's a limit to what I'll attempt. Did you pick up the instructions at Home Depot and read them over?

What do you currently have? I ask because around here, that while laminate will give you that smooth surface look that is in, it is considered the bottom or the bottom in countertops. It holds up to very little. While we have outdated tile, I would never go back to laminate.

I was just online yesterday looking for granite/silestone remnants (since we don't have a lot of counter) that could update our kitchen at way less than paying for a "new" slab. I’m also looking into cement counters.

Binny is preparing her house to sell, so I think she's looking for a reasonably inexpensive fix for appearances sake. We've had laminate for years, and it's held up fine. We'll be replacing it when we do the kitchen over soon, but with what, we haven't decided yet. I've seen concrete counters on decorating shows...very cool!

 

[binny]

yeah I thought about this but this neighbourhood just doesnt justify the price. I was talking to my realtor about it yesterday and she agreed that we just wouldnt see it back to us. We have a lot of countertop space so we agreed to go with a hi def laminate. She figured we could recoup that cost pretty well but not to go with anything more.

This is the one we're looking at

 

[binny]

I did do this on a much smaller scale. I had a trashed coffee table that I redid with scrap laminate and it turned out really cool.
That was a long time ago though and I dont know if I can manage it on this large of a scale.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

yeah I thought about this but this neighbourhood just doesnt justify the price. I was talking to my realtor about it yesterday and she agreed that we just wouldnt see it back to us. We have a lot of countertop space so we agreed to go with a hi def laminate. She figured we could recoup that cost pretty well but not to go with anything more.

This is the one we're looking at

Binny, what's the name of that? We're considering re-doing ours with a whole new laminate counter (with decorative edge), and that looks like one we're considering.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Is it Bella Capri?

 

[rt2dz]

When I had laminate, it did not hold up at all. There was a burn near the stove where DH picked up a hot spoon, burned his hand (he didn't know it was hot) and dropped it on the laminate. It also had several Knicks and dents from fairly basic use. And this was all pre-kids. That is a bog reason why I wouldn't put in laminate.

In our area, if you have laminate, it does not sell. Tile and Corian will sell faster because people figure it will hold up well enough until you can upgrade it. But each area is different. Silestone and Granite is what sells the fastest here--but that is also what builders put in standard.

If the goal is just to sell (and not sure what your area is like), what about just offering a counter top allowance? That way, you don't have to deal with it and the new owners can put in anything they like? I love allowances (we're looking for a new house, slowly but surely) since even "new" carpet will be ripped out by us!

 

[golfgal]

yeah I thought about this but this neighbourhood just doesnt justify the price. I was talking to my realtor about it yesterday and she agreed that we just wouldnt see it back to us. We have a lot of countertop space so we agreed to go with a hi def laminate. She figured we could recoup that cost pretty well but not to go with anything more.

This is the one we're looking at

I put that in boy's bathroom in our old house. I love that. Try looking up This Old House or Hometime shows. I know they have done this on many shows. It actually looks quite simple but a little cumbersome. Basically you cut the laminate to fit plus a little extra, apply the contact glue to both surfaces, use some scrap pieces of wood to keep the two surfaces apart while you place the new laminate and as you get it into position, remove the wood. You then roll it down with a weighted roller (which you can probably rent). When it is set up, use a router to trim the edge and Viola', a new countertop.

 

[Christine]

I have not tried laminate over laminate; however, really, just having the countertops redone in laminate is pretty inexpensive.

We had our white laminate (builder grade) countertops for 11 years. They actually held up quite well despite all of our abuse. I went to a kitchen place to price out granite but I have so much countertop that the price for granite was over $10,000. NO CAN DO. Corian wasn't much better and I don't like tile because of the grout issue. So we found a very nice, high end laminate, got a decorative edge on it and I have gotten a lot of compliments. This was about 4 years ago and I spent all of $2500 on the re-do. My neighbors liked it so much, they did it too.

You might check with a kitchen center/store (and not Home Depot). You will avoid the Home Depot add-on fee at that point and you may find it's not too cost prohibitive.

 

[Squirlz]

I did just this last month. Followed instructions that were on Lowes.com. A router and laminate bit are indipensable. The new laminate is applied with contact cement. Leave some overhang then trim the edges with the router. We found it easier to do the edges first, then the top pieces.

Measure twice (at least), cut once. It came out great!

Here is a picture of the finished job. We replaced the sink at the same time. I guess you really can't tell much from this pic but what the heck...

 

[SC Minnie]

We did that in our old house. Use contact cement like Squilz said and leave a overhang to adjust for the right size. The trick is to put a 2x4's or pieces of wood between the old counter and new laminate- the contact cement has to be on both old and new but once they touch they are done so you want to lay it out bit by bit and roll out any air bubbles. Does that make sense?

 

[binny]

awesome!
Thanks for all the help! Squirlz, that looks great!


When I did the coffee table it was small enough that I just used an extension cord LOL


Ok. I think Ive got the idea. I was thinking of replacing the actual backboard with new but we would have to special order the breakfast bar, which is hue, this way we can just use stock countertops and be good to go!
Thanks again for all the help!