Countertop laminate is hard plastic that is affixed to the countertop frame in single pieces with contact cement (a special adhesive that won't stick to most things, but instantly binds to other surfaces with contact cement on them). When laminated countertops get dull and worn, they can't be refinished like wood, but they can be relaminated by putting new laminate right over the old. Talk to your local home improvement store about finding and ordering the proper laminate. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Use your palm sander to buff the surface of the existing countertop, removing the shine. Clean up the dust.
2. Measure each span of the countertop. Transfer the measurements to your sheets of new laminate. When you mark the measurements out on the sheets, add about one inch all around so the laminate pieces will be bigger than the countertop.
3. Cut out the laminate pieces with your jigsaw. Using a paintbrush, spread contact cement on the back of each of piece.
4. Spread contact cement on the countertop. Let all the cement dry to the touch. Don't allow any of the pieces to make contact, as they will bind instantly.
5. Hold the front horizontal strip of laminate in front of the countertop, positioning it at the area it will go. Press it to the surface all at once, letting the piece overhang on all sides. Use your router with a laminate-cutting bit to trim off the overhang.
6. Set dowel rods on the surface of the countertop, front to back, spaced about every foot. Set the large top piece of laminate on top of the dowel rods so you can get it correctly positioned without allowing the surfaces to make contact.
7. Remove the dowel rods by sliding them out from the front once the top piece is correctly positioned. Press the piece down to the surface. Trim off the excess laminate with your router.
Tags: contact cement, dowel rods, correctly positioned, laminate pieces, make contact, pieces with, with contact
