Counter top question

[rg32]

Is it OK applying new laminate (Formica) over my existing kitchen counter top?
I made a beautiful bathroom vanity with cabinets and laminate counter top and used a ½ inch straight router bit with a roller bearing for the edges and sink cutout. My question is it ½ bit seemed too aggressive and left a few jagged edges?

[Russianwolf]

Now don't quote me on this and others may have better info. I beleive I have seen this done on some of the home improvement shows. I think the biggest factor is making sure the surface is clean before applying the new glue. Since yours is new, it may not be an issue.

But before you do it, I'd make sure you are getting good cuts from your trim bit. I'd hate for you not to be satisfied after doing all that AGAIN. When you did it the first time, did you put masking/painters tape over the laminate area that was being trimmed? I understand that that reduces the chipping that can occur.

[traviswalken]

i just finished applying new laminate over existing laminate. i cleaned the counters thouroughly and hand sanded them with 36 grit paper. i was a little tired and didn't do the best job or roughing up the existing counters with the sand paper. about 2 weeks after completing the project, small sections of the new laminate started to lift up off the old laminate. i plan to heat these bubbles with an iron and put some weight on them. i am hoping the contact cement will be reactivated by the heat.

my advice would be to use a belt sander!!! i didn't want to buy one, and now i am regretting it.

[mehranh]

Applying laminate to some plywood is much much easier. Other than cost any other reason you don't just build new counter? it may give you much nicer result, with very little extra work. I just did mine, and was very straight forward process.

[LarryG]

Travis: just curious, did you apply contact cement to both surfaces?

I have heard of people applying new laminate over existing laminate, but I'm not sure if I've ever heard any feedback on how it worked out.

[traviswalken]

quote:Originally posted by LarryG

Travis: just curious, did you apply contact cement to both surfaces?

I have heard of people applying new laminate over existing laminate, but I'm not sure if I've ever heard any feedback on how it worked out.

i did apply contact cement to both surfaces. if i had it to do all over again, i would have still overlayed the existing laminate. however, i would have used the belt sander to prep the surface. before doing the project, i searched high and low on the internet and found very little information. however, several sources said it could be done...so i did it. as long as i can remove the bubbles, it will be a success.

[pilotlight]

Someone may have actual experience with this, but I've read a down-cut spiral router bit is a good choice for trimming laminates.

Jamie

[blackburn]

Use a flush trimming router bit and high speed (if your router is vs). Essentially it is a slightly smaller bit than the one you used but the flutes are at a slightly different angle. You can overlay the existing but it will be a bugger to get right. Faster, easier, and in the long run probably cheaper to redo underlayment (cheaper than paying to do it a third time).

[JimD]

I would not use a laminate counter top. I would use ceramic tile. You can install the tile over any decent exterior grade plywood top using thinset with latex additive (the type that has dry latex in the mix is much cheaper than the liquid additive). Tile is pretty cheap if you stick with something simple and is much more durable than laminate. If you haven't tried it I think you would be surprised how simple it is to use. I use a right angle grinder and a cheap abrasive blade for complicated cuts and a "cracker" for straight cuts. It would cost a few bucks for tools to do your first job (you will also need a notched trowel and a float for the grout) but I do not think you would regret switching to tile.

Jim