how to install formica countertops

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Tip: Once the Formica begins to bend a little easier, stop sanding. You don't want to take off so much material that you weaken the Formica dramatically.

How to Install Formica

A Formica countertop is made by laying down Formica sheets on your existing countertop. Formica is versatile enough to be used not only on kitchen countertops but also as a laying material on bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Formica sheets are available in various textures, patterns and color and are readily available for purchase. Follow the instructions below to create your own Formica countertop.

Step 1 – Cut a Particle Board to Countertop Measurement

Cut a sheet of particle board to the countertop's measurement using a circular saw. Leave a one-inch allowance for the Formica edges that does touch the wall. Cut strips of particleboard measuring four inches wide and with the length of the edges. Glue the strips to the underside of the particleboard along the borders, and attach 1¼-inch wood screws. Sand the edges for a smoother effect.

Step 2 – Lay the Formica Laminate

Lay the Formica flat on an even surface then mark the measurements of the countertop on it. Leave an allowance of ½-inch at the edges of each side. Place a 2×4-inch lumber sheet underneath the laminate aligning the tops. Fasten the sheet tightly to the lumber.

Step 3 – Countertop Sidings

With a trim router, cut the sheet along the lines. Cut side strips about 1½ inches in width and one inch in length for the sidings of the countertop.

Step 4 – Apply Contact Cement

Brush contact cement onto the short side of the laminate and to the plywood end. Allow the materials to fully dry. If you like, add a second coating of contact cement.

Step 5 – Apply the Laminate

Start putting in the laminate to the plywood, and smooth the area with your hands. You can use a J-roller to firmly press the materials and create a smoother finish. Trim off any excess Formica laminate. Smooth out the edges and the particleboard with a file.

Step 6 – Apply Contact Cement and Adhesive

Apply contact cement to the back of the top piece of the laminate with the use of a roller. Put adhesive on the plywood. Allow the contact cement and the adhesive to completely dry.

Step 7 – Connect the Laminate to the Plywood

Apply dowels on the plywood top at 12-inch intervals. Position the Formica laminate with the right side up over the dowels. Have the laminate and the plywood lined up with the laminate not in contact with the plywood. Take out the center dowel, and then push the laminate downwards. Finish taking out the dowels and press firm the materials. If there is any excess on the edges, trim it off.

Step 8 – Create the Backsplash

Create a backsplash for the laminate by cutting a plywood piece 5½ inches in width and the length of the countertop. Process the backsplash attachment in the same way as the countertop. The bottom part of the backsplash front should be caulked and aligned to the back of the countertop. Screw them securely. Install the countertop.

How to Install Formica

Plastic laminate makes a great backsplash, but manufacturers recommend that you don't glue it to drywall. Instead, use a substrate such as particleboard or plywood that has at least one A-grade veneer face. There's a good reason for this: Adhesives work best on a clean, dry surface with a uniform texture. You're a lot more likely to meet these requirements with a sheet of new material than with the existing drywall, which is probably painted and, worse, coated with layers of dust and cooking grease. No matter how much you scrub, you can never remove those contaminants thoroughly enough to ensure a proper bonding surface.

I'd recommend that you start by making a paper pattern of the backsplash area and use the pattern to size the plywood panel. Cut the panel and test its fit. Now, cut a slightly larger piece of plastic laminate using laminate shears, or score and snap it to size with a laminate cutter. Spread laminate adhesive (not woodworker's glue or any other adhesive) on the back of the laminate and on the panel's face (the A veneer side, if it's plywood). Let the adhesive on both pieces dry. Next, place a row of 1/4-inch-diameter dowel rods on the adhesive side of the panel and place the laminate in position on the rods. Slide the dowels out, and bring the two adhesive surfaces into contact. Press the laminate down firmly or work over it with a roller. Finally, use a router and flush trim bit to cut away excess laminate.

A few things to keep in mind. First, it takes some planning to conceal the panel's mounting screws and to ensure that the panel face is flush to the drywall. It's easiest to mount the backsplash before the cabinets are installed. That way you can hide the mounting screws behind the cabinets. Also, you have any number of patterns and thicknesses to choose from. There is a vertical grade of laminate, designed for backsplash applications, that is slightly thinner than laminate designed for horizontal counter applications. The vertical type is easier to cut.

Finally, if the backsplash is mounted over switches and outlets that are already installed in a drywall surface, you'll need a piece of hardware called a box extender. The extender is a sleeve that mounts over the electrical box, and it covers the gap created by the thickness of the backsplash panel. It's far easier to install an extender than to try and move the electrical box forward so that its edge is flush with the surface of the backsplash.

Two Tools

Simple hand tools quickly cut laminate to rough size.

How to Install Formica

HOW TO INSTALL LAMINATES FOR KITCHEN CABINETS ALL BY YOURSELF

One of the easiest ways to give your Kitchen a makeover of your dreams at an affordable price is by installing laminates for kitchen cabinets. Kitchen Laminates are easy-to-use in any setting and it is possible to install them all by yourself, even if you're doing it for the very first time. A little hands-on experience with basic carpentry would do wonders, but the kitchen laminates design one of the easiest projects that can be taken up by beginners or even first-timers with little professional help, or none at all. Here are the steps that one must follow to adopt the easiest method to install laminates for kitchen cabinets at home.

List of Materials to keep handy for installing laminates for kitchen cabinets –

Screw driver
Sandpaper
Hammer
Wall Putty
Duster Cloth
Wood Glue
Nails
Laminate veneer sheets

Remove doors and related hardware

Opening up the cabinet door and removing hinges and related material is the first thing to do while installing laminates for kitchen cabinets. This can be done by the use of a hammer-fork and screw-drivers. Always remember to be gentle during de-mantling and be careful of splinters and nails when using the kitchen laminates design. It is advisable to not pull out any piece with too much force as that increases chances of damage to the cabinet. Also remember to store each material that is dis-mantled if it is to be used again for re-mantling after the kitchen laminate sheets have been installed in the kitchen laminates design.

Scrub and clean all surfaces for installing laminates for Kitchen Cabinets

Scrub all surfaces generously with sand paper for installing laminates for kitchen cabinets. Be it the surface kitchen cabinet doors, sides or floor, scrub well to expose a fresh surface. Use a duster cloth to remove the dust from scrubbed particles and then wipe off the smaller, stickier particles with a damp cloth, dipped in soap water. This is an important step as it ensures no dust particles adhere to the laminate surface for the kitchen laminates design.

Install self-adhesive kitchen laminate to interior edges

Cut the self-adhesive veneer sheet into strips, and leave and an extra half an inch, both in length and width for trimming the edges after installation. The vertical pieces have to be covered first, followed by the horizontal ones (i.e. the rails etc.). Start with the top of the stile, and peel back into a small piece of the backing paper when installing kitchen laminate. The edge of the veneer strip should be aligned with the edge near perfectly because it is near-impossible to move the veneer after it has been applied. In other words, with kitchen laminates design there is no room for making things right after they've once been done. Once the inside of the stiles is done, trim off the edges inside using a sharp knife, cutter or scissors.

Applying Veneer

Once the self-adhesive veneer strips have been cut, it is finally time to install the kitchen laminate veneer sheets. Place the kitchen laminate veneer sheet with the edge of the cabinet, just perfectly fitting at the top and press downwards, smoothening as you go down. It is advisable to keep an extra edge to trim as that would help setting it in the best frame possible and giving the cabinet full coverage with kitchen laminates design.

Last but not the least, a close trim works well.

Use a sharp knife and very carefully trim the edges of the kitchen laminate design cabinet with a steady hand.

Congratulations! Your laminates for Kitchen Cabinets look more fabulous than ever!

The installation of tiles over Formica is not a difficult tiling job to accomplish. This task can be done relatively simply and quickly with some materials and adherence to the following steps for accomplishing the task.

Step 1: Clear the Formica Tile Surface

Clear the surface where the old Formica tile is in order to make way for the new replacement tiles. You need to sweep or clean the area thoroughly in order to remove any dirt or debris that has accumulated and give you a clean area in which to work.

Step 2: Measure the Area

Take a measuring tape and take measurements of the area in which the new replacement tiles will be laid over the Formica. Once you are sure about the measurements, lay a piece of butcher paper over the Formica and create a design template. The template will be helpful for getting the new tile and making sure that they fit according to any design or pattern that you have in mind.

Step 3: Purchase Replacement Tiles

Go to a home improvement center or carpet and tile store and order or purchase the tiles needed for your project. Use both the dimensions you took with the measuring tape and the template for obtaining the replacement tiles. It is a good idea to lay the tiles out on the template – dry fitting – in order to get a sense of what they will look like when laid out.

Step 4: Rough the Formica Up

Use a grinder or sandpaper to rough the top of the Formica tile surface up. This step is necessary in order to get the thinset to adhere for the new replacement tiles to be set in place. Scar the entire Formica tile surface with the grinder or sandpaper before proceeding to the next step.

Step 5: Lay Waterproof Membrane

Cut to size a waterproof fabric membrane to be laid over the Formica tile. The membrane is needed to prevent any water damage from occurring underneath the Formica tile, since it will now be covered up and you have scared it, making it vulnerable to water damage.

Step 6: Spread Thinset

Thinset, which is a type of grout material used for tiles, should be spread over the membrane and Formica tile, using a tile knife or blade. Spread the thinset consistently, covering the entire surface. This is necessary in order to set the new tiles in place properly.

Step 7: Lay the Tiles

After applying the thinset, set the new replacement tiles in place. Use spacers to keep you pattern uniform. Excess thinset can be wiped away using a rag and water. Once all of the tiles have been set in place according to design, allow the tiles to dry overnight.

When the tiles have dried, apply a grout sealer over the top.

Yolanda in Utah needs some help with a tiling project. What can we do for you?

YOLANDA: [How do you do] (ph), Leslie and Tom? My husband and I enjoy The Money Pit but I have this problem. I'm trying to put some marafil (ph) tile on my old countertop and it has like an – it was built in 1979, so it has that old Formica that is just kind of glued on there.

YOLANDA: And I'm wondering what would be the best way to prepare that so that I can install the tile?

TOM: I think you can probably go right on the Formica. Leslie, have you ever glued right to that with an adhesive?

LESLIE: I actually have and then one key thing is that you really want to scuff up the Formica before you go ahead and put the tile mastic or the tile adhesive onto the Formica, because you need to sort of grit it up and scratch it up so that it has some area for the adhesive to really stick to it and grip into it rather than just sort of sitting on top where it could kind of crack away.

TOM: That's not that hard to do, Yolanda. You just get some 80-grit sandpaper and go at it when you're ready to do the tile project; just rough it up and then you can put the adhesive right on that.

YOLANDA: Well, that's great. That sounds like an inexpensive solution for us.

LESLIE: It truly is and once you've got your mastic set and the tiles are glued down properly, go ahead and grout your countertop and then make sure once that's dry, you seal the grout so you don't have to worry about cleaning it and mold and mildew and all that yuck.

YOLANDA: Oh, that sounds great. Thank you very much for your help.

TOM: You're welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.

Now that your worktops are prepared and sealed you can get to work installing them onto the top of your cupboards.

Start by drilling holes through the fixing rails of the cupboard carcass or cupboard itself. Once the worktop is screwed in these rails will keep your worktop fitted securely in place.

Pick up and turn over your worktop, so that it is the right way around, and place it on top pf the cupboard – check that the sink unit is in place, and align it with the wall and corner. Then, while holding the top firm in position, secure it with screws through the fixing rails underneath.

Once you have made sure it is correctly in place, you can do the same with the rest of your FORMICA worktops. Where there are corners, use a t-joint to cover the gap between the two surfaces. You can seal the gap between the worktop and the wall with silicon.

Place silicon all along the worktop, where it touches the wall. Smooth it out and remove any excess to make sure that it looks neat and tidy. Try to make a clean line with the silicon. Any excess silicon can be removed with thinners.

Lastly, give your PG Bison FORMICA LifeSeal worktop a clean with a good kitchen cleaner. Now your new worktop is ready to be put to the test.

Here are a few care tips for making your FORMICA worktop look better for longer:

Try not to cut or slice food directly on the counter surface
Wipe up any spillages as soon as possible
Place hot objects on a cutting board

How to Install Formica

HOW TO INSTALL LAMINATES FOR KITCHEN CABINETS ALL BY YOURSELF

List of Materials to keep handy for installing laminates for kitchen cabinets –

Screw driver
Sandpaper
Hammer
Wall Putty
Duster Cloth
Wood Glue
Nails
Laminate veneer sheets

Remove doors and related hardware

Scrub and clean all surfaces for installing laminates for Kitchen Cabinets

Install self-adhesive kitchen laminate to interior edges

Applying Veneer

Last but not the least, a close trim works well.

Use a sharp knife and very carefully trim the edges of the kitchen laminate design cabinet with a steady hand.

Congratulations! Your laminates for Kitchen Cabinets look more fabulous than ever!

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Contact cement is used to glue Formica to a counter top. If you're starting from scratch assembling counter tops in a new home, or if you're remodeling an older counter top with new Formica, you will need contact cement. This special glue stays extremely tacky and retains adhesive properties for the lifetime of the counter top. It bonds instantly, and if used properly, takes the guesswork out of gluing Formica — also referred to as plastic laminate — to particleboard or plywood.

Place the Formica facedown across two sawhorses. Use a brush to spread an even coat of contact cement over the back of the Formica.

Spread an even coat of contact cement over the counter top. Wait 20 minutes for the contact cement to dry.

Place 1/2-inch dowels perpendicular across the counter top, 12 inches apart.

Place the Formica on top of the dowels, as if you had already installed it on the counter top. Make sure it's square and that the Formica is flush to the back of the counter and that it overhangs the edges of the counter top on all other sides.

Pull the dowels out starting from the center dowel allowing the Formica to settle down on the counter top. The dowels won't stick to the glue, but as the Formica touches the glue, it will stick instantly as the dowels are removed.

Tap the Formica down with a rubber mallet. Randomly tap with a moderate amount of pressure, all over the top of the Formica. This bonds the Formica to the counter top.

Route the edges of the Formica off even with the counter top using a 3/8-inch flush cutting bit in a router.

How to Install Formica

how to cut formica countertops 8 steps

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Want something more fun and durable than a plain old painted wall? A Formica® Writable Surfaces chalkboard wall makes it possible to add an interesting and interactive new surface to any wall in your home. Think playroom, office, kitchen, laundry room or bathroom — you name it!

How to Install Formica

Get your DIY hat on and create the perfect place to draw, doodle and design! To get full, step-by-step instructions for this project, see the DIY video.

Prep the Surface

Remove any wallpaper or sand down paint with 100 grit sandpaper to ensure the adhesive sticks. To install ChalkAble™ on a wall, you'll need to bond the sheet to a smooth substrate, either Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard, to create a firm, even surface.

Determine How Much MDF and ChalkAble™ to Use

Use the formula "length divided by the number of panels you want to use" to calculate the size of the MDF and ChalkAble™ panels. Subtract one-eighth of an inch from any side of the MDF that will butt up to a wall, floor or ceiling. Subtract one-sixteenth of an inch from each side that will butt up to another panel. Then use a jigsaw to cut the MDF substrate to size.

Mark the MDF Dimensions on the ChalkAble™

Make the measurements directly on the peel coat, about a half-inch larger so the ChalkAble™ will overlap the MDF. Place the masking tape along your cut line and redraw your cut line on top of the masking tape. Then, cut each sheet with the jigsaw.

Apply Adhesive

Spray contact cement completely and evenly on the back of the ChalkAble™ sheet and the front of the MDF. Place the sticky side of the ChalkAble™ sheet face down onto the dowel rods to line it up with the MDF.

Bond the Materials

Remove the dowel rods and use a J-roller to apply pressure. Trim off the excess ChalkAble™ material on all sides.

Sand and Clean

Use a sanding block to make sure the ChalkAble™ is flush with the MDF. Then, remove all dust and dirt.

Consider the Space

If you're putting ChalkAble™ panels on a wall where you might get water on the floor, use one-quarter-inch spacers to elevate the panels.

Apply Adhesive, Round Two

Apply instant grab panel adhesive to the back of the MDF. Starting in the corner of your wall, place a one-eighth-inch spacer against the corner and the floor, line up the panel, and press it firmly in place.

Adjust for Corners

Place a one-eighth-inch spacer on top of the panel that was installed first and the floor, line up the panel, and press it firmly in place. When all panels are placed and the adhesive has cured, remove the peel coat and spacers.

Caulk the Seams

Run the tip of the caulk gun from the top of the panel to the bottom. Run a plastic putty knife up the gap to remove any excess silicone.

How to Install Formica

HOW TO INSTALL LAMINATE SHEETS IN YOUR HOUSE

A step-by-step guide to perfect installation of laminate sheets and shelves.

Besides home-cooked meals and family love, there's one more thing that every household needs – more storage space for everyone. Especially for young families who outgrow their space every other month with toys and woolens, the need for having an effective storage space is the foremost priority. With innovative furniture that uses engineering and design to help create storage space, families try to find the luxury of spaciousness.

There is always the option of buying sunmica coated, laminates furniture from the marketplace, but there may be many hidden costs associated with it. The piece of furniture might not entirely fit the bill; it may need some cutting and scraping around the edges, and might also be prone to damage (never underestimate the powers and impacts of a kid's curiosity for home furniture). Building your own furniture or getting someone to custom made furniture is always a better deal. It however, requires more time, effort and inspiration. If you are looking to install a piece of laminates (sometimes called sunmica)furniture at home, think more shelves and cabinets. Here is a condensed guide to installing laminate sheets and shelves into your house. Laminates are slick and smooth and are good for storing linens, towels, clothes and books. Laminates or sunmica are ideal for your requirement because they are easily customisable to any given width, length and sometimes shape.

Here's what you need –

Stud finder (for installation)
Miter saw (for cutting laminates)
Pine strips (for installation)
Nail gun (or nails and hammer)
2-inch finish nails
Table saw
Medium-density laminate sheets
Medium density laminate sheets

Here's the best way to do it –

Determine the distance of the lower-most shelf from the floor and subtract 3/4 inch as safety space. Mark the wall at around 24 inches (or as desired) around the inner perimeter of the closet.

Hover a stud finder along the inner perimeter of the shelf/closet and mark every vertical stud.

Determine the length of all the 3 walls in the shelf/closet and cut one pine strip to the longest measurement using the miter saw.

Place the upper edge of the pine strip on the marks that you made on the wall to indicate height. Use the nail gun or hammering nails in and through the strip at the point of each vertical stud.

Cut two pine strips of desired length and butt them against the sides of the strip that you just nailed on.

Determine the distance between the walls and subtract a quarter inch to cut out medium density laminate sheets strip of that size.

Place the Medium density laminate sheets strip on top of the pine strips.

Keep all the four panels against the wall and keep two of them spaced with one on each side. Use these as removable supports to build thereon.Repeat until you have achieved the number of shelves as desired.

Installing sunmica or laminate shelves is easy, but maintaining them is even easier. This is a useful addition to your house that you will never doubt. Don't hesitate to find inspiration and feel free to get in touch with Formica-india to turn your dream into reality!

How to Install Formica

HOW TO INSTALL LAMINATE SHEETS IN YOUR HOUSE

A step-by-step guide to perfect installation of laminate sheets and shelves.

Here's what you need –

Stud finder (for installation)
Miter saw (for cutting laminates)
Pine strips (for installation)
Nail gun (or nails and hammer)
2-inch finish nails
Table saw
Medium-density laminate sheets
Medium density laminate sheets

Here's the best way to do it –

Determine the distance of the lower-most shelf from the floor and subtract 3/4 inch as safety space. Mark the wall at around 24 inches (or as desired) around the inner perimeter of the closet.

Hover a stud finder along the inner perimeter of the shelf/closet and mark every vertical stud.

Determine the length of all the 3 walls in the shelf/closet and cut one pine strip to the longest measurement using the miter saw.

Place the upper edge of the pine strip on the marks that you made on the wall to indicate height. Use the nail gun or hammering nails in and through the strip at the point of each vertical stud.

Cut two pine strips of desired length and butt them against the sides of the strip that you just nailed on.

Determine the distance between the walls and subtract a quarter inch to cut out medium density laminate sheets strip of that size.

Place the Medium density laminate sheets strip on top of the pine strips.

Keep all the four panels against the wall and keep two of them spaced with one on each side. Use these as removable supports to build thereon.Repeat until you have achieved the number of shelves as desired.

Asked by Wiki User

Wiki User

Answered

January 04, 2011 8:36PM

2011-01-04 20:36:48

Step 1: Cut your laminate countertop to size

Before you can finish any of the edges- you need to cut the countertop down to the correct size. I find it easiest to do this with a table saw.

How to Install Formica

Make sure to use painters tape to protect the laminate surface from chipping during cutting. If you do not have access to a table saw, a circular saw also gets the job done. If you go that route, make sure to use a guide to keep your cut straight.

Step 2: Glue and nail the particle thickener strip

Start heating up your iron at this point. In order to melt the glue on the back of the edge strips, the iron will often need to be at the hottest setting (on modern irons). However, if you have an older flat bottom iron (no steam holes), these generally get far hotter and the wool setting will suffice.

While the iron is heating up, glue (with white wood glue) and nail the particle board trim piece in place. This creates a uniform thickness for the countertop edge. Use trigger clamps to hold the piece in place while nailing.

How to Install Formica

When you purchase a countertop off-the-shelf, don't forget the edge strip kit. These are often just below or next to the countertops in the store.

Roughly trim your edge strip to size with scissors and test the fit.

How to Install Formica

Step 3: Glue (laminate) your edge strips

Give the previous step 15 minutes of so for the carpenters glue to harden.

Place a scrap rag or dish cloth over the laminate edge strip. You do not want the iron to be in direct contact with the laminate edge strip. This will cause it to burn or mark.

How to Install Formica

Place the iron on the rag over top the laminate edge strip for 15-20 seconds. The goal is to melt the glue on the back of the edge strip. Slowly move across the entire edge until it has completed bonded to the countertop.

How to Install Formica

Use a scrap piece of wood to push the edge backing glue into the particle board, ensuring an evenly bonded surface.

How to Install Formica

This process may need to be repeated a few times until the entire surface of the laminate edge strip is bonded to the countertop.

I typically let this cure overnight. However, I'm sure you would be fine to continue after a few hours.

Step 4: Trim and file the laminate edge strip

This is the most delicate and time consuming part of the process. You will notice in the picture above how the laminate edge strip sticks past every edge of my countertop. This excess needs to be trimmed back and filed level with the countertop surface for a finished look.

Start out by trimming the laminate with a SHARP utility blade. Go slowly to avoid chipping the laminate edge strip. In addition, be careful not to scratch the countertop surface.

How to Install Formica

Once the excess is trimmed close to the countertop surface, it's time to move onto filing. Pay close attention to this step in the video, as it will make or break the final look of your installation.

I find it easiest to start out with a rough round mill file. I find this moves easiest across the edge in the initial stages. Then progressively move onto wider, finer files as I slowly finish the joint between the edge strips I laminated and the countertop.

How to Install Formica

Repeat this process until you have completed all of the necessary edges. Make sure to flip the countertop over and do the bottom as well.

It's as simple as that! If you are shying away from using an off-the-shelf countertop because of edge finishing, I encourage you to give this a try in your next project. Not only will save hundreds of dollars when compared to ordering a custom size, it is actually really easy and rewarding to do yourself.

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In the thirty years that I've been making kitchen cabinets and counters, many people have asked; "can Formica be installed over Existing Formica?" The answer is yes. The process is usually very successful if the existing surface is in good shape. If there are a couple of loose areas they can generally be re-glued before the new piece is adhered.

How does resurfacing kitchen cabinets with Formica work?

Step One-The area to be covered is measured and the new laminate is cut one inch oversize in both the width and length.

Step Two-The areas that will get the new laminate are cleaned with lacquer thinner. This is done in order to remove any grease build-up that has occurred through the years.

Step Three-The surface where the new plastic is to be applied is sanded with forty to eighty grit sand paper. This can be accomplished with a belt sander or a hand held sanding block.

Step Four-The Formica is fitted to any crooked areas on the walls, ceilings or floors where the edges of the laminate will meet them.

Step Five-Plastic laminate glue is then applied to both the counter or Formica cabinet and the new plastic.

Step Six-The two surfaces are then pressed and rolled together. Once a piece is adhered, there is no possibility moving it around. It will be permanently in place and cannot be adjusted.

Step Seven-The overhanging laminate is trimmed off with a high-speed router.

Step Eight-The newly installed Formica is cleaned with lacquer thinner in order to remove any contact glue.

Usually Formica can be applied over Formica on an average size set of kitchen counters in one and a half days.

There is about five hours of preparation work that needs to be done prior to adhering the new surface laminate. Included in the preparation time is the process of measuring, choosing laminate, getting all of the materials and pre-cutting the plastic.

Resurfacing work should be a job that is done by professional cabinet makers. There are many videos on on this Youtube Channel that may help to educate you in how to do some of the various steps involved in the process of applying Formica laminate on top of existing Formica.

One of the biggest issues with taking on a project like this is having the correct tools. There is a video on the Youtube channel I linked above that quickly shows the most common tools used for resurfacing cabinetry.

It's important to take note that gluing Formica on top of existing Formica laminate is going to create a lot of unpleasant orders and dust. The reason being, you are dealing with the dust from rough sanding the surfaces to accept the Formica, the solvents and the glues inside of the house.

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With their flat finishes that extend upward from the countertop, Formica backsplashes don't really add a lot in the way of detail or design to the kitchen. Formica is a type of plastic laminate that is used frequently on kitchen counters. In some kitchens, it is also extended on the backsplash area straight up to the cabinets. Because the glue that adheres it is so strong, often removing the Formica from the backsplash does some serious damage to the wall behind. Therefore, the best way to change the look of this area is to tile right over it.

Wash down the Formica backsplash with a grease removing cleanser and a scrub brush. Make sure the backsplash area is completely clean and that no grease or food particles remain. Dry the Formica thoroughly with a soft cloth.

Sand the Formica using an orbital sander and coarse grained sandpaper. Rough up the backsplash until the plastic is no longer smooth but has a little bit of texture or grit to it. Wipe off any remaining dust with a damp cloth.

Measure the backsplash area, and mark off an area on the floor nearby in the same shape and size. Lay out your backsplash tiles on the floor here to determine the right pattern and placement of the tiles. Begin each wall of the backsplash in the bottom center, and lay the tiles out evenly to each side. Use tile spacers if necessary to keep your lines straight.

Cut the tiles to fit the edges of the backsplash and to go around the outlets on a tile wet saw. Double check their placement with the other tiles on the floor before installing.

Spread a small amount of thinset mortar onto the Formica in the bottom center of the backsplash. Use a trowel to apply the thinset; once it's on the wall, comb through it with the notches until the mortar is an even depth.

Press the tiles into the mortar in the same pattern you determined on the floor. Set the tiles into the mortar at a slight angle, and twist them gently into place for good mortar coverage.

Place a beating block on top of the tiles, and tap it with a rubber mallet to drive the tiles evenly into the mortar. Allow the mortar to cure for 24 hours.

Grout the backsplash, spreading the grout between the tiles with a grout float. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the backsplash to direct the grout into place. Turn the float to 90 degrees to scrape any excess grout off the surface of the tiles.

Allow the grout to dry for 10 minutes, then wash the surface of the tiles to remove any excess. Dampen a grout sponge, and work it in circles over the backsplash, rinsing it frequently until the tiles are clean. Allow the grout to dry for 24 hours.

How to Install Formica

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