I want to replace the countertops in my kitchen...?
Question:i've found a 10 ft. laminate for about a hundred dollars, but i have a 7.25 ft and 2.5 ft counter and what about the hole for the sink? will home depot cut the counter top to size and cut out the hole for the sink? I want to actually install it myself...difficult job?
Answers:
If your 7.5 and 2.5 feet sections need to Butt against each other in a corner, best let a store do it, because they have the jig to ensure a perfect joint, including the awkward bit where the front radii meet. However, the store may not do it if you didn't buy the top there..they are scared of the risk that they could hit a nail and damage their kit. They don't know the history of the worktop, for all they know there could be a nail in it.
The hole for the sink is easy, as described above. When you buy a sink, there is a paper template with it. If you are using old sink, remove it an draw round it, but remember to draw another line inside that one to allow the sink to seat.
The hole for sink doesn't have to be that accurate, but the joining of two tops does. If the tops are seperate then cut them as above, and stick the edging strip. The edging strip hides a "bad" cut.
After cutting the hole for the sink, smear clear silicon in the open cut faces. Put a heavy bead of silicon under the sink and then use the pull-down fasterners to secure the sink down. That way, no water will get under the sink and onto the bare chipboard...if it does it's ruined, it spreads open and also weakens.
Not really, if you have the right tools. Just cut it to the length needed. I use a circular saw to cut to length and a jig saw with a laminate blade for sink cutout. Just drill a hole with a drill first for the sink, and start cutting.
I personally would not trust anyone working at Home Depot to cut anything for me, that is up to you. They probably will not cut a counter top for you, but may.
it isn't that difficult but i would hire someone for that pro finish on it
you know what i mean
it is not that hard but you need to read up!
To make a template for cutting out the sink and faucet area...
Buy some white poster board and a magic marker...
When you get ready, take out the old sink and faucet...Put the posterboard on top of the old countertop and put the poster board on top of the counter...Have someone get under the sink with the marker and mark out the holes while you hold the paper still...You might want to also put a piece of masking tape on the wall even with the center of the faucet hole and mark its location on the wall and poster board...Also measure the faucet location from the wall.
When you get ready to make your cutouts...Just take an exacto-knife and cut the lines out of the poster board.
For that angle there are many ways of doing it, but here is one method you could consider - it works for me.
They sell those rulers where the one end moves on a hinge - an angle ruler, or compound ruler - I have no idea what its true name is but it is for corners and one end moves to get the correct angle. This is what you will use in your corner of the walls where the two counters come together at the miter joint.
Once you have your angle you can lock the ruler and transfer that angle to the laminate. You may want to try it out on cardboard first (before taking the saw to the laminate).
On the laminate- I like to work from the reverse (reverse the angle too), and I glue down a narrow strip a few inches over so I can use my saw guide on the sabre saw when I am cutting the angle.
I remove my strip of wood once I am finished cutting, and lay out my wood stript to the same angle but parallel to my angle to be cut.
Once the angle is cut if I need any adjustments I use my rotary tool with a straight router bit in it.
The key here is using that ruler to get the exact angle of your two walls coming together in that corner, then transferring that to the laminate. This will give you a very good mitered corner joint.
Another way is to lay your cardboard so it butts right against the flat of the wall to your right (assuming the angle is wall #1 in front of you, wall #2 to your right). Remember, there is a 90° angle between the wall surface and the counter top. This is the angle you work in this method.
With that cardboard right against the wall you can use a square. Place it standing on end so the small leg is away from you point upward and is right in the corner angle, and the long leg stands on end right across your work.
You are not laying it on its flat, but standing it on end of the larger leg with the small leg right in the corner - pointing upward.
Now just trace along the long leg across your cardboard to get your angle and transfer that to your laminate.
Remember though, if you trace to the left of the ruler you cut to the right of your line.
Trim laminate with rotary tool + router bit.
You can do it with the right tools or have it cut at the store. But you will need a longer piece if you have to do a corner.
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