If you are an avid fan of taking control of your own home improvement projects, then you will actually find some enjoyment from learning how to install a laminate countertop. While picking out your new countertop is definitely exciting, some people find that the fun ends when it comes time to start the installation process. This does not have to be true in all cases because there are plenty of people who can find fun in improving the value and quality of their kitchen. As long as you are able to easily follow directions and have some common sense, you should be able to install your new laminate countertop without the help of a professional.
Get Rid of the Big Utilities
Many people think that they can just start tearing down their old countertop when they want to install a new one, but you actually need to take out a few other items before you start taking out the counters.
• If your oven or stove is connected to the countertop, as in many cases, it will need to be removed during the installation process. This may involve dealing with the gas line, so be careful or ask a professional if you aren’t sure about this step.
• You will also need to remove the sink from the existing setting if it overlaps or is attached to the countertop.
• Lastly, you should probably remove all of the drawers from any cabinets beneath the counter as they could get in your way while you try to install the new countertops.
Get Rid of Your Old Countertop
The main problem that you run into when you get a new countertop is that you probably already have countertops in your kitchen. These counters need to be removed before you can install the new materials.
You can start removing your old countertops by unscrewing them from underneath the counter. The screws are usually found in the top rails of the cabinets. Some countertops will also have fasteners between them to make sure that the countertops are connected securely. These fasteners will also need to be removed, and you will usually have these in your countertops if they were installed in sections.
The hard part of removing your countertops is taking a knife or sharp blade to chip away at the caulk between the countertop and the backsplash. Once everything is disconnected, you should be able to lift the counter and move it to another location.
Installing Your Brand New Countertops
Before you get started with the installation process, you should check to make sure that the cabinets in your kitchen are secure. You do not get to look at your cabinets from this point of view very often, so you need to take advantage of this moment to make sure that everything is in order.
Once everything is checked, you can then lift up the new countertops and place them on top of the cabinets. It is important to screw in one countertop section at a time because you may also need to fasten them up a bit.
Some people will like the idea of cutting out the section for the sink in one of the countertops, but this is one aspect of the job that you may want to leave to the professionals. The last step of the entire process is to use some caulking to connect the new countertops to the backsplash.
Alex Wayne is a full-time home improvement, plumbing and HVAC blogger for RS Andrews Atlanta.