How to cut laminate countertop

If the top is off of the cabinet use a router with a straight cutting bit and straight edge. A table saw, circular saw, or reciprocating saw should be able to cut the counters. With regards to the different saws, you need to take some precautions.

Put a piece of masking tape a least wide where you are going to cut. Mark you cut line on the tape and cut with a good sharp jig saw. The tape will prevent the formica from chipping. If you replace a countertop in your kitchen or bathroom, you may need to cut the new countertop to fit the desired area.

Laminate countertops usually come in one piece that combines the actual countertop and the backsplash. You can buy a circular saw and the rest of the tools required to cut a laminate countertop at a home improvement or. Using Formica allows a homeowner to customize an area with a laminate that is durable and easy to clean. The perfect saw blade to cut a laminate countertop is a circular miter saw.

You can also use a hand saw but a blade with a circular saw makes the job easier and quicker. P lastic laminate countertops are economical, durable, easy to clean, come in a wide variety of designs, and best of all are relatively simple to install yourself. Here are some tips on how to cut a laminate counter to fit your need. This video shows how to cut a laminate countertop.

The instructions on this video shows a degree, STRAIGHT CUT. If you are needing to miter a degree angle, I have anther video for that on my. Because laminate countertop is a relatively soft material, a normal circular saw blade for cutting wood is capable of cutting through it with ease. According to WoodworkingTips. The first step of the project is to mark the cut lines on the laminate countertop.

In order to get an accurate result, you need to use a measuring tape and a large T-square. Now I can cut the sides with a jigsaw. I’m using a laminate cutting jigsaw blade in the saw. This specialty blade has teeth that cut on the down stroke to prevent chipping.

To prevent the cutout from breaking free of the countertop prematurely, which would damage the laminate , I screw a cleat to the cutout with single screw. Plastic laminate is a durable, waterproof covering often used for kitchen and bathroom countertops. In this video, Jeff Johnson from Glen Allen, Va. A laminate countertop installation is basically a grade-school cut -and-paste project writ large.

You build the substrate, cut out the laminate , and paste the two together with contact cement. If you are not able to cut right to the wall using a circular saw, you can finish the cut using an electric jig saw with a fine tooth metal blade or a special laminate blade. Knowing how to cut laminate countertop material can save you a lot of money during a remodel.

It will need to be done carefully to avoid damaging the counter. The masking tape will protect the cutting edge from. Turn the countertop over and use the jigsaw to cut along the straight lines you drew on earlier. Even though most of the laminate material is wooden, use a jigsaw blade designed for metal, i. If you need to make a cut -out for the sink and range top, use the old laminate countertop as a guide. If you’re installing a new sink or range top, use the template that comes in the box.

If your sink or range top did not come with a template, set the item upside down on top of the new countertop. Center it and trace the outline. Plus, you have so many patterns and colors to match your home décor. You can even get laminate that looks like nature stone. Normally, the backsplash is cut before it is installed.

Before installation, you can set the laminate piece on two sawhorses for cutting. Formica brand plastic laminate is most commonly used to cover countertops , cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Since all plastic laminates are essentially the same, cutting Formica with a utility knife is identical to cutting most laminates. Formica is a leading brand whose name has been synonymous with laminate for decades. It is just quite a bit easier if you can move the countertop away from the wall.

This step by step diy article is about how to cut a hole in laminate countertop. If you are remodeling your kitchen, you should probably know that cutting out holes in laminate countertops is require if you are fitting a sink or a gas stove. Solid surface as offbeat ones like concrete or build a few more style options and solid surface countertops may be ordered through instore.

Spring-clamp the sheets to the cutting table, then use a laminate trimmer fitted with a flush- cutting bit to trim them to size. Kitchen countertops best of lowes. For tips on how to do this, see Step of Step-by-Step. Cut a triangular scrap of plywood so two adjacent edges fit tightly against the inside corner of the countertop.

Clamp it to the cutting table. To cut through laminate countertops , you can use a hand saw, but a circular saw makes the job much quicker. Because a circular saw can produce jagged edges and chip the laminate , your best bet is to lay the laminate face-side down and cut from the back to the front.

Next, measure the dimensions of the countertop and sketch a diagram of the countertop shape that you’re going to have to cut out of the sheet laminate. The edges of these sheets are very straight, so you should plan for the edges to line the rear of the cabinet against the wall, when possible. Cut away the caulk line along the back of the laminate backsplash.

Use a reciprocating saw to cut the existing laminate backsplash off the countertop (Image 3). The key is not to leave any edge sticking up.