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It is the middle of August, but summer isn’t over yet and there’s still plenty of time to complete those home improvement projects you haven’t checked off your list.  If you’re kitchen needs a little facelift, consider updating the countertops with new laminate.  Laminate is affordable, easy to care for and available in a wide variety of colors, so it’s easy to find a design to match your lifestyle and taste.

If this is your first time tackling a project like this, we recommend asking a friend to help you.  You’ll appreciate the extra hand as well as the company as this can take several hours.

Materials & Tools:

• Level
• Clamps
• Belt sander
• Caulk gun
• Rubber mallet
• Shims
• Saw horses
• EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive
• Safety glasses
• Manufactured countertop
• Drawing compass
• Miter clamp kit
• Silicone caulk
• Carpenter pencil

Tips before getting started:

When you measure for your countertop, be sure to include the counter overhang, which is usually between 3/4″ – 1″ in front and on open ends.

The point where two counters meet in a corner must be square. Make a mark 3′  from the corner on one wall and 4′  from the corner on the other wall. If the distance between marks isn’t 5′, consider having a professional make and install a custom counter.

Make all measurements twice for accuracy.

Note: You can custom make your own countertop, or you can select a stock countertop from a home improvement center. Many color and pattern combinations are available.

Safety:

Shut off power at the breaker box for any electrical appliances under the countertop. Then shut off the water supply at the valves under the countertop.

Double-check to ensure your sawhorses are level and stable before placing the countertop on them.

Step 1: Set and Level the Countertop

• Set and clamp the countertop in place.
• Shim as needed to make it level.
• Check for gaps between the backsplash and the wall. If the gaps are narrow, fill them in with caulk and proceed to step four. If the gaps are large, follow steps two and three below.

Step 2: Mark Backsplash with Compass

• Set a drawing compass to the span of the largest gap between the backsplash and the wall.
• Set the compass point next to the wall and the marker on the backsplash.
• Pull the compass along the wall to mark what will need to be removed on the backsplash.

Step 3: Remove Countertop and Clamp to Sawhorses

• Remove the countertop and clamp it in place on sawhorses.
• Use a belt sander to sand the backsplash to the line drawn with the compass.
• Place the countertop on the cabinet and ensure the backsplash is flush against the wall.

Step 4: Glue Edges Together

• Where two pieces of the cabinet meet, glue them together with the glue from a miter-clamp kit. If the kit has no glue, apply a thin bead of silicone caulk to the edges of both pieces.
• Apply EcoGlue Premium Wood Adhesive to the rest of the edges and press together.

Step 5: Tighten Miter Clamps

• Make sure the entire surface is flush at the seam along the front edge of the counter.
• Tighten the nearest miter clamp and wipe away any excess glue.
• Stand behind the backsplash and push the countertop up and down as needed to make the seam flush along the back of the counter.
• Tighten the miter clamp nearest the backsplash.

Step 6: Level the Countertop

• If one side of the seam is higher than the other, protect the surface with a piece of wood and tap the countertop with a rubber mallet.
• When the seam is level, tighten the remaining miter clamps.

Step 7: Fasten the Countertop to the Cabinet

Note: Check the length of every screw carefully before driving it into the countertop.

• If the cabinet has a top surface, fasten the countertop by screwing up through the bottom of the cabinet top into the countertop. If the cabinets have no tops, screw through the front rail and any blocks built into the cabinet.
• Seal the seam between the backsplash and the wall with silicone caulk that matches the color of the countertop.
• Your countertop installation is complete!