Adventures · Emptying the nest

DIY installation of laminate countertops in 4 weeks

Shelley

At some point in life, every whip cracker of the family (aka, me) wants to redo the kitchen.  With a budget in mind, of course.  And a desire to do it yourself, just like they do on HGTV.

Easy, right?

The shopping and the dreaming is the easiest part, trust me.  The rest of it is a steep slope you need to prepare yourself to climb to get the task done in roughly 4 weeks time.

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Envision the plan of the new on top of the old and the color paint.
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Measure everything 14 times.
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Remove appliance garages and clear the counter clutter.
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Dream again of the new counters.
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And how nice it’ll be, and how “We can do it”!  
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Easy, right?

So you go for it, head to the store and order the dream countertops.  On a side note, we didn’t want to go the expensive route of marble, etc., so we went with high-density marble look laminate.  We could do the install ourselves to save money.  Thinking – “Well, it’s in there already, just remove the old and install the new.”

The following week, the templates arrived.  Pretty cool, eh?  You can put them in place and make sure it’ll fit.

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Unroll the templates and put over old countertops.
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Check all counters for proper fit.
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We discovered the edge on this one we wanted wouldn’t work.
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It’s sketchy to see if everything is a perfect fit around a sink.

Obstacle #1 Countertops made 30 years apart, apparently, don’t match exactly.  The backsplash on the old was exactly 3″ and the new is 3 1/4″.   It doesn’t sound like a lot, but 1/4″ is A LOT when it comes to fitting new where the old was.

Obstacle #2 – We have a Corian-type window ledge that won’t budge, and we wanted to keep it in place.  If exactly 3″ fit wasn’t available, it wasn’t going to work.  We switched plans by opting for flat design, no back-splash and switched out the corner on the small cabinet, and ordered the lot.  It was a more expensive choice, but we had to be able to fit it under the window ledge.

Then we waited, and I painted, and we waited.

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When the new countertops arrived, Mr. picked them up at the store using our trailer (the longest piece was 12′ long).  Together we brought the 4 separate pieces into the house and laid them on the floor while we contemplated how in the world we’d get the old out and the new installed.

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Obstacle # 3 – removal of the old.  We wanted to donate the whole thing, who wouldn’t want 30-year-old counters?  So we hoped to get it all out in one piece.  Remember the Corian window ledge?  When Mr. installed it way back when he used caulk and it wasn’t going to budge.

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Time to part with the old sink.
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Gone…it’s amazing how dirt gets into places you can’t see.
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The stove had to relocate, it was the lesser of two objects, the fridge got to stay.
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We assumed the counter was attached behind the dishwasher.
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Enter in a tool to cut the counter, no longer able to be donated in one piece.
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It’s harder than you think to run a blade straight across an opening. I think the cut has charm.
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We yanked and pulled and out the counter came but there was no way we were going to get it out in one piece.
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We cut it in half in the spot that made the most sense.

Next, we had to contemplate how to get the new countertop in place to make sure it fits. Since it is in 4 pieces, we could lay each one in place to make sure before assembly.

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Taking off the old revealed where the supports and obstacles were – aka, Lazy Susan #1.
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Lazy Susan #2.
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We placed north end two pieces in their spots, yay they fit!
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Oh, no…these two didn’t fit!!!! Yikes!

The island and small counter fit fine, but the last two didn’t.  We measured 14 times, WTH?  The last piece had to be trimmed and shaved by 1/8″ – 1/4″ to fit.

 

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Once we got it to fit, we removed the last appliance that was going to get in the way.

The first to be assembled was the corner two pieces that didn’t fit originally.  That section could be assembled upside down and flipped in the middle of the room.  To get used to the tools and the procedure.

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Drill the holes.
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Install the screws and adjust for the level position.
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Flip and support.
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Double-check the level.
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Use weights for leveling.
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Loosen everything and apply glue.
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Spread the glue, and tighten bolts and re-level.

Obstacle #4 – That was an eye-opening experience.  And such a tight fit under the supports to mess with the leveling hinges.  It took about 2.5 hours to complete, then it had to dry.  There was no way a 12′ section could be fit on the island and flipped back and forth.  We set the first completed section aside in another room.

The best bet was to assemble the opposite corner miter pieces by pulling them out from the corner and using adjustable saw-horses.

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We moved the long piece down to the right.
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Leaving some wiggle room by the edge of the wall.
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Assembled the sawhorses to match the height of the supports on the original counters.
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The placement cleared the fridge and the island.
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Used one more sawhorse on the opposite end.
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Clamped it all in place.
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Very handy sawhorses, but a very tight space to work in and quite the reach from the floor.

 Obstacle #5 – how to get the hinges installed upside down?

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A template! Brilliant!
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Notice the right-hand side.

It was quite the reach, but with the support of a couch cushion to rest his head and back on, Mr. was able to draw the template on the bottom, drill the holes, and then place the hinges on the bottom side of the countertops.

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Good thing he has long arms.
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And doesn’t mind holding a flashlight with his mouth!
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Handyman hands at work.
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I watched the other end to make sure it was level.

Obstacle #7 – the hinges hit each other when we tried to level it.  Oops…

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Mr. removed all of them and took them apart (he loves doing things twice – not!)
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Used the bench grinder twice to take off the section that was hitting the other piece.
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He took off some extra just to make sure and then reinstalled and leveled the pieces.

While he was at it, he didn’t want to have to redo the template, so he used the grinder to make sure all of them were the same for the next section too.

This section was level so the glue could be applied.  From the top instead of the bottom.

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It worked, and we let it dry while we ate pizza.  When it was dry we put it in place.

The final section.  How did we get it away from the wall so that it could be attached?

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He pulled the fridge all the way out from the wall.
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He pulled the section forward to go behind the fridge.
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Made make-shift support on the other wall.
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Leveled it with weights.
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Clamped the seam to make sure it would fit.
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Repeated the template, drilling, hinge assembly on the bottom side.

And then it was way too close to pull apart enough to get glue in with a shim.

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Poured glue in the crack two times (cardboard on the floor to catch the drips).
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Tightened the hinges, leveled with weights and let it dry!

We let that piece dry.  And then with my added extra muscles, Mr. and I moved the whole thing slowly back into place.  Hoping and praying the whole time that it would fit.  We had to stop once to remove a hinge from the corner piece that hit right on the support on the Lazy Susan.

After 4 weeks, the new countertops fit perfectly in their new home.

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Even the original two pieces that didn’t fit at first, now fit.
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179″ from this end…
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To the other, and finally, they fit!

Whew…

Post Inspiration – Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photography Challenge – Steep

PS – Don’t they make this stuff look easier on HGTV or in the instructions?  Three cheers to Mr.!

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

49 thoughts on “DIY installation of laminate countertops in 4 weeks”

    1. Yes, he’s handy – thank goodness!! It is a big project, with a deadline. So far we love each completed stage. Thank you for the encouraging words!

    1. LOL – yep we’ve both survived so far! Yes, we did, and we will have one when it arrives undamaged – we’ve sent it back twice now. 🙁

    1. Thank you, Anita. The out-clips must be quite the deal. And I’m sure there are elves helping them along the way, not just two people doing all the work!

    1. Thank you, Dan. You and Mr. must know things I don’t, ‘cuz I had a few doubts along the way. At least I knew I would never be able to do this on my own! 😉

      1. In this case, I think you were better off with Mr. than you might have been with an “expert installer.” He wanted it done well. They want to get out of your kitchen as fast as possible.

  8. What a job! You’re going to love it when it’s done. Nice work!

    HGTV is such a teaser, isn’t it? My DH was convinced we could remodel our bathroom ourselves!!! Luckily, he agreed to have my brother (who is a super carpenter/tile guy/jack of all trades) help us because it turned into quite a mess before all was said and done. But all’s well that ends well, and the bathroom turned out great. Your kitchen will too. It’s just a matter of time and effort.

    1. Thank you! There’s more to do, and we’re both ready for the DONE stage. Yes, HGTV programming is such a tease. There are elves helping them, I swear it. You’re lucky your brother came to the rescue and was able to get your project done. Bathrooms are a big job too. Thank you for reminding me time and effort pay off in the end!!

    1. Thank you! LOL – you’re right, our Susan’s do a lot in our kitchen, we’d miss ’em if they weren’t there!

  10. What a project, but what glorious results. I watched as we had our kitchen remodeled years ago and I know for a fact that we couldn’t do what you did. I love the color of your new counter and the ogee edge is snazzy.

    1. Thank you, Ally, the big part of the project is done. The Whip Cracker in me is ready for the rest to get done. A sink seems fairly important in a kitchen, as well as having the stove back in place. But, I just mostly eat here, I’ll leave the timing up to the Chef of the house ;-)! Thanks – we love the ogee edge it almost makes it look like real marble. 😉 LOL!

  12. What a beautiful new kitchen counter! Perseverance Plus…mmm that’s an idea for an after retirement venture for you both. Kitchen counter installation. Really nice job (and documentation too).

    1. Thank you. LOL – we have a few apartments that will need renovation, after those are done, I think we’d both prefer braiding hair on a tropical beach over kitchen remodeling. 😉

    1. Thank you, Tina! LOL – We’ve been building stuff together since we first married, I know how to stay out of the way and I can step in to help where I’m able without causing too much trouble. 😉

  15. Suffice it to say neither of you will want to repeat this process for a very long time. It is admirable you did it all on your own – yay you two! It looks nice and think of it this way – the “professionals” had to install then re-install the glass and still it had issues – you are weekend/weeknight professionals and got ‘er done.

    1. You’re right – this is the next 30-year counter-top! Yes, those professionals are due to return, and we found another window they need to replace. Hopefully it isn’t snowing the day they want to deliver. It won’t be the next coming two weeks – it’s too cold to install windows!

      1. What a pane as I said ! Yes, we’re getting a mini Polar Vortex too Monday- Wednesday next week. It’s pretty cold out there now with graupel and flurries – oh boy, I’m excited to go out – NOT. I may just take the camera and peanuts for Grady and his pals this morning and not have angst over the black ice which they say is out there – I have to see it and decide.

        1. LOL pane/pain! We’re in the midst of that Polar Vortex. It’s 12 degrees. We had the black ice two days ago – 33 accidents in one 3 hour period. Apparently no one was ready for winter yet. Stay warm and safe!!

          1. We are 23 with a real feel of 18 – you are worse than we are (as usual) … that’s horrid with the accidents. We had many yesterday morning, especially in the northern burbs, with one fatality. I’ve got to suit up now – takes 15-20 minutes!

          3. No, we will deal with it by putting on not just our big girl pants, but our sweatpants, and our ….. it takes me 15+ minutes to get dressed/undressed (now hopefully “undressed” does not send me to SPAM).

          5. I bundled up Friday and Saturday like it was January or February – they are saying it is January or February weather. When you have on a down parka on November 9th, that is a bad thing.

          7. Can’t like that! Michigan is trying to be like Wisconsin – overnight tonight we will be 6 degrees with a “real feel” of -1 and we ended up having 8.8 inches of snow yesterday – shattered all kinds of record with snow and cold for November 11th.

    1. Thank you!! Oh, no…it can’t take two years, we’re hosting Thanksgiving Dinner!! You’re doing a kitchen renno with a new baby?!! You’re brave!!!

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