Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 25, 2000 01:14am | #1

   *
   the main ones:

   plastic laminate; particle board substrate is usually 4 x 8' at local home centres (we don't have any big chains here though so I don't know what they carry).
   Industrial suppliers to the trade may have 4 x 9', 4 x 10', or even longer, also sometimes 5'wide by various lengths. They often also stock 30" by 12' blanks for
   counter shops; they cut all the parts for the drop edge and backsplash out of that. The p/lam itself usually comes in 4 x 8' or 5 x 12' or 30" x 12' in postforming (thinner than standard grade)grade only. That's what the countertop shops buy; 30" particle board blanks and 30" p/lam sheets. I don't use post form grade p/lam,
   so I usually mix and match sheet sizes based on the design, to minimize the number of joints to make.

   Solid surface; standard widths are 30" and sometimes 36", usually by 12' (some distributors will have other lengths available also; one of mine has 30" by 6', 8'
   and 12', but most don't). 30" is enough to get the drop edge, 25 1/4" deck, and backsplash out of, and gives you enough material to offset the joint at a right angle turn (complicated to explain, but must be done to minimise the risk of cracking at the seam). Bear in mind that many solid surface distributors will not
   sell to you unless you are certified on their product (a couple of days of sometimes expensive training), or can demonstrate a lot of experience on other brands
   of solid surface. It's an expensive product, and not for DIY (I don't know if you are or aren't, just explaining the reasoning for it being hard to get).

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 25, 2000 06:57am | #3

   *Were are you at?I ask because there are two dstributers here in baltmore that will provide Formica brand in any size up to 6' x 14', Briggs and Carapace, and charge you by the square footage.The cabinet shop I worked for also got solid surface products from 30" to 5' by even lengths from 6' to 2'.Also we had 16'x30"; 4'x8'; 5'x8'; 4'x12'; 5'x10'; and 5'x12' particle board stock. The 16' stock was special order because we did alot of hospital labs.

2. 
   Tyght-Fysted_Folkie | Feb 25, 2000 06:57am | #2

   *
   Hi there,

   What are the standard sizes of the raw goods used in making kitchen counter-tops? I'm interested in both the laminates and the various solid surface materials.

   Thanx,
   Brian