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A question for everyone: Just bought a house and we hate the laminate color. We want to replace it. I’ve thought of 3 possibilities:
1. Replace the whole thing, substrate and all.
2. Laminate over the old color.
3. Remove the old laminate and replace it.
I would imagine the best option, though not the cheapest, is to replace the whole thing. I really don’t need to (house is only 9 yrs. old) so I was wondering what the crowd thought of the other ideas.
Thanks.
Replies
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If the tops are in good shape, are E.V., and your good with contact cement, relaminate.
Luck
*If you scuff up the existing laminate with some 80 grit the cement will adhere better. You'll have to file the edges near the walls.
*If you choose to remove the old laminate, use a heat gun.good luck
*I am assuming that the countertops you have now are the type that were laminated in place origionally. As in- top laminated on then edge banding laminated on, then backsplash added.If you have the type of countertop that is all pre-formed with the backsplash and edge all molded into the top as one piece, then you're gonna want to just replace the whole thing, substrate and all. Or at least I would. Good luck!
*Edge band then laminate top.
*calvin is right.
*Yes, Mark, they were laminated originally-I would think trying to laminate over the one-piece numbers would be hard, what with all those rounded areas. To everyone saying to laminate over the old top-wouldn't that leave a larger that usual "shadow line"? Thanks.
*John, what do you mean by shadowline?
*Easiest thing to do is relaminate over old. Make things easier by taking tops out and laminating in your workshop. Sinks will have to come out anyway.
*John, I'd inspect the underside of the existing tops before I made any decision. Especially the areas around the sink. You mentioned the house is only 9 years old but if they are particleboard and weren't sealed around the water areas well, you may have to build another top or you will just be relaminating over swollen material. Also by building a new top, it gives you the chance to change any corners, edges or cutouts for say, a new sink maybe?MikeMike
*Sorry, Calvin, that's the term we used in a cabinet shop I used to work in. It means the dark edge of the laminate that you see.
*As for the shadow line being larger, the answer is no. It is no different than laminating on bare wood. No matter what you do, it is still a piece of laminate butting another piece of laminate. When you trim it, the line is the thickness of the laminate. Unless you use a REAL thick piece of laminate, or cut at extreme angles, the line size doesn't increase.James DuHamel
*The shadow line won't be any thicker..if your edging is laminate. You would be covering it in the same order as before, so it won't change.But if your saying that you have wood edging that was chamfered or some other profile was routered to show some wood, then you would be correct about the thicker shadowline.
*if you want to remove the old laminate, use a heat gun or solvent. not both. a heat gun takes a while, solent is a little quicker. you may be able to just start at the edge with a chisel and start chipping the laminate off.
*Lacquer thinner,flexible scraper, or knives work and dowels to hold up the wet-about-to-dry edges, so they don't re-stick(it sometimes happens). Or a heat gun, and good gloves.
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A question for everyone: Just bought a house and we hate the laminate color. We want to replace it. I've thought of 3 possibilities:
1. Replace the whole thing, substrate and all.
2. Laminate over the old color.
3. Remove the old laminate and replace it.
I would imagine the best option, though not the cheapest, is to replace the whole thing. I really don't need to (house is only 9 yrs. old) so I was wondering what the crowd thought of the other ideas.
Thanks.