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laminate on bathroom vanity (advise to do-it-yourselfer please)

15 years ago

I am a renter so I have to put up with a lot of other peoples choices, so in the master bath I decided to do away with the 80's blue counter top. It is formica or laminate whatever they call it. Well, I decided to take the cheap route and bought crylon fusion spray paint. It went on good and everything was fine until I set stuff on it, it left indents in the surface, so I bought some more paint and rolled it on, (I know, what was I thinking) anyway, the end result was anything but accomplished. Now I am back to square one. I want to resurface the entire counter top with a sheet of laminate. I have read about the process, the contact cement, the wood dowels to allow for accurate placement, I am pretty sure I can do it, my ?'s are

1. Will it work to put the laminate over the already painted surface?

2. I used a solvent to remove the "bumps" from the marred spot, now it's slightly bumpy, nothing raised just rough to the touch, is this going to affect the laminate once it is on?

3. What is the best way to cut the laminate? I saw a cutter at Lowes that looks a lot like a box knife but it was $27.00 I do have a jigsaw, will that work?

Any other suggestions or something I didn't think of or mention would be appreciated as well.The countertop is only 4 1/2 ' long.

PS I'm a woman, not that it matters, but that might explain some of the bonehead flair of my question/concerns.

Comments (3)

lamguy
15 years ago
Bonehead ideas...nah.
Painted and laminate don't usually play nicely together
Slightly bumpy under laminate will look like the rocky mountain mountain range
Cutting....hummmmmmmmm, jigsaw.....nah.....let me think about an easy way for you to do it
I've been doing this for about 8 years and there is so much to say and so little time
Gene
cindywhitall
15 years ago
I think pre-made laminate counters can be had quite cheaply.
Looked it up, Lowe's website has a 6 foot laminate ready to install for $67. YOu'd have to cut the hole for the sink though. Still has to be easier than buying supplies and tools and attempting it yourself, and maybe messing up...I'm sure they could tell you what to cut it with. You can rent the proper saw if you need to (from them or rental places)Depot's site didn't list any, but I know they have them. Also, try Craigslist.com , you might get lucky!

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=142966-1110-4724116L&lpage=none

Here is a link that might be useful: counters
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Wooo!!! Cat, I am stuck at home because of the snow storm so wandered around here not looking at anything in particular and came upon your thread. I totally agree with you on the shower curtain choice. Regardless of whether I have the money to spare or not, keeping those suckers clean is a nuisance over time. We have a glass shower door that was installed back in 2003 and I can't tell you how much I hate cleaning it. Not that the door is all that dirty, but a shower curtain is way easier, and you can change the look/style whenever you feel like it. Can't do that with a pricey shower door. Anyway, everything looks lovely as usual, including the "prom" dress :-) Love, love those circular tiles, and the floor tiles that look like fabric. Gorgeous. What colour is that again? It looks greyish on my monitor.
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Orange peel is typically the result of improper painting technique, and is caused by the quick evaporation of thinner, incorrect spray gun setup (e.g., low air pressure or incorrect nozzle), spraying the paint at an angle other than perpendicular, or applying excessive paint. Staining maple is problematic. Maple blotches easily, meaning getting even color is difficult. As much as I dislike gel stains(they are basically just modified paint), a gel stain for your situation may be the best short term solution. Try to find a cabinet shop or even a paint shop--some auto shops have people who can do wood.
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When you order laminate from HD, Lowes, etc. it comes ready to just set on your counter. Unless you've done it before, I wouldn't recommend redoing the top yourself. If you want granite, I suggest going to some of the granite storefronts or call around until you locate a fabricator that has leftover stock. They often have scraps from other jobs and will cut, polish and install the piece for you. Often their prices are better than the big box. If you're trying to save $$, there are many gorgeous laminates that will go with your tile. I know of a brown faux granite Wilsonart that would great with the flooring! I think your son would love it! DIL once did a countertop similar in size and the cost was a little over $200. Here is a link that might be useful: samples
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ulisdone
2 years ago
You need a router and proper bit to finish a plastic laminate edge.

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