laminate counter - straight edge

14 years ago

I've been checking into a new laminate counter for my kitchen. I've also noticed that a few posters here who have had a new counter installed have used a straight edge. Is there a specific reason as to why you chose a straight edge? I'm afraid that the "edge" may tear off in time.

I saw momto4boys new counter with a straight edge. Did anyone else use this type of edge? Are you happy with it?

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mom2sethc

14 years ago

Hello,

I have a beveled edge. It is less than 2 years old, but no problems. In my previous home I had a beveled edge with a wood trim piece. It was installed 5 years prior to our buying the house, and after another 11 years when we sold the home, it looked as good as it did when we moved in.

Laminate in Old Kitchen:
{{!gwi}}

Lamintate in New Kitchen:

Elaine

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Comments (10)

desertsteph
14 years ago
it'd be good to know if there is a 'con' side to any of the edging for it. i haven't decided yet which one i'll get on my counter top. I've wondered if any of them are more likely to wear away, become damaged easier than another edging type.
caryscott
14 years ago
In terms of postform edges we were advised no to choose this one:

Like the old waterfall edge the laminate doesn't wrap under the bottom edge and it is easier to catch something on the underside and chip or damage the front edge. If you have had the waterfall you will know it is excellent for directing spills down on the cabinet doors or towards the unprotected substrate.

Catching the underside is possible with a set on edge (square) as well but the edge is a separate piece that can be replaced while with the postform edges if it ships off the whole counter would need to be replaced.
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I don't know how handy you are or what the current status of your countertop is, but it does sound like you're thinking about installing a Formica countertop and would like something nice to edge it. It that is the way of it, the solution is really rather simple. I won't tell you about the steps for installing the Formica itself, as I will assume that you already have that knowledge, except to say that it is really not as difficult as it seems to be from the outside looking in. It is one of the easier things I have learned in woodworking, to be honest about it. The way to get a nice edge treatment is to apply it to the countertop substrate before you glue down the Formica. I would choose a wood that matched my cabinets. If you have, say, Â¾" particleboard for a substrate, you simply glue the wood of your choice to the outside edges of your substrate. Typically, that wood should be 1Â½" wide, thereby giving the illusion of a countertop that thick. You can miter the corners, but I have found that what works better and easier is to use wood that is 1" thick, as opposed to the usual Â¾". You can then simply use butt joints for the edges of your wood trim. I do it in such a way that the joint is NOT on the side that will face out when the counter is installed. Make your joints on the sides. Next, I would make a template that has a 1" radius for a corner and put rounded corners on all of the corners that will face out. Obviously, where it butts to the wall, you want it to stay as straight corners. The easier way to round those corners, once you have the template, is to clamp the template in place, use a hand saw to cut across the corner to remove most of the waste, then finish up with a straight trim bit in a router. At this point you can install your Formica. Once you have finished installing the Formica, you can then put a nice profile on the countertop, making sure to cut through the Formica just a little. What works particularly well in that regard is to use a roundover bit and cut it deeply enough that it creates a shoulder. The Formica is then on a "shelf," so to speak, just above where the round starts for the profile on the edge. The other bit I like for this purpose is a simple 60Âº bevel bit. On this one, you simply cut through until you are happy with the resulting profile. After that, you would finish the wood the same as you would the wood in your cabinets. It is really not that difficult to do, and as I say, it makes a truly dramatic edge treatment for a Formica countertop. It makes it look like the countertop is solid whatever wood you choose for your edging, and it finishes the edge wonderfully. Here is a link that might be useful: Cabinet & Furniture Trends & Information
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barthelemy
14 years ago
I have had a laminate countertop with a straight stainless steel edge, from IKEA, for 4 years.

I chose it because I like the way it looks ... I usually do not like laminate, but had to use it for budget reasons (and I do not plan to stay in this condos for more than 5 years)... but with the straight stainless steel edge, my laminate reminds me of mid-20th century Formica, which I like better than contemporary laminates (I do not like the ones that try to copy another material).

It feels very sturdy and I do not see how it could wear off with time.
desertsteph
14 years ago
cary - would that be like the 'ogee' edge?

so if you stand on your head and look up at it it'll not have the laminate color underneath that edge?

my original thought was just to get the simple rounded edge - then i wondered if that would allow liquids to just go over it and down onto the cabinet doors... i 'spect it's likely to w/any edge tho. not like i spill tons of liquid daily - but it has been known to happen - a glass of water, a coke, chicken broth.
abbycat9990
14 years ago
We chose a straight, squared edge, because we liked the sleek look. We didn't want the postform rounded edge & backsplash, so all of our laminate surfaces were custom.

I wish I'd known to insist on the appropriate grade of laminate, so the white underlayer didn't show. Live & learn. So far, I don't see any signs of wear on the edges.
hondagirl
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all for your replies and caryscott for your" heads up" about the barcelona edge.
buffalotina
14 years ago
On the topic of edges and laminate grades can anyone enlighten me? Talked to a fabricator today who said that the postform and standard laminate grades both have the SAME thickness of the pattern layer and implied that both would have the same wear quality. However, they said that with a straight edge the unsightly dark band would be much smaller with the postform than with the standard grade. They said that many contractors may prefer to work with the standard grade because it is easier to handle than the thinner postform grade. So now I am wondering for a straigt edge which is better - postform or standard grade?!!

Thanks!

Tina
mari_joan
14 years ago
I just wanted to weight in here on a reality that we are facing with our laminate edge. We ordered two pieces for our L shaped kitchen. They come together at an angle in the corner. We are doing the install ourselves because DH (dear as he is) thinks he can do anything. It is proving to be more than difficult to make that seam look reasonable. Through all of this it has occurred to me that the better way to do this would have been for us to make the counter in place and then pay a fabricator to laminate it. We could have put the seam in the underlay in the corner (so as to give more support to the sink and the cooktop, which are each in the middle of a leg of the L) but then laminate with the seam going thru the middle of either cooktop or sink to minimize the amount of seam showing. We did have the self-face and that could still meet at the corner, which is the best place for the seam on the front. We did the laminate because we couldn't justify the cost of the higher-priced countertops and found a Wilsonart laminate "sunstone" that we really loved. I'm sure after much fussing around, it will be fine but as with most of the project (all DIY) we could have done it better if we had a little experience or helpful advice.
desertsteph
14 years ago
i didn't know there were 'grades' to it. uh-oh. better watch out for that one!

yes, i worry about that corner seam. i was hoping with only a 9' long area i wouldn't need it. Will find out down the road i guess. i do think i'll look around for someone other than HD to do it tho.

laminate counter - straight edge

mom2sethc

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laminate counter - straight edge

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