DIY Projects

Recently a friend of mine purchased a house at a foreclosure auction. Obviously, the price was right or he would not have bought it, to resell. Of course it needed some work done on it.

Replacing carpet, tiling the kitchen and bathrooms, and paint, you know, the stuff that you do to make a place look updated and clean.

Our next step was to replace the kitchen cabinets and build new laminate countertops. Installing new appliances and the transformation was complete. He sold the house in less than a week, at a decent profit. Now he is looking for another one.

When deciding on the final outcome of your bathroom remodel, you must choose what you want the final image to be, and then work toward that goal.

Want to save money on your bathroom remodeling project while still achieving a high-end look? Try laminate countertops instead of more expensive granite counters. Before you balk at the idea of using a “lesser” material consider that laminate is virtually maintenance free and that many companies today can make laminate that looks pretty darn close to the real thing. If you want the look of granite, travertine, marble, wood, etc. without paying the high price of these materials, then laminate is worth considering.

With laminates’ low cost and always-up-to-date patterns and colors, changing your countertop to be right in style with today’s trends is a piece of cake.

If your laminate countertop is starting to lift up, it is an easy fix to repair it. Simply apply contact cement to both surfaces, the underside of the laminate and the countertop and press the laminate back into place.

If the edge of your laminate countertop is damage, and you are unable to repair it, remove the edge with a putty knife. Using a heat gun or an iron will help to soften the glue and make it easier to remove. After removing the damaged piece, sand the surface, apply contact cement and apply a new edge. If you are unable to match your countertop, be creative. There are many different laminates available, make the edge different.

It has often been said that the kitchen is the heart and soul of many homes. You can update your kitchen simply by installing laminate countertops. Laminate countertops are beautiful, affordable, durable, and easy to maintain.

No matter what your budget or style, you can find a product to fit your needs. Whether your style is new and fresh or retro and chic, a new look is yours for less and there are hundreds of colors and patterns to choose from. Laminate offers the widest array of designs of any surface material.

But where is the fun in hiring a pro to update your kitchen? Do-It-Yourself.

If you have patience and a love of do-it-yourself projects, and like saving money, then Do-It-Yourself. Installing laminate countertops is a weekend project for the confident do-it-yourselfer. Just gather up these tools, and start your kitchen transformation.

Tools needed:
Measuring tape
Laminate
Utility knife or special laminate scoring tool
Clamps
Straightedge
Contact cement
Paint roller with cover for contact cement
Rubber roller for laminate
Router
Paintbrush
Lattice
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves
NIOSH-approved respirator

Once you have installed new laminate countertops, it is time to caulk them. Wilsonart has 100% siliconized acrylic caulk that is color matched to any of their laminates. No mixing, no color charts, just purchase the caulk that is the same name or number as the laminate you picked.

Wilsonart Color Matched Caulk is stain, mold, and mildew resistant, stays flexible and is water resistant.

• Use painters tape, masking tape or any type of tape that doesn’t leave a residue to mask off an area to keep caulk over seam. Allow for approximately ¼” or less of caulking area on each side of the seam.

• Caulks, especially silicone, work better at room temperature, so bring it inside the night before and let it warm up. It will bond better and smooth more easily.

• Cut the tip off of the caulking tube at an angle, close to the tip. A smaller opening helps avoid overfilling the joint. Pierce the seal of the tube and slowly squeeze the tube while watching for the caulk to become visible at the end of the tube.

• Apply caulk. Run a bead of caulk directly over the seam. By providing steady pressure to the caulk tube, move along the seam at a steady speed. Work on an area no more than 2 to 3 feet at a time. Smooth over the entire length of the applied bead of caulk in order to straighten it out and further force the caulk into enough surface contact to establish good adhesion. This is called “Tooling”. You can use your dampened finger or various tools like a spoon, a shaped piece of wood, or a foam paint brush. Tool the caulk until you are satisfied with the appearance. Keep rags or damp paper towels handy to clean up any problem areas right away. It is much more difficult to clean up dried caulk or caulk that starts to skin over. Repeat this process until entire countertop edge is sealed.

Tip: Caulk is made not to flow, so tooling is critical to force it into good contact with the substrate.

Tridon AT-109 Laminate Slitter

A few years ago as a novice user of laminate, I was cutting the laminate with my circular saw and thought “There has to be a better way to do this”.

After doing some research and talking to some cabinet guys, I discovered the Tridon Laminate slitter. Not only is it adjustable for different sheet thickness, it cuts without chipping.

Now my laminate cutting days are cheaper and much less frustrating.

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then it only stands to reason that every part of the room should be in perfect working order. The household cook is always relying on solid, consistent surfaces for chopping and otherwise preparing fresh ingredients, so the countertop is just as important as any electrical appliance. Scratches and chips in the counter are a tell-tale sign of neglect and disrepair.

By installing laminate countertops, you can provide your kitchen with more convenience and functionality than ever before. There’s plenty of prep work to be done before actually installing the counter. First, allow the laminate to sit inside the room so that it can adjust to the moisture and temperature of the air. Then decide whether you want to go to the trouble of removing the existing laminate surface; it’s often easier to pile a new layer right on top. Make sure that the old surface is even and slightly rough so that the adhesive will take. Then take note of the counter’s dimensions and gather up your tools for the installation.