A matte finish will hide wear and tear better than a glossy laminate, which is easily scratched, but may require more cleaning. Laminates come in a whole spectrum from the most glossy to the most matte, so consider each chip by its appearance, and not its marketing. Test how well the laminate stands up to wear and tear by scratching it with a steak knife. If you’re applying a thin laminate sheet, use 1/16" (0. 16 cm) thick laminate for flat work surfaces and 1/32" (0. 3 cm) sheets for vertical surfaces. [2] X Research source
If the surface is covered by paint or varnish, you should sand thoroughly to remove it using coarse or medium coarse sandpaper. [4] X Research source
If you are installing a full countertop and your walls are not at perfect right angles, you should scribe the Formica first. See Troubleshooting for more information.
If you don’t have a saw, use a craft utility knife with a laminate cutting blade to score the laminate sheet, and then snap it on the scoring by lifting the smaller piece until it snaps. Use a straightedge to keep your score straight. Lift carefully and keep an eye on the score to make sure the laminate bends at the desired break point. Do not use these tools to make circular cuts. Cut out the laminate piece in straight lines, taking care not to cut into the marked area.
If you are using pre-glued end caps, all you need to do is heat a clothes iron, place the laminate against the edge, and iron back and forth. Let sit for one minute and gently tap it along its length with a rubber mallet or shoe heel. You can now skip to Trim the edge strip.
Use a carbide drill bit when trimming laminate.
‘Note: If your Formica came with an adhesive already attached, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to activate it before installing. Often, these adhesives activate when moistened with water.
When applying laminate to vertical surfaces, you will need to position them by hand.
Check that the countertop is level using a plumb bob or level. Slide shims or wedges beneath the countertop to make it level if necessary. Hold the non-pencil end of the compass against the wall at the widest gap, and touch the pencil end against the countertop. Move the compass along the length of the wall to draw a line on your counter. Clamp the countertop onto a sawhorse or other secure position, then use a sander or block plane to level the countertop up to the pencil line. Your countertop should now fit snugly against the wall.
Do not over tighten the miter bolts. Only tighten enough to keep the pieces in place. Tap down one piece of laminate with a rubber mallet or shoe heel if the surface is not level across the diagonal.
If your wall is drywall, you’ll need to attach a particle board base before adhering the laminate. You could also consider installing a tile backsplash over your laminate counter.
Cover the edges of a rangetop cutout with two layers of heat-conductive aluminum tape to prevent the Formica from melting.
Use gloves when handling the sharp, broken Formica. Be careful not to dent the plywood or particle board base beneath the Formica if you wish to install a new countertop on top of it.
