Airstream Chat Room Airstream Links Campground & Product Reviews Airstream Classifieds Airstream Articles Blogs Photo Gallery Forum Listings Portal - Home Page

Go Back   Airstream Forums > Airstream Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums > Interior Restoration Forum > Cabinets, Counter Tops & Furnishings




Check out our new sister site AirstreamCentral.com. To contribute an article click here.


Quick Links
- Forum Listings
- Register - it's FREE!
- View Member's Map
- Airstream Articles
- "Live" Chat Room
- View Classifieds
- Post a Classified
- Airstream @ eBay
- Upcoming Rallies
   - Add A Rally
- Rally Discussions
- Repair Discussions
- Search Forums
- Member List
- AIR # Directory
- Member Search
- Profile Photos
- Airstream Photo
- Airstream Links
- Fun & Games
- WBCCI Websites
- WBCCI Unit Forums
- Courtesy Parking
- Campgrounds
- Support & FAQs
- Community Policies
- Helpers Needed




Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-23-2002, 10:08 PM   #1
Pick
Moderator

Pick's Avatar
Profile:  1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs , Florida
Posts: 2,193
Images: 36

Re-Laminating Kitchen Counter

Wife hates the yellow kitchen counter top. I want to re-laminate it. I feel the best way to do this is to remove the whole counter top, and take it into the garage and do it. She seems to think we can do it in the trailer without removing the whole thing. Any ideas on this? How many screws are holding this thing down on the cabinets??
__________________
CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
Pick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2002, 11:34 PM   #2
BobbyW
Rivet Master

BobbyW's Avatar

Profile:  1965 20' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Posts: 1,001
Images: 9

It would be much easier to re-laminate it out of the trailer. You won't have to be so careful brushing on the contact cement, you'll have plenty of ventilation and you will be able run the router with a Flush Edge bit around it to get factory finishes. Laminates can be applied using a razor knife to rough trim and a file to smooth the edges but a router or a power laminate trimmer makes quick and slick edges. Be sure to wear eye, hearing protection and at least a paper resperator if power trimming, as it really kicks up a plastic dust residue. You can also use it to cut out the sink hole in seconds. A powered laminate trimmer can be rented at most any good tool rental store for a few dollars a day. If you have everything rough cut ahead of time, the trimming can be done in about an hour. Also while having the counter out, you can put the sink and that new faucet that would really look good on before you set the counter back into place. Then all you have to do is reconnect the supply lines and the sinks drain trap back together saving your back and knuckles.

You will also appreciate the room to work around it when you go to mate the two surfaces that will have the contact cement applied on them together. On the side edges this is no big deal but, when you go to apply the top surface you will really be glad you removed it. With contact cement you only get one chance to get it right. The surfaces bond instantly when they touch

If you have never done this before, have a supply of dowel rods or other small strips of wood that measure a little longer than the width of the counter top handy. Lay them across the top of the old surface every couple of inches, before you lay the new piece on top. Precut the new laminate with about an inch of over hang on all four sides. Don't try to precut the new piece exactly to fit. Lay the new laminate on top of the dowel rods, line every thing up and remove the dowel rods one at a time pressing the laminate on to the contacting surface. If you don't have a laminate roller, a 2 X 4 and a mallet can be use to press, not beat, the laminate surfaces together.

Don't forget to do the backsplash. This really makes it a professional looking job.

This is a fun project and will make your galley that much more personalized.

Regards;
-BobbyWright
__________________
-BobbyW AIR# 123

-Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

-"You want to make it two inches - or, if you're working in centimeters, make sure it's enough centimeters for two inches."
-Red Green


www.bobbywright.com/gallery

Last edited by BobbyW; 05-24-2002 at 06:55 AM.
BobbyW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2002, 05:56 AM   #3
thenewkid64
Just a member

thenewkid64's Avatar
Profile:  Tampa Bay , Florida
Posts: 4,494
Images: 21

I second Bobby's opnion. When I did mine I took it out, but I had to make a new countertop. The old one was trashed. Go with a power trimmer for the laminate and you wil be amazed at how easy it is to do. The hardest thing ti getting the screws out of the wall because you have to climb part way into the cabinet to reach. Also I wanted to get rid of the Lime green formica.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	new sink and faucet - cropped.jpg
Views:	256
Size:	12.6 KB
ID:	192  
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan

Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato

In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
thenewkid64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2002, 08:15 AM   #4
Pick
Moderator

Pick's Avatar
Profile:  1972 31' Sovereign
High Springs , Florida
Posts: 2,193
Images: 36

Thanks, guys, you brought up some really good points, fumes and dust! I have picked up the laminate, and will commence the extraction procedure!
__________________
CP 9 miles off Exit 399, I75.
2003 GMC 2500HD 4X4 D/A Ext. Cab
Propane Powered Honda EU2000i
Lots of Hot Sauce!
Air # 283
Pick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-24-2002, 08:38 AM   #5
BobbyW
Rivet Master

BobbyW's Avatar

Profile:  1965 20' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Posts: 1,001
Images: 9

Document your work with pictures

Be sure and take some before you start, step-by-step during and after pictures. Especially the "during" pictures. You will be glad you did. Try to post them for us to see.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

-BobbyWright
__________________
-BobbyW AIR# 123

-Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

-"You want to make it two inches - or, if you're working in centimeters, make sure it's enough centimeters for two inches."
-Red Green


www.bobbywright.com/gallery
BobbyW is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
If only I'd thought to bring... 4521red On The Road... 69 10-02-2008 06:38 AM
kitchen faucet leaking Stefrobrts Fresh Water Systems 10 03-16-2004 10:44 AM
Corian Counter tops smily Cabinets, Counter Tops & Furnishings 4 11-27-2002 08:31 AM
Counter laminate Forrest Cabinets, Counter Tops & Furnishings 1 07-06-2002 07:06 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.0.1

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:32 AM.

Other Social Knowledge forum communities:
Cooking Forum - Sailing Forum - Early Retirement - Airstream Trailer - Aquarium Forum - Royal Forum - Book Forum - Volkswagen Touareg Forum - Jeep Wrangler Forum - Whitewater Kayaking & Rafting Forum - Fiberglass RV Forum - RV Forum - Truck Conversion - U2 Music Forum
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0

Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.

test

eXTReMe Tracker

Other recommended Airstream sites:
Airstream Forums - Airstream Classifieds - Airstream Articles
Airstream Central - Airstream Photos