Going to replace the countertops in my 72 Safari. Has anyone done this? Is it better to remove the entire top and refinish and then put on? What is involved with taking off the countertop? Any ideas will help.
I just resurfaced my '65 GT counter top after a little research it sounds like removing the old counter top is a lot of work. I just sanded the old top and then used contact cement and glued the new Formica right on top of the old and it turned out very well.
I redid my countertop and sink because I wanted to put in a cooler looking, deeper sink. Removing the countertop wasn't that hard but once it was off it was a perfect time to redo the cabinets - then the floor, then you might as well re-stain the whole thing and also paint... then you HAVE to redo the upholstery. And then you have to redo the redone upholstery AGAIN because the person who did it the first time made the cushion covers a foot short..... turned into a whole lot of work but removing the old counter was a piece of cake compared to the rest. And it all started with a cooler looking, deeper sink.
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Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.
We totally replaced the whole countertops in the Tradewind. Getting the old ones out was easy, disconnect the plumbing and there were about eight screws from the frame below and it lifted right out. Same for the bath. Made brand new tops using particle board and Formica Brand laminate. Made both new tops in one night.
If you have the tools go ahead and replace the whole thing. Mine was delaminating anyway.
Used "light-weight" partical board from the local hardwood supplier and a light maple colored laminate that was a close match the original.
While I was at it, I picked up an extra sheet of laminate and rebuilt the table and side shelves the next year.
Good Luck, Tom.
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our kitchen window had leaked and destroyed the plywood and lifted the laminate. It was easy to remove after removing the range and sink that you'd take out anyway. It was screwed to the wall as rickandsandi said with about 8 screws. Our face frame an shelf uprights were attached to the bottom of the countertop with glue and some 1" staples. It easily came apart after scoring with a utility knife and gentle persuation. I used the old as a template because it was out of square slightly and already scribed to the outside wall. With all new cabinet grade plywood and new laminate it made for a great countertop and just a light as the original. All done in a couple hours. Both our local Lowes and Home Depot could order from a regional warehouse all the vintage laminate designs and the sheet arrived at the store in less than a week.
I redid my countertop and sink because I wanted to put in a cooler looking, deeper sink. Removing the countertop wasn't that hard but once it was off it was a perfect time to redo the cabinets - then the floor, then you might as well re-stain the whole thing and also paint... then you HAVE to redo the upholstery. And then you have to redo the redone upholstery AGAIN because the person who did it the first time made the cushion covers a foot short..... turned into a whole lot of work but removing the old counter was a piece of cake compared to the rest. And it all started with a cooler looking, deeper sink.
It's a slippery slope, isn't it!
Shari
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