No kitchen, bathroom, or area where work is performed is complete without counter tops. When refurbishing an existing kitchen or designing a new kitchen or bathroom, counter tops are at the heart of the design décor. In fact, the countertops your select have the most impact and they are usually the most important part of these rooms.



Therefore, the person who loves doing things himself (or herself, as the case may be), will find replacing or refinishing counter tops a fun and enjoyable activity. The satisfaction that comes from seeing your own handiwork before you and being able to use it for one or many purposes is like no other.

Combining functionality with self-help when choosing counter tops

Counter tops can be an efficient work surface or just an aesthetic design statement, depending on what you want them to be. They can be made from a wide range of materials, some of which are plastic laminates. Formica and Wilson art are two well known, and well-recognized brand names when it comes to kitchen and bath counter tops.

Plastic laminates come in a variety of color choices and finish to suit all discerning tastes and the best feature of these counter tops is that they are durable and easy to clean, bringing down the after care for the homeowner. These are features that should be looked for when choosing counter top material

Laminates can wear out over time and tastes can change, so do put in a little thought before settling on the color and design. Doing it yourself would be an economical option and if you have the patience and basic skills, you can undertake this project and treat yourself to a brand new counter top in a matter of a few hours.

Guidelines For Doing Your Counter Top Yourself

An easy option is to buy pre-made tops from a local home center, which typically come in 2-foot increments, ranging from 4 to 12 feet long, with a standard curved or beveled-front edge. Counters that are pre-mitered are available.

These use a special adhesive at the joint. Additionally, pre-cut slots under the counter serve to hold connector bolts, which are then fitted into slots that have been pre-cut. The two pieces are then joined together, and the joint is fastened securely.

Make your cutouts using a jigsaw that is fit with a down-cutting blade (the teeth are set to cut on the downward motion of the blade to avoid chipping out the laminate). A belt sander is can be used to sand and scribe the back edges of the counter to the wall and the joint covered with wood, laminate or tile splash. These kits come with comprehensive instructions and are readily available at larger home centers and lumberyards, either in stock or by special order.