Yesterday, I obtained a giant challenge completed in my studio. The lengthy DIY countertop made with laminate flooring is completed! That was a frightening challenge, and I’m so glad to have it checked off of my listing.
What made it daunting was the size. That countertop is nearly 20 toes lengthy, and it took me endlessly to give you a plan to cowl that 20-foot span whereas not spending a fortune. The entire 20-foot countertop value about $300, and I’m so pleased with the way it turned out!
I can’t get the entire countertop in a single image (a minimum of not proper now with the work tables in the way in which), however right here’s a have a look at how the countertop turned out.
I’ll need to take photos later within the day when gentle isn’t streaming by means of these entrance home windows, however that should do for now. Doesn’t that look so good?! Particularly for a $300 countertop! And the method as actually fairly easy. So let me begin in the beginning and present you ways I made this countertop.
I began out by chopping a single layer of three/4-inch plywood to suit on prime of the cupboards. Since I used to be utilizing MDF, I had the items minimize at Dwelling Depot. MDF is basically heavy, and I don’t like having to raise and minimize these massive items myself, so I allow them to do the heavy lifting for me. 🙂 I had them minimize the MDF to my completed countertop depth minus 1/2 inch, which is the thickness of the laminate flooring I’d be utilizing.
I’ll have to indicate you these subsequent steps on the opposite countertop within the studio, however the course of was the identical on each.
I began on the entrance and labored my technique to the again. So beginning on the entrance, I used my desk noticed to chop strips of the laminate flooring (I used this Capistrano Beach Oak laminate flooring from LL Flooring) in order that it match the thickness of the MDF (3/4 inch on the lengthy countertop) with a 45-degree mitered edge on prime. After which I hooked up these strips utilizing wooden glue and 18-guage end nails. Right here’s a view of that piece from the entrance…
That prime mitered edge doesn’t present from the entrance, however right here’s a view of the again aspect of that piece. Hopefully you may see how the highest edge is mitered at 45 levels.
And for those who couldn’t see it within the image above, hopefully you may see the highest mitered edges on the nook of this countertop or the place that entrance piece meets the wall.
As soon as the entrance items have been hooked up, I minimize the items that might be hooked up to the highest to complete off that entrance piece. Once more utilizing my desk noticed, I minimize them in order that the flat bottom of those items was 3/4 inch huge, and these additionally had a 45-degree mitered edge.
After which I hooked up these in order that the 2 mitered edges met and gave the looks of a strong entrance piece of wooden. I glued and nailed these items on in the identical method I did the entrance items.
As soon as these two items have been hooked up, that is what it regarded like…
Once more, remember that the photographs I confirmed above of the steps I took on the entrance edge have been all photos of the opposite countertop within the room, and on that countertop, I used a double thickness of three/4 MDF as the bottom for the countertop. That might have made the completed countertop two inches thick, which is just too thick for my style, so I solely used one thickness of three/4 MDF as the bottom for the lengthy countertop, making the completed countertop 1 1/4 inches. That regarded significantly better.
So the remainder of the steps I’ll present you on the precise 20-foot countertop that I completed. Though, the remainder of the steps are extremely easy.
I began by utilizing my desk noticed to chop off the tongue and groove edges of each piece of flooring. Why? As a result of most laminate flooring or prefinished flooring has apparent grooves between the boards whenever you put them collectively the right method (i.e., utilizing the tongue and groove on the boards). Even when they don’t look apparent whenever you’re looking for flooring, they’ll be apparent whenever you attempt to use them for a countertop. So I simply ran every board by means of my desk noticed twice and minimize off the tongue and groove on all sides.
After which I stuffed within the countertop space, beginning on the entrance and dealing my technique to the again, with the trimmed items. It was like placing collectively a quite simple puzzle made for a 3-year-old. 😀 Among the items needed to be minimize to size utilizing my miter noticed, and the very again row needed to be ripped on the desk noticed to suit the remaining area. However aside from that, it was extremely simple.
As soon as I had the items match collectively and the countertop fully coated, I eliminated the items row by row and numbered the backs in order that I’d know which row to position every bit, and which order to put in them. After which, utilizing a 6-inch curler, I utilized two coats of Contact Cement to the again of every piece, letting the primary coat dry totally earlier than making use of the second.
With these flooring boards positioned apart to dry, I utilized two coats of Contact Cement to the MDF, letting the primary coat dry totally earlier than making use of the second.
As soon as the Contact Cement was dry on the MDF, I started placing my massive puzzle again collectively, beginning on the entrance and dealing my technique to the wall. Placing the whole lot again collectively took about fifteen minutes, if even that lengthy. It was so fast and straightforward.
As I put every bit in place, I pressed it down (particularly specializing in the corners) as laborious as I might to ensure it was making good contact with the MDF and sticking correctly. After which as soon as all the boards have been in place, I went again and pressed the whole lot down another time. If I had a flooring curler, this is able to have been an excellent use for it.
At that time, it regarded fairly good, nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t completed.
Since all the items had been minimize on the desk noticed and miter noticed, they didn’t match collectively completely. I imply, they have been a superb match, however not an ideal match. Among the boards had tiny cracks between them like this…
So I took a scrap piece of the flooring to Dwelling Depot and had them colour match the darkest colour within the flooring as intently as doable, after which I introduced that residence and blended a few of that paint into latex caulk.
I had them match the darkest colour within the flooring as a result of the white of the caulk would lighten the colour as soon as it was blended.
After which I used my most trusted and most used software ever (my finger) and stuffed within the cracks with the coloured caulk. You’ll be able to see one of many little cracks alongside the entrance fringe of the countertop within the photograph under. This was earlier than caulking.
I simply smeared it on with my finger, ensuring that I pressed it down into the crack…
After which after I wiped off the surplus with a moist rag, it regarded significantly better! No extra darkish crack.
I’ll in all probability return and do a second coat as a result of I believe including the latex paint to the caulk made the caulk shrink greater than regular because it dried. However that shall be a fast and straightforward course of.
I’m so happy with how this countertop turned out! And I can’t imagine I made a 20-foot-long countertop for round $300. I don’t assume you may beat that! 😀
Once more, I’ll need to take higher photos later within the day when the solar isn’t coming by means of these home windows so instantly, however I believe you may see it properly sufficient even with the solar.
This truly exceeded my expectations, and was a lot simpler to make than the pantry countertop that I made utilizing actual hardwood flooring that had the be fully sanded and completed as soon as the boards have been put in. With this, all that was wanted after the boards have been put in was a little bit little bit of caulking. You’ll be able to’t beat that!
And now…lastly…I get to place the higher cupboards in place on both finish of this countertop and canopy up the areas that haven’t any wallpaper. You might discover that the very again nook on every finish doesn’t have a bit of flooring hooked up.
That’s as a result of I used to be actually one flooring board in need of protecting each counter tops, and there was completely no method I used to be going to buy one other full package deal of this flooring only for one further board, so I simply made positive the uncovered areas could be instantly under the higher cupboards. 😀 I’ll discover another 1/2-inch materials to fill in these areas earlier than setting the higher cupboards in place.
Now that the countertop is completed, the subsequent steps shall be placing collectively the higher cupboards and trimming these out, trimming out the underside cupboards, and ending {the electrical} retailers within the backs of the cupboards. I’ve already obtained one outlet in place, however I’ve three to go. After which the scary half. I’ve to chop 3-inch holes within the countertop for the countertop grommet retailers. Yikes! That’s scary to me, nevertheless it must be accomplished if I would like quick access to electrical retailers on this wall.
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and enhance the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You’ll be able to study extra about me right here.