| Installing a Countertop |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-110 |
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Q: How hard is it to install a countertop? A: (Brad Staggs, Ask DIY Home Repair expert) It's not difficult, it's just hard work. The nice thing is that there are so many countertops available these days. Of course, if you want solid surfacing, you will have to have a professional come in and measure and install it for you. But the laminated countertops they're putting out these days do a great job of mimicking the solid surfacing. You're going to be impressed with them. And installation is just a matter of following these steps: - Take out the sink first, following the instructions available in a previous episode (105) of Ask DIY (click here ) to disconnect the plumbing.
- Use kraft paper to trace the shape of the hole that remains when you take out the sink. Cut out the shape to use later.
- Take out any drawers beneath the counter.
- Remove the screws in the brackets that rest in the corners of the sink hole ( figure A) and the drawer slots.
- If your counter is attached with a caulk bead where the backsplash meets the wall, cut the caulk with a utility knife, all the way around.
- With a friend's help, lift the old countertop off and away.
Working smarter: If you purchase a darker countertop, the mitering seams won't be as obvious. - Have the home-improvement store where you purchase the counter cut it to size and cut the "L" for the corner on the proper 45-degree angle. Also have them clamp the two pieces together at the corner (figure B) so that all you have to do is set the countertop down and cut the hole for the sink.
- Lift your new countertop into place.
- Replace the screws in the brackets in the corners beneath the sink and drawer holes.
- Trace the kraft paper pattern of your old sink hole onto the countertop in the same space.
- Cut the new sink hole in the countertop, using a jigsaw (figure C).
Safety alert: When using a jigsaw, make sure you wear safety glasses. Nobody's perfect: If your new backsplash is lower than your old one, you'll need to sand and paint the exposed wall. - Apply a bead of caulking around the rim where the backsplash meets the wall.
- Reinstall your sink.
More questions for Brad: Q: What's the difference between solid and laminated countertops? A: Solid surfacing means the material your countertop is made of is solid all the way through. It can refer to anything from granite to marble to any of the new poured countertops. A laminate countertop basically has a piece of plastic glued--or laminated--to a piece of wood. The solid surface costs around $100 more per square foot. Q: If I wanted to install the countertop myself but I'm scared to cut it, will the home-improvement store do that for me? A: If you're going to go to the trouble to install the countertop yourself, take the money you would have paid to have someone else cut the sink hole and buy a jigsaw. Practice on some scrap wood and then cut the hole yourself! Q: I have a countertop in my garage and now it's warping. Is there any way to prevent this, or how can I fix it? A: If you have a laminated countertop, once that particleboard gets wet, it turns into oatmeal, essentially. I would recommend that you just go ahead and replace it, maybe with some painted plywood.
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