How to Install Plastic Laminate Kitchen Countertops

Home improvement expert Danny Lipford shows you the steps involved in installing plastic laminate kitchen countertops held together with miter bolts.

How to Install Plastic Laminate Kitchen Countertops Danny: Jen and Jasen have completed just about all of the painting on the outside of the cabinets. So, we can move forward with the installation of our great looking countertop. Hey, it looks a little expensive but actually it is one of the most reasonably price countertops that are available these days and it’s called a plastic laminate post-form top. Now, we were able to buy it from a counter supply company, they actually have a fabrication shop. It did a lot of the work for us. Now, this is a small section of countertop. They were putting on one of the newer cabinets that we’ve installed next to the stow and you can see how well it mimics natural stone from the profile on the front to the profile on the backsplash and the material the homeowner selected here, kind of a combination of a matt and a little of a gloss finish width texture. It’s hard to tell that it’s not natural stone. Male: Now, fabrication also include cutting out the hole for the sink so that we’re ready to drop it right into place, sent it over the window, plumbing right here and also included, cutting on a minor cut. And what we’re going to do with that, that’s where we put the two countertops together. If you look here on the back, the small piece, you’ll see this four little sections and this will actually accept in my revolt. This is what happens. Mirror it on the other side, this catches the other piece. As you tighten it, it brings it in and senses those two seams together. Danny: And normally, you would put the countertop pieces together crawl into the cabinet to attach it together same way you do at your sink. You put your sink in placed and hook up all your plumbing but we found a nice little trick we learned years ago and assemble as much as we can before the countertop is in place. So, we first move the counter outside with a room for Allen to show Jasen how to install the sink. Stainless still sink simply drop into the cutout area and then clips are added from below to lock them in place. But first, we need to seal around the parameter with caulk so spills can’t leak through then the sink goes in and the clips are tight. You can see how much easier this is to do before the counter is installed. Now, he’s back inside to add the faucet, another job that’s much easier if you’re not lying on your back inside the cabinet. For the most part, all of the plumbing except for the final connections of the water supply lines and drain pipes can be done on the floor which is much more comfortable. But when Allen and Jasen dropped this piece, they realized that while it will go in okay, they won’t be adding the other piece of countertop until this one is in placed, just as enough clearance. So, Allen applies colored matte sealer to the inside of the—joint before feeding the two pieces together. Then with Jasen keeping the pieces lined up, to begin clamping them together with the motor bolt. It’s important that the two pieces remain flashed on the top side as you tighten them up below. Obviously, this would have been much easier if they have done it on the floor but Allen’s under counter acrobatics have saved the day this time.