Do It Yourself Counter tops

[Stimw]

I recently posted about RTA Cabinets (ready to assemble) and found them online and have them installed now in my total kitchen remodel.
I started pricing counter tops and found they want STUPID money for the granite/quartz/solid surface.
I needed 90 sq ft total and the cheapest was some thinner stuff for $3500. What I really liked was $7800.00 !!!!!
I then looked at Formica/Laminate, them fabricate, i install- $2000. They fabricate and install- $2600.
I started watching laminate u-tube videos (there are a bunch of them) and I jumped right in!
I bought the laminate online, 5 sheets of partical board,gal of contact cement- Lowe's and a Router and Belt Sander- HF.
Total was under $600.00 !!!
I had to move into my shop because the board was sagging from the heat outside.
The 3 pieces turned out perfect so if you have some skills watch the videos and jump right in!
Plus I now have a Router and Belt Sander! I don't think the other guys would have given me those!

 

[deanocraft]

Those look good. Nice job!

 

[SJay]

Looks really nice - I love the orange saw horse in the background :laughing:. Make sure you file or sand the bottom edge of the face- it can be as sharp as a razor, I also touch the top edge where it meets the face edge - I lightly file that also, removes any sharp 90's

 

[MossRoad]

When my father built his own house, he went with Formica and did it himself. Of course, that was back in the late 50's, so it looked like this.... :laughing: Orange boomerang pattern.... still a classic!

 

[SandburRanch]

Excellent Stimw.

I have a sis that lives in a million dollar house. She had her kitchen re-done with Formica when the house was purchased. Said she would never have anything else for ease of use and care no matter what the trend was.

Ours is 33 years old and needs replaced. The areas on each side of the range was not too good for that sticky feeling because the wife cooks with a full throttle fire. Nothing in the normal cleaning market would seem to remove the residue so out from the shop comes drastic tools for drastic measures. WD-40 and 0000 steel wool, removes 33 years of stuff nothing else would touch. The Formica once again looks like new and smooth as glass in that area.

 

[aircommuter]

I like the natural look of granite, but I couldn't afford the labor prices. I bought 3-5' x10' sheets of granite slabs from
India and made a roller bearing frame for my worm drive saw and a some tubing for water. Then I used two pieces of 1"x2" tubing with rubber glued on the bottom as guides for cutting. I bought a diamond wheel and a set of diamond pads in several grits. All together about $2500.00. Check out the photos.
The next ones I did in my houseboat, but I needed to keep the weight down so I used solid surface(acrylic) calle Topstone, colors match close to Corian. Much easire than the granite but no as durable or nice looking.

 

[dragoneggs]

Stimw, nice job... like the range hood too.

aircommuter, that was an ambitious job! Not sure I have the patience for all the sanding to get the cut edges to a polished state!

 

[aircommuter]

Most of my work is the work of a crazy man! I used teak for the cabinets with the granite and natural cherry for the other ones. That was a bit of work in itself.

 

[Stimw]

Looks really nice - I love the orange saw horse in the background :laughing:. Make sure you file or sand the bottom edge of the face- it can be as sharp as a razor, I also touch the top edge where it meets the face edge - I lightly file that also, removes any sharp 90's

Watching all the u-tube videos really helped and they covered filing and sanding both edges.
When I moved the 6' X 6' island counter in the house I didn't have any help so that orange (Red really) saw horse came in handy!
I bubble wrapped one edge and slid it in the house, not fun.

 

[fried1765]

I recently posted about RTA Cabinets (ready to assemble) and found them online and have them installed now in my total kitchen remodel.
I started pricing counter tops and found they want STUPID money for the granite/quartz/solid surface.
I needed 90 sq ft total and the cheapest was some thinner stuff for $3500. What I really liked was $7800.00 !!!!!
I then looked at Formica/Laminate, them fabricate, i install- $2000. They fabricate and install- $2600.
I started watching laminate u-tube videos (there are a bunch of them) and I jumped right in!
I bought the laminate online, 5 sheets of partical board,gal of contact cement- Lowe's and a Router and Belt Sander- HF.
Total was under $600.00 !!!
I had to move into my shop because the board was sagging from the heat outside.
The 3 pieces turned out perfect so if you have some skills watch the videos and jump right in!
Plus I now have a Router and Belt Sander! I don't think the other guys would have given me those!

I really like the electrical work,.... over by the fridge!