How to laminate countertops. Do-it-yourself tabletop made of chipboard (MDF) with plastic coating
On holidays, mothers and grandmothers have to spin in the kitchen all day long. The case is argued faster if everything is at hand. And everything is at hand when the cutting table, stove and sink are conveniently located and united by a wide one-piece table top.
Today we have heard about kitchen islands”, covered with marble or granite slabs. At furniture exhibitions and with friends, they touched countertops made of artificial cast stone, saw mosaic lining. Everyone knows countertops made of laminated chipboard with their undeniable advantages. But there is a better idea. A solid countertop can be built from non-laminated chipboard or MDF and covered with sheet decorative plastic. It's not as difficult as it seems. It is worth trying to get the perfect exclusive.
Choosing plastic for the manufacture of countertops
On sale there are also plexiglass with its tempting transparency (we do not recommend it, it will quickly be scratched) and PVC sheets (harder than PVC linoleum). There is also a decorative paper-laminated material HPL (high pressure laminates - laminate high pressure very popular with furniture makers), and decorative cladding from high-impact polystyrene, and plastics based on polycarbonate ... The choice, as always, is based on the study of properties, and is determined by the availability and circumstances of use. Theoretically, it is even possible to use a homogeneous PVC floor covering, but in our case, the cladding is made of HPL.
The advantages of such a homemade countertop
The proposed technology has two advantages. Firstly, it is possible to create a completely seamless front surface even at an angle working area- with chipboard to achieve such an effect will not work. Secondly, the decorative range of sheet plastics is generally incommensurably wider than that of finished laminated worktops. In addition to monochromatic articles and traditional decor imitating wood or a natural stone different breeds, unexpected geometric patterns, animal prints and textile motifs are offered. Install the countertop yourself and feel a pleasant sense of pride in your work!
On a note:
When processing the countertop and the upper edge of the apron, the guide of the router will move along the laminate, while it is very important that the tool does not stop. Stopping, the cutter will go deeper into the laminate. To avoid damage, you can lubricate the edge of the surface with technical vaseline.
Table top - drawing
1. Sheet plastic. 2. The basis from a chipboard. 3. Apron. 4. Side pad
5. Groove. 6. Backing rails. 7. End finish.
Do-it-yourself tabletop - work progress in the photo
1. Cut to size necessary details from chipboard (apron, countertop, lining), fasten them. The master did this with a construction stapler, staples 0.6 cm long 3 cm at a distance of 12.5 cm from each other - no glue is required in this case.
2. The standard sink hole is 54 x 82 cm. But maybe you have a different one? Before grabbing the tool, measure its dimensions and draw an outline with a pencil.
3. The surfaces of the chipboard base pieces may be at slightly different heights, but the joint must be perfect. Put a few strokes on the joint with a pencil and work it with sandpaper until the pencil marks disappear.
4. Prepare the end cladding. The strips should be made a little longer so that after installation they are carefully cut to the desired size. Cut them so that there is enough laminate left to make a one-piece L-shaped main part.
5. The main part of the cladding can be cut with a grinder or circular saw. Since the leading edge of a laminated worktop will still need to be sanded, the cut lines don't have to be perfect.
6. The lower edge and the very top of the side trim must be even, so that they can only be processed by grinding. Glue the trim and secure it with a few light strokes of a smooth mallet - ready for trimming.
7. This part will have to be marked in place and probably cut off. To prevent the laminate from cracking, make short cuts - no more than 0.7 cm at a time. Sand the edge.
8. Position the end cap flush with the bottom edge of the countertop base and tap the plastic in place with a hammer. Then remove the excess with a milling cutter.
9. It will not be easy to carefully apply glue to the backsplash after laying the laminate on the countertop, so coat the backsplash with glue at the same time as the base.
10. Use dividers when laying laminate flooring. Having set the sheet in the desired position, begin to remove the separators from under it. Please note: the linings must be clean so that there are no specks under the lining.
11. To smooth the surface, use a towel-wrapped bar instead of a roller. Start at the back and work your way to the front edge.
12. Facing inner corner apron before installation, process with scissors for metal (small cuts). Tap with a hammer and smooth with a bar. The facing of the countertop should also be approached with a hammer.
13. Use a router to cut a hole for the sink. Simply pierce the material with a rotating drill and work your way to the edge. Closer to the end of the work, substitute something under the cut piece of laminate so that it does not fall down.
14. After assembly, sand all edges (movements should be from top to bottom, not back and forth). Remove excess glue with a solvent.
It is possible to cut the end cladding with metal scissors, but it is difficult. Ideally, evenly it will turn out only with a certain skill. You can use a ready-made end tape, or get a special tool. The laminate cutting machine comes with a guide for making strips with a width of 1.25 to 11 cm. A router will also help.
It is convenient to cut the tabletop cladding from HPL sheets with a circular saw. Place a board under the sheet so as not to touch the saw with the floor. Apply masking tape to the bottom surface of the saw base to avoid scratching the laminate.
HPL glue is highly toxic, be sure to wear a respirator, keep a window open, and turn on a fan. Glue is applied to both surfaces to be joined (clean them thoroughly beforehand). Apply glue around the perimeter with a brush, and then spread the laminate over the rest of the area with a trim of the laminate.
Laminate adhesive sets instantly; once two smeared surfaces touch, they can no longer be separated. And it is difficult to accurately and accurately lay a large flexible sheet. Cut the rest of the laminate into strips and use them as separators so you can move the laminate sheet over them.
If you are replacing a countertop on factory-assembled tables (pedestals), then the chipboard base will need to be raised. Use slats as linings or cut 1.9 cm thick chipboard blocks. Then the top drawers will not touch the countertop. Instead of linings, install a board at the junction of two tables.
The material and surface from which the countertop is made must be:
Moisture resistant.
Shockproof.
Wear resistant.
Heat resistant.
Eco-friendly.
Therefore, the choice is hampered by the selection of the optimal ratio of these qualities, and its cost plays an important role.
Currently, most kitchen countertops are made from laminated chipboard (postforming), solid wood and stone.
Worktop made of laminated chipboard
The method of obtaining a product as a result of facing chipboard (chipboard) is called postforming. This method makes it possible to cover wood boards any material. The most widely used veneer is laminates made from paper-based multilayer plastics. The peculiarity of such a coating is that it goes around the slab, making the upper edge rounded.
Postformed slabs are inexpensive and have received wide application in the furniture industry. The surface of the worktop with a plastic laminate does not absorb moisture, is resistant to abrasive substances, detergents and cleaners, heat-resistant, able to withstand impacts from falling heavy objects. The plastic surface can be of any color shades, imitate the structure of wood or natural stone.
Table tops are available standard size 60×3050 mm and various thicknesses 28, 32 and 38 mm. Easy to process, which is very convenient when self-manufacturing kitchen furniture. The plate can be adjusted to required dimensions, make cutouts for installing the sink and under hob. Chipboard boards do not have moisture resistance, therefore important condition during operation, is the protection of the end surfaces from the ingress of liquids. There are many ways to protect, from gluing with edge tape to processing with silicone sealant.
The main advantage of these countertops is their high price.
Wooden table top
A large solid solid board, over time, warps heavily. Therefore, for the manufacture of countertops, furniture panels are used, which are assembled from separate boards. Boards must be taken from hardwood.
Wood is very susceptible to the influence of temperature and humidity. A tightly fixed countertop may soon begin to crack, to avoid this, it must be fixed by a floating method.
The wooden table top is ecological and gives stylish design kitchen furniture, but its surface is very sensitive to mechanical damage and hot items. Minor damage can be easily repaired by sanding sandpaper, but the surface requires constant care, polishing and coating with special water-repellent compounds. In addition, the purchase furniture panels from natural wood is costly.
Stone countertops for the kitchen
Stone countertops have many advantages. They are durable, do not absorb moisture and odors, and are not affected by fungal bacteria. The surface is easy to clean with any detergents and cleaners. Granite and basalt are used for the manufacture of countertops for the kitchen. Marble is less suitable for the kitchen, because of the porous structure, stains from coffee and other liquids remain on it.
Along with natural stone, artificial, acrylic and agglomerated stone is used for the manufacture of countertops. According to its characteristics artificial stones no worse than natural.
Countertops from acrylic stone can have different colors and a monolithic surface of any configuration and size. The disadvantage of acrylic stone is intolerance to hot objects, and it is easy to scratch, but they are also easily removed. A common disadvantage of stone countertops is their high cost, the inability to change the dimensions of the finished countertop on their own at home. They are made only to order with strict compliance with the specified dimensions.
If kitchen furniture it is installed thoroughly and for a long time, the stone countertop surpasses all others in its characteristics, and justifies its cost.
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Kitchen worktops are not only purely household "structures", they are also important element decor, as they take up enough space in the kitchen to get the most attention. Therefore, it is extremely important that the countertop looks aesthetically pleasing and harmonizes with common style kitchen design. One of the most popular options today is a laminate countertop - this type of countertop has many advantages, and the disadvantages observed in any material in this case really minor and easily overcome.
Benefits of laminate countertops
When we are talking about such kitchen equipment as a worktop, the main requirement is perfect combination practicality and visual appeal. And the laminate worktop in this regard is simply ideal solution. One of the main advantages of this material is its versatility. Manufacturers offer such a wide range of laminate design that you can full confidence argue that this material is suitable for absolutely any style of interior and can be perfectly combined with all materials used to decorate the kitchen.
Often the best option it seems to use marble or granite countertops in the interior. But buying such countertops is quite expensive. In addition, their installation also requires a fairly careful approach and in many cases is not complete without the help of a specialist. And the weight of such countertops can be quite significant, which is also not always suitable for consumers. And the way out of this situation can be the use of a laminate countertop, which imitates in its own way appearance a natural stone. At the same time, manufacturers of such countertops guarantee that even upon closer examination, the visual effect will not disappear, and only the most attentive eye will be able to determine that in front of him is not a stone, but a laminate - the natural pattern of the stone is so successfully repeated, which includes spots of excellent shade and veins. In addition, the laminate has several other important advantages, thanks to which it has become the most popular material for making countertops today:
- prices for laminate countertops with any pattern are quite affordable - laminate is considered one of the cheapest materials used to make countertops;
- Laminate flooring is extremely easy to care for. You just need to wipe the surface of the countertop daily with a soft cloth, and in most cases it is enough to use warm water. Especially "durable" stains are easily removed with non-aggressive detergents;
- laminate is considered quite durable and durable material. Subject to all the rules for caring for him and the exclusion of factors that may have negative impact on a laminate, such a countertop will easily serve you up to 10 years, delighting with its external originality.
Disadvantages of laminate countertops
Speaking about the minuses of the laminate, it is impossible not to note the following nuances:
- Laminate does not tolerate interaction with hot objects. If you put a frying pan or pot that has just been taken off the fire on such a countertop, then a stain will remain on its surface, which will be impossible to remove. So in such cases it is better to use the wooden or plastic coasters under hot dishes, which every housewife has. Also, do not install on a laminated surface and burning candles without a special stand. Please note that damage caused by hot objects will require the laminate to be repaired, and this is a rather complicated process;
- If the surface of the laminated worktop is constantly exposed to moisture, then over time it will begin to exfoliate and swell. So try to immediately remove spilled water and do not leave the countertop wet after cleaning;
- Another disadvantage of a laminated worktop can be remembered by those who bought such equipment for the kitchen a few years ago and were dissatisfied with the seams visible on its surface. But it is worth noting that modern methods production allow to produce countertops, the seams on which are completely invisible.
As you can see, there are not so many disadvantages of a laminated countertop, and elementary observance of the rules for operating this material will help to cope with them.
Choice of laminate countertops
When buying a laminate countertop, first of all, you need to pay attention to its dimensions. The standard thickness of the countertop is 3.8 cm. But some manufacturers can custom-make a thicker countertop. This is especially important if you choose a countertop with imitation of natural stone - a large thickness further enhances the visual effect.
Another important parameter is the protrusion of the countertop on the side. Usually it is 3.5 - 4 cm, but you can pick up a countertop with a large ledge. True, here it is necessary to take into account that if this parameter of the countertop exceeds 15 cm, then it will need to be “supported” with the help of additional elements.
And finally, when buying a countertop, pay attention to its edge. It must be neatly framed. There can be many options here - from an ordinary plastic edge to a tape made of of stainless steel, wood or even fabric, in harmony in color with the laminated surface of the tabletop.
The most used material in order to make furniture with your own hands is chipboard, or laminate. This is a chipboard coated on one or both sides with veneer varnish.
Laminate can be used for the manufacture of various types of furniture, including wardrobes.
The properties of this material allow it to be used for a wide variety of types of furniture: from the kitchen to the living room furnishings. Positive properties of laminate:
- it withstands elevated temperatures;
- on sale there are moisture-resistant samples of laminated chipboard;
- has a great color scheme with a huge variety of shades;
- easy to process;
- can withstand heavy loads, which allows it to be used as a finishing material;
- The price of chipboard is quite affordable.
Has the following disadvantages:
- it is impossible to create figured parts from laminate;
- when water enters, the non-moisture-resistant type of this material is deformed (swells).
Before using chipboard to create furniture with your own hands, you need to take into account some of the nuances of working with it. The main thing is to cut the material so as not to damage its varnish coating. You can do it yourself, but since the sheets have big sizes, then bringing them into the apartment, laying and processing is quite difficult. To get rid of this problem, you need to contact a special company that, according to the drawings you brought, will qualitatively cut the material on the appropriate equipment and process the ends of the parts.
When drilling the plate, it must be placed on a solid surface and pressed firmly - this reduces the number of chips during processing.
Chipboard is sold on any construction market or in stores of the same profile. The accessories and accessories needed to create furniture can be purchased there. For fixing parts homemade furniture you can use the following components:
- plastic or metal squares;
- screws or screws.
Plastic corners are available different colors, which makes it possible to accurately match them to the colors of home-made furniture. On the construction market, you can also buy special screws for furniture sets.
To process chipboard, you will need a tool - an electric drill with a set of drills and a cutter. A set of screwdrivers will come in handy, and if you have the opportunity, you can purchase a screwdriver - this will save time.
How to make laminate furniture?
To do this, first draw up a drawing of a future object or headset (for example, a kitchen). Then draw on sheets of whatman paper individual parts with all sizes. If you do this business, then you can take ready-made drawings, but then you will need to link them to the size of your apartment.
After the completion of this work in the construction market, they buy desired material, fittings, accessories and fasteners to make laminate furniture. Specialists will cut the laminated chipboard according to the dimensions indicated on your drawings.
When creating future furniture, all the details must be arranged in the order of their assembly. Sheets of material, fasteners and other parts are laid on one side of the workplace, and working and marking tools on the other. Such an arrangement of the workplace allows you to significantly speed up the assembly process and not waste time searching for the right details or tools.
If you need markings on the details of the laminate with your own hands, then use a tape measure and a pencil. IN right places future holes are marked on the surface of the material. They should be at a distance of 5-6 cm from the edge of the sheet, and their location in height depends on the number of shelves in the cabinet. If special screws for furniture are used during assembly, then a drill with a diameter of 8-8.5 mm is used to drown their heads in the material, and for the threaded part - 6-6.2 mm.
To avoid distortions, the correctness of the right angles of the assembled walls of the product is checked with a metal square.
All cabinet parts are twisted together according to the drawings. If you need to install back wall, then it is cut out the right size from DVPO using a jigsaw or hacksaw. Then this sheet is either screwed to the cabinet with screws, or nailed with small nails from the back. The ends of all cabinet doors must be glued with a thin veneer, which must match the color of the base material in color.
Hinges are installed on the cabinet. If they must be recessed, then a cutter with a diameter of 32-32 mm is used to create a recess. Fittings are installed on future facades - handles and other elements. Doors are hung on cabinets, which must first be installed in place. This completes the process of creating furniture with your own hands.
The countertop is by far the most visible component of a kitchen setting, fortunately or not. Some people are lucky enough to be able to chop garlic on a custom-made island with a marble slab as a countertop that fits their idea of ideal interior. Others have to be content with the unsightly kitchen set comes from the distant 80s (or even earlier).
Due to their low cost and durability, laminated laminated or chipboard countertops are very popular with homeowners, but, unfortunately, after a while they still lose their appeal and, it seems to us, need to be replaced.
Of course, the purchase and installation of another countertop will cost a considerable amount. But you can try to update the old one yourself, giving it the desired look. Concreting in a thin layer Using special materials, you can make your old laminate countertop look new and concrete. This is a real trend last years which goes well with both classic and modern interiors.
The resulting surface will be glossy and even more resistant. In addition, the presence of countertops of different appearance and texture in one space makes the design of the kitchen voluminous and interesting.
Imitating painting under granite Stunningly high-quality imitation of a granite surface can be done using quite affordable methods. Using acrylic paints, the technique of applying paint with a sponge, and a special polymer composition like Envirotex Lite, you can turn a dull colorless countertop into an incredibly luxurious and realistic one (application blowtorch helps to increase the elasticity of the finish).
The advantage of this method is that it allows you to give the surface any color and apply to it the grooves and specks that are usually present in the structure of natural granite.
Imitation painting under natural stone To give the surface the appearance of a stone slab (which looks harder than granite), you will need all the same paint, transparent glitter (i.e. sequins) and a transparent coating.
The “before” and “after” options presented here are almost the same in color, but general impression differ enormously. The glossy finish itself looks more professional and sophisticated. It's hard to believe that this is just a laminated countertop.
Tiling If the surface is badly damaged, or if you just don't like the option of painting, you can resort to another simple, but effective way design updates.
Compared to completely replacing a countertop, tiling doesn't seem like such an expensive undertaking. In addition, the variety of shapes and colors of this material on the market allows you to create almost any image.
The laying process, as in the case of other surfaces, is quite simple. Just remember that for facing the side faces of the countertop, you need to choose tiles with rounded chamfers.
Do not rush to pass judgment on your old tabletop, because there are many ways to bring it to the ideal form. We are happy to tell you about the simplest and most interesting ones today.
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