Replace kitchen countertop
Remodelling a kitchen can be costly. Yet even in today’s economic environment, it is one of the most efficient ways to add value to your entire home. And thanks to Formica LifeSeal countertop options, you can get the high-end look of granite, soapstone, marble or agate countertops - along with great durability - at a very affordable price.
Since the 60's, kitchen countertops have been practical without being inspiring. Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of Formica countertops that mimic the look and feel of high-end materials to create an illusion of depth, texture and sparkle that had traditionally been impossible to achieve in a man-made material.
Combining a substrate or core of High Moisture Resistance (HMR) grade BisonBord and surface of Formica HPL, Formica LifeSeal Worktops merges the durability and strength of its two constituent components to create versatile work surfaces.
Formica LifeSeal Worktops are further enhanced by the addition of a backing material applied to the exposed underside of the top that protects from moisture. Formica LifeSeal Worktops are an excellent choice for work surfaces in places, like the kitchen, where hygiene is of utmost importance.
Remove a kitchen countertop
Removing a scratched and dated countertop is as easy as unscrewing and lifting off. Kitchen countertops are normally screwed to the top of the cabinets and can be unscrewed from inside the cabinet. Where glue has been applied you will have to prise the top off the cabinet.
If the wall is tiled above your old worktop, you will need to cut through the silicone seal or scrape away the grout along the base of the tiles in order to break the joint.
Install a new countertop
Take measurements for the new countertop and have this cut and edged at your local Builders Warehouse. New countertops are wrapped to prevent them from being scratched, and are supplied complete with a strip for edging the ends.
Any holes for hob or sink, etc. you will have to cut out yourself. It's not that difficult to do and a Bosch Jigsaw - fitted with a clean-cut blade - will do the job easily. Take careful measurements for cut outs, as incorrect measurements can mean that a cut out can be too big and there is no way to fix this.
DIY Tip
If possible, try to use the old countertops to transfer cut out measurements onto the new tops.
Cutting out
Mark the cut outs on the countertop with a pencil and use a sharp craft knife or tile scorer to go over the mark a few times to score through the surface of the laminate. This will assist in reducing chipping around the cut line. Use a 10mm wood bit to make a hole inside the marked area to insert the jigsaw blade.
Position the countertop
Set the new countertop in place and attach by screwing from the underside of the cabinet into the countertop.