durable, easy to clean, and attractive, plasticlaminate countertops are popular for a reason. if yours could use an update, you can replacethem yourself in a single day. all you need are some basics tools, supplies,and a little elbow grease. here’s what you’ll need for this intermediate-levelproject: when taking on this diy task be sure to equipyourself with the proper safety gear. throughout the video, we’ll alert you regardingwhen you should and should not use the safety gear. step 1: measure for new counterstart by sketching your countertop layout. measure the length of each cabinet run.
if a run ends at an exposed cabinet side ratherthan a wall, add three-fourths of an inch for an overhang. if a counter meets a freestanding appliance,such as a stove or refrigerator, subtract one-sixteenth of an inch. this will allow you to easily move appliancesin and out when needed. keep in mind that standard countertops aretwenty-five inches deep. measure the depth of each cabinet to ensurethere will be at least a half-inch of overhang beyond drawer fronts. step 2: prepare kitchenremove cabinet drawers so you can easily access
screws in your existing countertop. while it’s possible to work around largekitchen appliances, it’s best to remove them if you can. you’ll also need to remove your sink. for more detailed information about how todo this, view our “how to replace a kitchen sink†project. step 3: remove old countertop and backsplashcountertops are typically screwed to blocks in cabinet corners. check under your countertops to see how they’reattached to your cabinets, then remove any
fasteners and pull them out. if necessary, use a pry bar to remove thebacksplash with the rest of the counter. step 4: lay out hole for sinksome new sinks include a template for a sink hole. if yours does not, turn the sink upside downand trace around it. we recommend placing the counter in placeover cabinets to measure and cut a hole for your sink. find the center of the cabinets where yoursink will be located and mark the location. transfer to your new countertop and placethe sink so it’s centered on the mark.
use painter’s tape to mark the outer edgeof the sink. remove the sink and measure the width of thesink lip to determine the proper cut line. use a marker and carpenter’s square to markthe cut line around the sink. make sure you’re precise, since you canonly make this cut once. step 5: cut holeplace the counter on sawhorses, and drill a half-inch starter hole. a nail punch can help with this. another option is to start with a smallerbit and work your way up to a half-inch drill bit.
once your starter hole’s in place, cut thehole for the sink with a jigsaw equipped with a laminate blade. when the sink cutout begins to vibrate, holdit in position by driving two or three drywall screws into the gap left by the saw cut. step 6: attach counterpush the counter flush against the wall. if your cabinets have corner blocks, attachthe countertops with one and one-fourth-inch drywall screws, driving them through the blocksinto the build-up strips. if the corner blocks are thicker wood or particleboard,use drywall screws one inch longer than the thickness of the corner blocks.
at mitered connections, align the two sidesand install miter bolts. your project is complete! step back and admire your beautiful new countertops.