Laminate Countertop Repair, or Replacement Q's

[meburdick]

Hi, all.

I have a laminate countertop in the kitchen that got damaged when something was cut directly on it. There are three distinct cuts in the material that form three sides of a square. While the cuts are very shallow, they ARE visible at many angles.

I've read about a repair paste and am wondering if it's worth trying out. It will have to be color matched, and my luck is good here as the color is solid (no patterns or anything).

If I attempt something like that (or not) and it doesn't work as I'd like, I would consider just re-laminating that section of countertop (assuming I can get the correct color in sheet form). Has anyone done this and have any tips to share?

If I can't get the correct color, then I'm on the hook to either replace both countertop sections or relaminate both sections (one would require a 5'x8' sheet to prevent seams, the other would be fine with a 3'x8' sheet). I would obviously have to re-laminate all of the edges and the backsplash.

Any general thoughts on the smart way to start down this road? I'm not looking for a full-blown remodel as the kitchen is in generally good condition.

 

[The Cobbler]

any repair will be just that. a repair. and it will probably show.
laminates are like fashions, the colours don't hang around long , and even if they do, dye lots, sheen , wear etc will probably show up like a sore thumb
are your tops post formed ( heated & rolled in a machine) or self edge ( laid in flat with square corners & seams at the edges ?
also on sizes of sheets. you will have to see whats available in matching run numbers.
common sizes are 30"x144", 48" x 96" . sometimes 60" x120" etc

 

[kd3pc]

laminates by design repel stuff sticking to them. IF you have a leftover piece of your laminate, or can get to a hidden place to test it, I would try it out. I would not just jump in the middle of a kitchen counter and hope that it will work.

If you know the maker, I would start with contacting them and see what they would have suggested.

I absolutely hate the "heat transfer adhesive" edges and have found that no matter how it is attached, that edge will release.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have done some repairs by installing flush mounted cutting boards. but they (IMO) look like a repair and look cheap...

 

[meburdick]

any repair will be just that. a repair. and it will probably show.
laminates are like fashions, the colours don't hang around long , and even if they do, dye lots, sheen , wear etc will probably show up like a sore thumb
are your tops post formed ( heated & rolled in a machine) or self edge ( laid in flat with square corners & seams at the edges ?
also on sizes of sheets. you will have to see whats available in matching run numbers.
common sizes are 30"x144", 48" x 96" . sometimes 60" x120" etc

They are not post formed - they have 90 degree edges all around. We're talking basic stuff, what is commonly known as "contractor grade" type setup. These countertops are likely original to the house, and that means at least 30 years old. Still, the light almond color "works" and looks nice in the room.

laminates by design repel stuff sticking to them. IF you have a leftover piece of your laminate, or can get to a hidden place to test it, I would try it out. I would not just jump in the middle of a kitchen counter and hope that it will work.

If you know the maker, I would start with contacting them and see what they would have suggested.

I absolutely hate the "heat transfer adhesive" edges and have found that no matter how it is attached, that edge will release.

See point above about age... Don't have any idea how to determine actual manufacturer and such. If I were to re-laminate, it would be with full sheets, contact cement, and a router (which I will need to buy - love when projects end up allowing me to add tools to the toolbox).

 

[Parrothead]

I’d try the repair, what have you got to lose?

I would not re-laminate. It’s going to look cheap no matter how good of a job you do. I’d suggest a solid surface counter top, in either butcher block,cement, quartz or granite. If that’s not in the budget a good high definition laminate will serve your needs. That said, some of the HD laminates look pretty good and are cost effective.

30” x 144” $76

https://www.menards.com/main/p-1563258623918.htm

Solid surface countertops are no longer considered a luxury with home buyers.

 

[meburdick]

I’d try the repair, what have you got to lose?

I would not re-laminate. It’s going to look cheap no matter how good of a job you do. I’d suggest a solid surface counter top, in either butcher block,cement, quartz or granite. If that’s not in the budget a good high definition laminate will serve your needs. That said, some of the HD laminates look pretty good and are cost effective.

30” x 144” $76

https://www.menards.com/main/p-1563258623918.htm

Solid surface countertops are no longer considered a luxury with home buyers.

Yeah, I'm sort of thinking along the lines of a repair wouldn't really make it worse (although, admittedly, it could make the damage a bit more visible).

What is the link you offered for? Is that a solid surface material that could be "cut down" to suit the size I need?

EDIT: Just figured out that it's for laminate material.

 

[Bretny]

Last I checked you could get a full 8' countertop for less than $200 at the big box store. That and the countertop is 30yrs old I think it may be time.

 

[meburdick]

Last I checked you could get a full 8' countertop for less than $200 at the big box store. That and the countertop is 30yrs old I think it may be time.

There are two countertops in the kitchen, and neither is just a straight piece. I would have to have them made to fit and it could easily cost up to $1,000 or more depending on materials and such (I've priced it already) and those are for very basic ones.

Sure, they're old. But, other than these cut marks, there is nothing wrong with them including not being "out of style". The coloring on them is very light (like a cream color) and they don't -look- like 30 year old counters. So, jumping straight to a replacement scenario is hard to justify.

 

[thammel]

I'm in the process of making two full sized laminated countertops for my garage. I've never done laminate before and I will say that it is not trivial....getting the routed edges perfect is not easy. After ruining the edges I learned a trick or two. Get a larger bearing for your flush edge bit and us that first with the bearing maybe a half inch set down from the cut edge. Then follow with another flush edge bit with the proper size bearing but set it so the cutting edges of the bit are set to just cut the laminate edge...this avoids any cuts in the edge laminate.

 

[engineer2]

Simply get the granite countertops that your wife wants.

 

[meburdick]

Simply get the granite countertops that your wife wants.

Wow. You couldn't have missed the mark more with that statement. There are so many things that are incorrect... lol

 

[CraigStu]

If I wasn't happy after checking w/ specialists I'd be looking at stains or those crayons you use for wood furniture scratches. I am thinking that if you can get the color closer just by working something into the scratch it will make it much less noticeable even though the physical scratch is still there.

 

[meburdick]

If I wasn't happy after checking w/ specialists I'd be looking at stains or those crayons you use for wood furniture scratches. I am thinking that if you can get the color closer just by working something into the scratch it will make it much less noticeable even though the physical scratch is still there.

Hmmm. I wouldn't think a wax type filler would be useful in this scenario - too likely to contaminate food and could also come off if anything warm ends up on the countertop. Anything that would harden should be ok as long as it's food safe.

 

[engineer2]

You couldn't have missed the mark more with that statement.

I was just kidding! Around our area the wives love granite to the point you will have a hard time selling your house unless the kitchen has granite countertops.

 

[meburdick]

I was just kidding! Around our area the wives love granite to the point you will have a hard time selling your house unless the kitchen has granite countertops.

I was laughing about it, trust me... And I totally understand the general sentiment.

But, not married, -I- did the damage and am looking for options to correct it, SHE doesn't want new countertops, and she isn't terribly fond of granite anyway. So, like I said... so many things that were off. lol

 

[MoonRise]

Get a nice cutting board and put in on the counter to use.

You get a nice cutting board, in a place where you apparently do some cutting, and the cutting board hides the cuts in the countertop.

 

[lilredex]

We keep a 13 X 21" floor tile on our counter top next to the sink, to work on keeping any damage at bay. Good to put hot stuff on too.

 

[Keep]

Get a nice cutting board and put in on the counter to use.

You get a nice cutting board, in a place where you apparently do some cutting, and the cutting board hides the cuts in the countertop.

Maybe a fancy charcuterie board.

You know, the off cuts that they sell now for more then the lumber!

 

[johnnyradiant]

I've repaired a few by cutting in a glass cutting board into the c/top. I use white ones but a quick search of Amazon.ca and came up with this title "Vance Surface Saver 71620BK 16x20" Built-in Tempered Glass Cutting Board, Black "

 

[meburdick]

I've repaired a few by cutting in a glass cutting board into the c/top. I use white ones but a quick search of Amazon.ca and came up with this title "Vance Surface Saver 71620BK 16x20" Built-in Tempered Glass Cutting Board, Black "

Hmmm. Interesting idea. Thanks for posting...

 

[MoonRise]

Glass is NOT a cutting board.

A serving tray, sure. A dough rolling or kneading surface, sure.

Cutting surface, NOPE.

IMNSHO.

 

[meburdick]

Glass is NOT a cutting board.

A serving tray, sure. A dough rolling or kneading surface, sure.

Cutting surface, NOPE.

IMNSHO.

It's not bad as a cutting surface in and of itself, but it can do a number on your knife edges.

 

[tymbo]

Kampel seamfil

https://www.americantechnologyinc.com/product-category/seamfil/

 

[ddawg16]

Do like my wife......cover the counter tops with cutting boards.....not to hide anything.....just leaves them out.....

BTW....quartz is the way to go....love the stuff......it doesn't have the issues granite does...like red wine stains...

 

[Kevin54]

Talk to the flooring guys in the flooring forum on GJ. I would imagine they sell epoxy that you can redo the formica to anything you want. If not, do a search for epoxy countertops.

 

[glentre]

Before retiring, I owned a commercial architectural woodworking business where much of our work was plastic laminate. We had an employee who had taken courses in furniture and laminate finish repair and could repair scratches and chips in laminate to a point where the repairs were almost invisible.

Suggest you contact some custom cabinet shops or furniture repair businesses in your area and with luck, you may find someone with the same expertise. There are guys out there who can fix your scratch problem...........may take some searching though.

Glen

 

[meburdick]

Before retiring, I owned a commercial architectural woodworking business where much of our work was plastic laminate. We had an employee who had taken courses in furniture and laminate finish repair and could repair scratches and chips in laminate to a point where the repairs were almost invisible.

Suggest you contact some custom cabinet shops or furniture repair businesses in your area and with luck, you may find someone with the same expertise. There are guys out there who can fix your scratch problem...........may take some searching though.

Glen

Thanks for the thoughts. This would be a great avenue if I could locate someone.

 

[fteufert]

Find a similar colored Sharpie or other marker or crayon.

 

[meburdick]

Find a similar colored Sharpie or other marker or crayon.

I don't believe this is a useful course for me. The scratches / cuts are very shallow and actually don't stand out. Trying to "color it in" is going to make it noticeably worse.

The damage is very minor - the reason I'm looking for a fix is because I don't like even the minor flaw that it now has because "I know it's there", but because it looks awful to anyone that looks at the countertop.

 

[Fueler]

The wife wanted a new countertop when we upgraded the kitchen. It was custom built the first time and would have to be again. Not happening.
After a little study I followed this guys videos and bought product from him.

I did not get the exact color balance and design I was aiming for but the wife and anyone who has seen it since just marvels at it. It's 3 yrs old now and looks like I did it yesterday.

The point is that the op can fix his any way he wants and then give it a new life by coating it.

https://www.stonecoatcountertops.com/

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

If the cuts in the counter do not go all the way through the color layer of the countertop, you can take a razor blade and run it side to side in the opposite direction of the cut over top of it lightly scratching through the color layer blending it down to the cut.
Followed by wiping it down with rubbing alcohol.

That technique was always the first on the list to either fully correct the surface or blend it in better with the rest of the formica since it was the cheapest and the surface is already ruined.
Some times even a Magic eraser would work on light scratches

If that wasn't satisfactory then it was time to use SeamFil.

I like Kampel SeamFil

https://www.americantechnologyinc.com/product-category/seamfil/

 

[jm71lt1]

There is no great repair out there for damaged plastic laminate counter tops. Kampel Seamfil is what is pros use when trying to hide imperfections. I have also used markers for light scratches. Nothing will totally hide it ,only try and make it less noticeable. If that's not acceptable then you will have to recover them. If you have not worked with P-lam before there are some tricks to doing it. If you have some tools and skill you can probably do it yourself. If not hire a professional. I work with the stuff almost everyday and have been a cabinetmaker for 35 years doing wood and p-lam cabinets and tops.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I have used the 3 step counter top paint with success on ugly laminates. One in our house while we are waiting to gut our kitchen but did not want to look at, use or try to clean old laminate.

Also have used it in rentals and tenants do not destroy it.

You could cover the blem in yours and change up the color.

 

[nadogail]

We went with Quartz countertops during our kitchen remodel.
They don't require the maintenance like granite or marble and are less expensive.

 

[mrvm]

Cut a 12 x 12 square off the damaged section of laminate. Place a nice granite 12 x 12 tile in and cut any way you want with the sharpest knife. Be sure to seal the edges of the tile.