laminate top, am I missing something,

allen levine

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new york city burbs
I wanted a no seam work surface for my wifes sewing room, but it seems that isn't going to happen unless Im missing something.
the laminate is 4x8 sheet, and I don't see how I cant make a it without a seam in the laminate.
Im thinking make the long side one long piece, then seam it there on the right.
Is there some way better to approach this?
Without complicating it, I need it simple glue and laminate, top will be made of particle board
 

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trying to explain how Ill cut it up.
first,Ill tape and rip a 2.5 inch strip so Ill have a piece for long 1.5 inch edge.
Then Ill rip at 22 inches. use first piece to cover long end, then second piece to overlap an inch on short end, tape together, cut on overlap so edge matches as best as I can get it.
Then when I glue up top, have seam on right side an inch or so after the 20 inch depth of long piece.
Not sure if that explains my plan of attack, its all new to me. Ill use the remainder of the pieces to laminate edges, which I will do first.
 
Allen Formica has laminate in 5' X 12" sheets according to their web site, You might have to order it from a cabinet shop if you don't have a supplier close by
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If you can't locate the larger sheet, is there a place where the seam will interfere the least? Maybe you could put the seam in the corner of the L?
Allen Model (1).jpg
 
that's the kind of idea Im looking for ted, thanx...........if I can cut the laminate correctly, your idea would probably be least noticeable, but toughest to cut. I need to have strips long enough to cover long piece front edge, but I think I can work with it the way you laid it out.
Im going to contact 2 lumber yards near me and see if they sell anything wider than 48 inches, but I don't want to have to spend 130 dollars a sheet.
 
Allen

You can get 5x12 laminat at HD special order. A guided circular saw system works great for ripping down right close to size leaving just enough for trimming with the trimmer. Put your end strips on first trim them then your front strip so it overlaps then ends to be trimmed. Back-splash is last to be glued to the wall after top roll down. I hope you ahave a J-roller You can also use a block of wood & hammer or rubber mallet to help get good adhesion. Make sure you have a good laminate file. You can use water based contact cement on new clean sanded substrate, but make sure if you putting new laminate over old laminate to strip the edges & sand the edges & remove the back splash & sand the top laminate to help glue grip (belt sander) & use only the original contact cement not water based as the water based will let loose over time. I assume your going to calk where the back splash & the top meet. I forgot about the sticks to suspend the top laminate until you get it lined up. Or you can also use a electric cord looped back & forth. I've use old plastic vertical blinds for sliding glass doors they work great.
 
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this is not a kitchen countertop, is a work center for my wifes sewing room.
I looked into the 5x12 sheets, and they run close to 200 dollars.
Add in 2 sheets particle board, glue, roller, and a good trim bit, Im going to price this simple simon countertop out to have it made for me.
Theres nothing fancy about it, no backsplash, the back edge does not have to be finished, and theres no caulking anywhere.
Its going to have her sewing machine on top of it, and all her sewing stuff.
I was going to just use oak plywood, stained and poly but I thought about something a bit nicer.
gonna cost me around 300 dollars to make, and if I mess up, and Im known for that, especially since its my first try, well, expensive.
How much will this simple flat front laminate top run me?
I have to go to lowes or HD and ask them.
My other option, besides gluing up hard maple for the top, is buying ready made hardwood countertops.

so I figure around 18 square feet of countertop, or close to it.
if I can get someone to make it for 15 dollars a sq foot, it will still cost me less than making it myself, or around same price.
I have to research this.
 
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After you pick yourself up off the floor when getting the quote, let us know what it was.

Mine was $1400 for just shy of 20 square feet. And I supplied the laminate! Alas, I was between a rock and a hard place because the house was in escrow and I couldn't meet the deadline.
 
my trip to HD-

I was there earlier today to get some plywood, it was too crowded in the kitchen section with only one person working, so I went back there just now.
There was no one to order or get estimate.
there were prices posted on board stating group a or b starting at 15 dollars per sq foot delivered, no installed.
Im ok with that, not even that concerned about what color laminate.

the woman helping me told me she isn't in that dept, but will find someone who can help me.
She brings over a woman who says she can help me.

first, this may be rude, but the woman had a beard. something I don't see often.
Her English was weak, making it difficult to understand when she mumbled something.
Next, she told me she was a "floating specialist", ok, she had no clue about anything about countertops.
When I say no clue, I mean absolutely zero, zilch, nada, it was so insulting to me that they pawned off this moron bearded idiot to me I wanted to punch someones lights out.
Finally, I had enough. I mean, really, I tell her laminate, 4 times she asked me if I wanted granite, quartz, corian, no, laminate, formica, and then we have nice granite, quartz, no m'am, I prefer something less expensive, laminate, formica, and this went on for a5 minutes.
I walked her over to the board with all the samples and asked which ones are the least expensive, nothing. I got nothing from her.
She didn't answer me and went back to the computer.
I hear her mumbling, granite, quartz, and I finally told her Im not sure what her specialty is, but it certainly isn't countertops.
When is the kitchen person available. tomorrow, around 11 she thinks.

so the floating specialist as she called herself, only proved to have one specialty. Ignorance. Actually 2 specialties, audacity to even suggest she might be able to help me.
maybe 3, she can get a job in the circus, forgive me whomever, but she had a thicker beard than me, and being a fatso, I don't make fun of people, but she has it coming to her.

We are in serious trouble if this is the new workforce in our country.

so I never got anywhere today.

carol, Im good up to 350 -400 bucks, after that, Ill either try it myself, or make it out of maple or plywood and just stain it and be done.

(home depot is 1 mile from my home, so I figured good starting point)
 
Allen just a idea but if u not that fussy about color, have u considered looking for a old countertop at a habitat restore it store. You could take one that is wrapped cut it down the middle to your dimensions.they often have pieces at our store that would suite what you want for a counter top.

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Allen, I just have to say that your HD post was one of the most hilarious I have ever read. I had to share it with my wife and she also thought so. Please know we were not laughing at your misfortune, but at the obvious truth of your experience and how you expressed it. Thank you for that and the tip to avoid the "floating specialist".

As for your laminate problem, I share your dread of tackling laminate. I just finished a similar project for my wife and had to shoe-horn a laminated top I made between two walls. I once had a glue failure with a laminate top and had to pull the laminate off and do it again. That past experience was in the back of my mind the whole time I made this last top and like you contemplated buying the top from someone. Problem is, the top had to be very accurately scribed against 3 walls, so I decided to tackle it myself. Luckily everything turned out very well. I have seen many laminate tops with seams, but have never personally done it.
 
since lowes in also right near my home, this morning I made the trip to lowes to get a price.
Bob, the guy in charge of that department, was no where to be found.
When I first approached a salesperson in appliances, they told me he should be with me shortly, hes with another customer.
I walked through the kitchen, bathroom, faucets, tubs, all the sections back and forth, no one was around.
I saw a coffee klatch full of vested(they wear that vest that says lowes over their clothes) lowes employees standing close by, so I approached them, they seemed a bit disturbed that a customer had actually stepped up in the middle of their meeting and asked a question.
They paged bob. they paged bob again.
I walked thru the entire back of the store looking for anyone speaking with a customer.
there were many vested lowes employees, walking up and down the aisles, sorta reminded me of the TV show walking dead, they were shuffling down each aisle, as if they were zombies, blank expressions on their faces(no, I am not making this stuff up)
I went back the the 4 employees who were having their chat, paged bob again.
After 25 or so minutes of waiting for bob, I decided bob either quit and no one knew it, or he went to make a poop and was kidnapped in the restroom by criminals, so I went to the back and looked over ready made countertops.
With backsplashes, and finished fronts, the prices were extremely reasonable.
I could have purchased 2 6 foot on end mitred corner for 350 dollars, cut off the back for my width, the only problem would have been one end which is shorter than 6 feet. I need 71 inches on one side, I could leave it at 72.
then I have the problem of not having the laminate to glue up end, and it would not match the curved front edge of the rest, but definitely a good cheap way to go if you want a quick laminate countertop longer than 6 feet. they have straight pieces to match.

I decided to ask a kitchen guy in my neighborhood his estimate, figuring Ive seen his place for 25 years, he must be ok.
He was a nice guy, but his prices were high compared to what I thought was HD or Lowes prices, and he told me yeah, but they charge you for edges, ends, etc.......but at 600 bucks, It wasn't worth it.

back to lowes, not for bob, hes probably locked up in a cage somewhere, I purchased a sheet of laminate for 54 dollars.
I have no choice, I wasted 2 days trying to get an estimate from HD and Lowes, it was a learning experience.
22 dollars for a sheet of particle board, glue, Ill use the trim bits I have, I have one that is almost new.

Comes out wrong, it will be plywood with stain and poly.
comes out right, I guess Ill get lucky one more time a year, added to xmas, new years eve, and my birthday.
 
We must be blessed here. Both the Lowe's and Home Depot are well staffed and the folks are friendly and attentive. Well stocked is another matter. Yesterday I tried to find a non-ferrous metal blade for my table saw at Lowe's and had no luck. An associate saw me looking and asked if she could help. We ended up looking on the net for that type of blade and found it was only sold in Canadian Lowe's stores. I thanked her and went on to the next item--a Dewalt plunge router...no such luck. The router section has shrunk to only a few. She helped me again. I could get it on line, but wanted instant gratification. I thanked her and moved on to the next item, 5/16 stainless steel washers. She saw me looking and again offered to help...no such luck. They only had huge fender washers that wouldn't work for my project. I thanked her again. She was very apologetic...just the kind of employee I would like on my team.
I drove across the street to the HD. Found my saw blade and washers, but no router and was out in five minutes. No sales associates in sight. Maybe if you keep your shelves stocked you don't need so many vested employees?
(Disclaimer: I own Lowe's stock and have two daughters that work for Lowe's, but I end up buying a lot of stuff from HD just because Lowe's seems to have been cheapening their product line up over the past few years and I can't find what I need.)
 
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I think you must have been in my Lowes. :rofl: Just as well, had you found anyone (in my store) they wouldn't have had a clue about what you were aking. Reminds me of the day I went into an HD and asked the young man in the tool department (he approached me asking to help) "Where are the biscuits?". Smiling, he pointed toward the front of the store, "Burger King is just across the street, I think they have biscuits".:crazy:
 
I remember years ago Dad was going to make a folding leg sewing table for my Grandmother who was a professional seemstress . He built it & was going to cover with laminate. Grandma said NO Dad ask why she said because the material would slid all over the place & end up on the floor. Her request sand it smooth with a few coats of clear finish sanded between coats. It has never changed my Sister now has it & loves it & uses it to make quilts. Just something for those making tops for sewing studios to think about & mention to those they are making the top for.
 
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