This DIY guide will teach you how to repair laminate countertops to extend their life. Learn how to repair chips, burns, and peeling laminate, and how to replace laminate countertops.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED
| TOOLS | Mild abrasive cleanser, weight, screwdriver |
| MATERIALS | Epoxy glue, contact cement, new laminate countertop (if replacing), fabricator services for custom countertops |
Plastic laminate is popular for countertops because it offers a seamless, impervious surface. However, it can chip or break if something hits it hard enough, it can peel away from its substrate or base, and it will melt or scorch if you put something very hot on it. Repairing laminate is tricky, mostly because it is difficult to get a true match with the repair.
Repair Chips or Burns in Laminate
You can fill small chip-outs with epoxy glue, but the odds of matching a laminate color or pattern are slim to none.
Slight surface burns can sometimes be scrubbed away with a mild abrasive cleanser. Deeper burns usually can’t be removed because they char the thin laminate all the way through. Your only other-and it’s far from satisfactory-option is to try cutting away the damage and filling the void with epoxy.
Repair Peeling Laminate
If a laminate surface starts to peel or lift at an edge, it means that either the glue or the substrate below has failed.
If the substrate is in poor condition (damp or rotted, for example) you won’t be successful trying to glue the laminate back in place. If the substrate is sound, you can usually re-glue the laminate using contact cement.
Paint both the underside of the laminate and the substrate with a thin coat of contact cement, and then allow both to dry until tacky before mating the pieces (follow the contact cement manufacturer’s directions for application and set-up time).
It’s critical to get the contact cement all the way into the joint where the laminate meets the substrate and to bond them so that no air voids are trapped between the two materials. Contact cement is a strong and aggressive glue-once the cemented pieces touch, you won’t be able to pull them apart to realign them, so work carefully.
After the pieces are joined, place a weight on top of them until the glue dries.
Replace a Laminate Countertop
Because laminate as a material is difficult to repair, it’s often a better idea to simply replace it. If your countertops are the squared-off type and they’re sound, it is possible to have new laminate applied over the top.
If they are the rounded-over (post-form) type, or the laminate is not sound, you will need to replace the countertop entirely. This is not as difficult as it sounds-most counters are only attached with a few screws from below, and sometimes they are not fastened at all. Once you remove the screws (and the sink), most laminate counters come off in one piece.
Fabricators can make up any size and shape countertop to your dimensions. Costs are generally charged by the foot. Stock sizes can be found at most home centers.
Find Local Pre-Screened Laminate Countertop Repair Help
How to Repair Laminate Countertops FAQs
- How do you repair chips or burns in laminate countertops?
Small chips can be filled with epoxy glue, though it’s challenging to match the laminate’s color or pattern. For slight surface burns, a mild abrasive cleanser may scrub them away. Deeper burns often cannot be removed because they char the laminate entirely, and the only option might be to cut away the damaged area and fill it with epoxy.
- How do you repair peeling laminate on countertops?
If the laminate starts peeling at the edge and the substrate is in good condition, you can re-glue it using contact cement. Apply a thin coat of contact cement to both the underside of the laminate and the substrate, let it dry until tacky, then carefully press them together, ensuring no air voids. Place a weight on top until the glue dries.
- When should you replace a laminate countertop?
Due to the difficulty in making clean, unnoticeable repairs to laminate, it is often better to replace the countertop. For squared-off types, new laminate can be applied over the top if they are sound. For rounded-over types or those in poor condition, it’s best to replace the entire countertop, which can usually be done by removing a few screws and the sink.
- What should you do if the laminate substrate is in poor condition?
If the substrate is damp or rotted, re-gluing the laminate won’t be effective. In such cases, it’s best to replace the countertop entirely. Remove the screws and sink, and lift off the old countertop. Custom-sized countertops can be made by fabricators based on your dimensions.
