For Kitchen Surface, Laminate Countertop can be the best choice as they are found in various colors cheaply. Though most homebuyers suggest using stone and granite countertops, Laminate Countertop is more durable than those. They are also easy to install and consider as one of the best countertops to enrich the beauty of the Kitchen. You can install them by yourself at home if you have sound knowledge.
To work in a home with Laminate Countertop, people face problems with trimming. Without having a Trim Router, they face the complexity of trimming the edge of the laminate. Besides, most of them are looking for a way on How to Trim Laminate Countertop Without a Router. They find the procedure lengthy and full of complicacy. However, we have a detailed guideline on trim without a router. Stick with us till the end of this write-up and know the entire procedure.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
The best way of trimming any edge is to use a Trim Router with a perfect bit. There are so many router bits available in the market, and all of them are used to perform specific purposes. You will find some particular bits for the laminated items. Flush Trim Router Bit is the perfect suit for trimming Laminate Countertop because they are made with ground carbide and titanium. If you have no router when trying to round the edge of plastic laminate or any smooth surface, you need some material. This material will ease your task.
- 100-Grit Sandpaper & Contact Cement
- Contact Cement
- Paintbrush & Tack Cloth
- Laminate & Jigsaw
- Circular Saw & File
- Fine Toothed Handsaw
- Nail Polish Remover
- Blade
- Table
How to Trim Laminate Countertop Without a Router
As you don’t have a trim router or a laminate trimmer to finish the installation process, you need to look for an alternative method. A proper way is involved with How to Trim Laminate Countertop Without a Router. Most DIY specialists can execute the installation of laminate countertops without any complexity. These countertops add an extra eye sooting feature and a layer of contrast to a room. When starting the installation process, there is an essential aspect you need to know: How to Trim and Properly Size the Laminate.
When finishing up the countertop of plastic or other laminated, users may require the file rather than the router. If you use the file to trim laminate, it may take time to accomplish the task in place of a router. The user can easily trim the laminate edge by following these mentioned steps.
1. Use the Sandpaper
By using 100 grit sandpaper, clean all imperfections. Create a smooth finish and smooth surface as well. After that, they need tack cloth to remove the sanding dust from the desired surface accordingly. Sanding down the desired surface makes the round edge and gives it a perfect shape.
2. Trim the Laminate Sheet
After that, they must trim down the laminate sheet according to the size that fits on the countertop by utilizing the circular saw. You can also do this job by using a fine-toothed hand saw. The users are suggested to Use an Extra Inch of Dimensions to smoothly trim the rest of the inches later.
3. Apply the Contact Cement
After trimming the laminate sheet, they need to paint on the layer of contrast cement. On the countertop surface as well as on the backside of the laminate sheet. To line up the corner of the counter, the users need to work as a team. Contact cement works perfectly with the plastic laminate.
4. Press Out the Air Pockets
With a laminate roller, the users must press all the air pockets to ensure the perfect seal. After that, using a handsaw file or jigsaw, cut all the corners to make all the edges smooth and flawless. Repeat the same procedure to install the scrap piece in the countertop corner consequently.
5. Remove the Excess
With the help of a wet cloth, remove all the excess cement. When the unneeded cement gets hards, users need to use nail polish remover to clean those items. It will clean all the unnecessary things thoroughly. Then they need to wait until the contact cement gets drier as like file down the countertops.
How to Use a Router to Trim Countertop Laminate Edges
It is undoubtful that Laminate Countertops can save a considerable amount of money by upgrading your kitchen. It is an inexpensive way to enrich the beauty of the kitchen or bathroom by using a Laminate Countertop. To finish the installation process at home, it is essential to complete the trimming of the edges. This trim can be done quickly with a router. It is necessary to know the proper technique and ideal operating method of a trim router to get the best benefit from it. Here are the steps you need to follow when wanting to trim a laminate edge with a trim router. Let’s see.
Step 1– Scrubbed the countertop with the help of a whiskbroom. Brush the router’s base plate also. The base of the routers must move smoothly to sustain a straight edge.
Step 2– Keep a single layer of masking tape in the laminate surface with the router’s path to avert the router base from scratch when you trim the edge.
Step 3– Place the flush cut bit, and before the place, it unplugs the router. In the bottom lip of the corner, use a straight bit to get the best output. If you use any bevel bit, it will help to reduce the risk of Edge Chipping in the Finishing Countertop.
Step 4– Modify the depth of cutting in your router. The highest of the bits guide connection should be ⅙ inch under the bottom edge you are trimming.
Step 5– Circle the router on. Keep the router base flat opposing the laminate surface. Grab the router firmly averse to the edge of the cabinet. Move the router against the direction of the bit. Trim the entire edge by following the same method.
Conclusion
Trimming in the countertop is important because it gives a perfect laminate shape and provides smoothness. If you think about ideal trimming in any imperfection edge, then a trim router with a fair bit is enough for you. Besides, knowing the proper method on How to Trim Laminate Countertop Without a Router is also beneficial. You just need to ally the procedure in the right place to take out the best outcome.
Nowadays, people doping DIY work as a hobby in their free time, and they don’t want to face any trouble while working with a passion. Using essential tools which make the task easier is the preferable one for them. A Trim router can minimize your task to do such kind of job perfectly.