How to Laminate

Learn to laminate like a pro and save yourself some cash. Laminate is a super versatile material and knowing how to use it is a great skill to have. There are three basic steps to laminating a counter top: Measuring and cutting the laminate, attaching or adhering the laminate and trimming the laminate to fit. Some tools & materials required for the project include: Safety gloves and goggles, Laminate, Tape measure, Cutting saw, Contact Cement Paint brush, J-Roller, Trim Router, Short Neck Roller, ½ inch wood dowels and Xylene.

Start by measuring how much laminate you will need. When you are ready to cut, put the laminate face down on a piece of foam to cut. The foam gives you a strudy flat surface. To attach use contact cement and let it cure accordingly. Carefully attach the laminate. Using a J-roller, firmly press and attach the laminate so it forms a strong bond.
Then use a trim router to trim. For large pieces, use a short nap roller to roll on the contact cement to the laminate and the base. Use your roller, to get that perfect bond. Finally, sand off the edges to remove the excess glue with Xylene. For more great how to videos and home improvement tips, subscribe to Lowe’s YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=lowes Or head to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/Lowes

Subscribe to Lowe’s YouTube for great how to videos and home improvement tips: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=lowes

Or head to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/Lowes

29 Replies to “How to Laminate”

  1. what abt the rounded capping at the joint edge between two pieces of laminate/plywood? it not jointed

  2. Amazing. Thank you, this was very helpful.

    I wonder if contact cement is sold by some other name as well. Anyone? Please tell.

  3. The one crucial thing you didnt mention, is cleanliness.
    The tiniest spec of laminate or wood or whatever gets on the laminate or the counter after its glued and you dont notice it…
    You will have a bump in the counter top that will be an absolute pain to get rid of (and sometimes you cant get rid of it at all)
    Make sure the laminate AND the counter are completely clean before you add contact, and then again after its dried right before you put the laminate on. That includes the dowels

    Speaking of dowels… they are a nice idea, until you realize they roll lol
    better yet would be scrap rips of wood around 1/4", that way the laminate doesnt move around

  4. What is the name of this laminate? Every google search I do shows me laminate flooring, even when I search for cabinet laminate…??

  5. does the laminate make the countertop water resistant? Also does it come in rolls or is by sheets?

  6. I've got a shelf that has already been laminated, but it's chipping and peeling off. How do I remove the damaged laminate to put a new laminate surface back on?

  7. Please wear a mask any time you cut laminate, sand or use a router! Otherwise, great, easy to follow video.

  8. You totally missed out on a better marketing opportunity; I wish you had links to where I could buy the laminate, router head, and mdf on your website.  I would have already made the purchase if you had made it a bit more simple for lazy people like me 🙂

  9. who cares your a woman. great job. i'm a man and worked with woman that can do just the same work as a man. great job girl.

  10. what tool is that to shape the extra edges of the Lamination shown at 1:16 second of this vedio

  11. Very nice ideas and simple to use…but please provide me the name of the machine for removing the excess laminate…thankss

  12. I remember my dad laminating our kitchen worktop back in the late 60's ……..then they introduced ready made worktops with roundovers included. they are cheaper and easier to use…..why laminate yourself? Oh and the joints will always blow if moisture gets in it.
    but hey… knock yourself out…..oh and use a fine toothed saw to cut it.

Comments are closed.