Hi.

I'm wondering about what type of counter I may have in my kitchen that is 1970's style. It's very cheap white "stick-on" looking stuff that I think is made to look sort of like marble or whatever. Is this Formica? I'm going to be putting in a new countertop in a few months. Heck even the backsplash is made out of the same stuff!

 

It might help to post a pic of it. Cultured [imitation] marble was popular in the 70's and 80's.

 

Thanks marksr. I can do that later Im not home right now. I think it's basically just sheet laminate after doing some research online. Another questions for you or anyone else. If I were to just re-laminate would that be hard?

Could I just take all the old stuff off or would I just laminate right over it? I'm assuming there's maybe particle board under this old laminate? What about just buying a whole new premade counter?

What would be the cost difference with re-laminating vs. another whole new counter?

Thanks

 

I know just a little about applying laminates. I haven't priced them in a while but the premade laminate countertops are generally fairly cheap to buy.

 

Maybe it would be less messy also. So if I did my the premade could I just "pop" off the existing counters somehow? You can tell I know nothing about counters lol. Maybe it would be best to hire someone to do it also.

 

Probably if factory built. Stick built (built in place) could be trickier. You might have a top fastened from the top then covered with laminate.

 

Need those pictures!
99% of the time it will come out better and last longer to just replace.

 

It's probably Formica brand laminate. It was generally glued (contact cement) over HD fiberboard
with a built-up front edge to make it look 1.5" thick.

Stripping it could be very difficult, even though it might be peeling up in some areas. Solvent based contact cement can hold very well.

If your counter has 45° corners, the premade laminate is much harder to install, YOU have to glue and even the seams, then tighten with dog bone bolts from below. Not easy the first time.

Also the premade laminate is inexpensive only if you buy it off the shelf. That means some cutting on your part.
Once you order a premade counter to specific dimensions, the price goes up and not worth it IMO.

I would look at solid surface like Hi-Macs or Corian. It more expensive but you do it once.

 

Here's the pics! 1970's, 1980's??

 

That is formica .... or one of it's competitors.