How to put end caps on a countertop

Step 3: Using a paint brush, apply a layer of the contact adhesive along the sides of the countertop where the end caps have to be installed. Allow the glue to dry-out a bit, creating a thick, sticky layer. Justin shows the quickest way to Install Formica Countertop End Caps.

Cover the exposed end of the countertop with a layer of wood glue. Brush a layer of contact adhesive over the buildup strip and the back of the laminate endcap. Center the endcap over the end of. If your countertop has an exposed end that doesn’t butt against a wall or into a corner, you need to finish it by applying a laminate end cap — a piece of the laminate surface that covers the exposed end of the countertop substrate.

Maintain that alignment as you run a hot clothes iron over the end cap to activate the adhesive. The end cap is a separate piece of plastic laminate glued to the raw exposed end of a countertop. Dimensions of standard kitchen end cap are 5(W) X approx. Position the router on top of the countertop with the beveled bit hanging off the side and touching the face of the end cap. Put on safety glasses and a dust mask.

Turn the router on and gently push it along the laminate countertop surface. Place the countertop upside down on a solid but soft surface, so as not to scratch the finish. Press the buildup strip firmly into place to increase the apparent width of the end of the countertop. See more What others are saying Remove old kitchen counters and install new laminate countertops, then complete the transformation by installing a new sink and faucet.

Drill a few screws into the wood to affix it firmly. Run a bead of wood glue along the top, flush with the side where the cap will be placed. Find quality kitchen countertop end caps online or in store. If you have any edging on your plastic laminate countertop that’s come loose, I would suggest fixing it as soon as possible. Now, it may be very easy by reactivating the glue by putting a cloth over it and using a regular household iron to heat up the piece of countertop.

And that may be all that’s necessary. How to Install a Countertop. Trim the end of the countertop with a. End splashes should be used where top butts wall ( end splash kit). End caps should be used on all exposed ends ( end cap kits).

Additional material should be allowed to scribe for a tight fit to end wall. Place your countertop upside down on a flat surface. Choose strips of wood thick enough to allow the countertop surface to match the front. Remove the countertop and clamp it in place on sawhorses. Use a belt sander to sand the backsplash to the line drawn with the compass.

Make sure you apply a thin even layer of contact cement on both the end of the counter top and the laminate. Hold the non-pencil end of the compass against the wall at the widest gap, and touch the pencil end against the countertop. Move the compass along the length of the wall to draw a line on your counter. Clamp the countertop onto a sawhorse or other secure position, then use a sander or block plane to level the countertop up to the pencil line. Then position the end cap even with the bottom edge of the build-up filler strip and press it firmly into place.

If the back splash is a molded piece of the counter, then just have at it with the saw. Using a dry rag, firmly wipe the surface to further press it for a good bond. Now file the end cap flush to the countertop (Photo 12).

Gently touch the cutting wheel to the counter top to cut into the surface. Trim a little at a time off of the countertop with the Dremel. Go to HD and look at the custom order countertop measurement sheets, they usually have the distributors name on them. They will be much better at matching the pattern and get the end caps to you much quicker. Glue the molding to the countertop or the wall with a thin layer of construction adhesive.

Caulk both edges of the trim with acrylic latex caulk. Apply a single coat of paint or finish after the caulk sets. Tom Silva takes you through how to laminate a countertop correctly.

Tile Counter with a Wood Edge. A wood edge is the least expensive option and the least desirable. Wood does not provide a durable and long-lasting solution for a kitchen - especially near wet areas like a sink. Determine which end of countertop to apply end splash. Put countertop on saw horses laminate side up.

Dip a natural-bristled brush in a can of sealant and drag it over the countertop , starting at one end and working your way toward the other. Use a back-and-forth, sweeping stroke after each dip. After covering the entire counter top with sealant, remove your mask and allow the countertop to dry for hours. Find the end cap “nut” with the tightening ball in it. Place it in the hole in the bottom face of the block.

Insert the threaded end of the through bolt into the small hole in the edge of the block. The threaded hole in the nut should align with the threaded end of the through bolt. Thread the bolt into the hole of the end cap and tighten just enough to hold the assembly loosely together.

The end splash will be screwed directly onto the edge of the counter top or into wood batons previously attached to the edge. Apply silicone sealant to all surfaces to be joined and hold the endsplash in place with C-clamps while driving in the screws. Cutting endcaps on laminate countertops ? The end cap kits that go with the post-form countertop I purchased have a lot of extra material left along the edges, too much just to file down. I do not own a router or the laminate bit needed to cut it off per the instructions. Start on one end and gradually smooth the piece down the entire length of the countertop side.

After you’ve scribe trimme test fitte and applied any end caps to the countertops, and the glue has set at any mitered corners, you can begin the job of securing your countertops to the base cabinets. Follow these steps to attach it: Don’t start securing the countertop to the cabinets until the mitered joint has dried. The problem is I will need to cut the countertop back.

The backsplash is solid cherry, top is laminate.