We've expressed our distaste for formica before, and though many think it's the only way to go if you don't want to spend the dough on marble or butcher block, that's absolutely not the case! Check out this how to, where you can literally put the plywood directly on top of your old kitchen counter...
So it's actually plywood veneer, and for best results it's a good idea to get strips of the real wood (if you're going for maple veneer, get some pieces of actual maple, etc), to line the sides so there's no telltale line of plywood on the side. Still, much less expensive than a real slab of wood.
See the full instructions from This Old House.
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Comments (9)
But your picture shows IKEA butcherblock...
I think this would only work if you have a straight, flat edge on your original countertop. Our formica has a curved edge with a bit of a lip to keep spills contained.
using plywood on a kitchen counter doesn't seem like the most sanitary option. i have used formica's luxe wood laminate on several condominium projects for counters, desk, and wall veneers and they look great...
http://www.formica.com/publish/site/na/us/en/index/laminate/collection/luxe_collection_.html
i think everyone is just used to seeing the really bad laminates and would think twice about using the good ones if they saw them in person.
I have a hard time believing a plywood veneer would hold up well to common kitchen abuse/wear. It certainly does not hold up well on well-used furniture let alone a messy/wet/hot/cold countertop.
This seems like a cheap fix that isn't going to last very long. I would do this only in a very low-traffic area. I think that the first problem that you'll have is sealing it from stains. [Maybe marine varnish?] Then warping from moisture. Then repairing corner and surface nicks.
How much trouble & expense is it to cover an existing Formica countertop with a new layer of laminate?
the best quote from the article (and the most telling) is: "It's the perfect solution for the renovator on a budget, the renter, or the quick-fixer-upper who needs to hide the hideous counter before putting the house on the market."...
In a previous condo, I used a left over piece of plywood, with some 1x2 edging, as a countertop on a kitchen island. The top was two layers of 3/4 inch birch plywood, about 2'x5', glued together, dark-stained and waxed. It has survived 4 years of normal use without problems (no warping or delamination). I don't usually prepare or store raw food directly on the countertops, so I don't see why there would be any sanitary problems. I'm not planning to use plywood countertops in the next big kitchen renovation, but as a quick fix, they can be quite useful and better looking than some alternatives.
A friend of mine has stained, epoxied wood countertops, and they look great! They are holding up just fine.