The laminate counter top that sits on our dining room cabinets was destroyed by the previous homeowners. I’m not sure what they did to it, but for the last six years I just covered it with a wood grain contact paper.
Since I’m putting in all this effort to beautify the dining room, I decided the ugly laminate HAD. TO. GO.
Material List:
- – 2×8 Pine Boards: https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-in-x-8-in-x-8-ft-2-and-Better-Prime-Douglas-Fir-Lumber-2024-8/206020925
- – Sander and Sand Paper in Varying Grits ( The one I used is old and not sold anymore, so here is a similar one: https://amzn.to/3kyvZ95 )
- – Stain ( I used Minwax in Dark Walnut ): https://amzn.to/3adYxjg
- – Stain Sponges: https://amzn.to/31BFbAQ
- – Flat Brackets – “L” Brackets
I wasn’t quite sure what kind of wood to get, or what size, or how to attach a DIY wood counter top to the cabinets. In all honesty, this project is 100% winging it.
I went to the lumber yard and got two 2×8 boards. You might need more or less depending on the size of the counter top you are making. Please measure and plan ahead!
At home, my super handy husband cut a very small bit of the edge off each board with the table saw. This gave me a nice clean edge to work with when I put the two boards together.
We used some random flat metal brackets to attach the boards to each other. My husband, being the perfectionist he is, used a big clamp to hold them in the right place while he screwed in the brackets.
I spent a few hours sanding the boards to make them smooth. I started with 40 grit sandpaper, and gradually went up to 220 grit. While I was sanding, I worked on the edges and corners to make them smooth.
Once it was smooth enough for my liking, I gave it a couple coats of stain. Then three coats of polyurethane, sanding lightly with a fine sandpaper between coats.
When it was all dry, we tore out the old ugly laminate and put the new counter into place. My husband secured it to the wall underneath with “L” brackets.
And that’s it! Let me know if you have any questions. If you do a similar project I’d love to see it!
Disclosure: Some of the links above may be affiliate links and I might receive compensation for purchases made through these links. However, these are products that I have actually purchased and can happily recommend.
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