Making the most perfect use of plastic laminate

Plastic laminate is usually fixed to plywood or particle board counter tops. A majority of cabinets are manufactured in cabinet factories nowadays. However there may be sometimes when a laminate needs to be installed at the new building site for different reasons. With the rising demand for custom cabinet work, the applications of plastic laminate and compact grade laminate are increasing day by day.

Whenever it comes to compare the pre built and custom built cabinets, there is no scope in performing this comparison. A great number of high end housing builders and home buyers need a much enhanced quality. In the same manner it is feasible to compare the prices of both the options.

Countertops are normally covered with a 1/16th laminate, any segments would usually be covered with a 1/32nd laminate. However, there are large numbers of manufacturers that provide a great range of high pressure laminates that differ in sizes, patterns and styles.

The surface which needs to be laminated must be very clean. Based on the instructions mentioned by the plastic laminate manufacturers, the surface must be wiped down with a thinner or mineral spirits and then allowed to get dry. After this laminate is then cut to size. Normally it is cut about a half an inch larger than the area to be covered. In case of a seam, the joining edges must be accurately straight. Generally you can do a slight undercut to get a perfect fit. You can also make the use of a sanding block to do this. In most cases laminated and glues require at least a room temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The most commonly used adhesive is contact cement. You can also look at other products in the market as well. One important thing to keep in mind while dealing with adhesive laminates is to ensure proper ventilation. This is due to the highly inflammable property of contact cement

During this process the edges are first covered and you would want to put the edges on first so that when the top laminate is on it will overlap so there is no seam or joint to be seen. It is suggested to apply the adhesive to the back of both, the countertop edge and the piece of laminate going around the edge. The best way to trim the composite laminate is to use a router or other tool specific for this purpose. After the trimming is completed, it needs to be smoothened precisely with sandpaper.

GREENLAM Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary was incorporated in Singapore on 25th March 2005 to oversee Greenlam’s business development across Asia. Their products include decorative laminate, plastic laminate and other types of high pressure laminates.