How to Change the Veneer on a Countertop

Put on a pair of heat-resistant work gloves. Loosen the existing countertop veneer from the countertop surface with a heat gun. Turn on the gun and hold it about 4 inches from the veneer surface, passing it back and forth over the veneer to soften the adhesive holding the veneer in place. Put a putty knife under the edge of the veneer as you soften the adhesive and slide it beneath, working the knife under the veneer to create a wedge that lifts the veneer edge slightly.

Lift the veneer from the edge with a gloved hand, peeling it from the countertop as you continue to heat the veneer with the heat gun ahead of the lifted surface. Continue to peel away the veneer, working your way down the countertop until you’ve removed the entire piece.

Turn off the heat gun and clear away the still soft adhesive with the edge of the putty knife. Remove as much of the adhesive from the countertop as possible with the putty knife. You can reheat large patches of the adhesive with the heat gun to soften it for removal with the knife if the adhesive proves difficult to remove.

Sand the countertop smooth of any adhesive residue using a medium-grit sandpaper and a sanding block. Wipe the countertop clear with a tack cloth after sanding.

Measure the countertop dimensions with a tape measure and add 1/4-inch to each side. Transfer the measurement to the replacement veneer piece and mark a cutting line on the new piece with a pencil. Cut the veneer along the cutting line with a utility knife to fit the countertop.

Brush a layer of construction adhesive over the countertop and along the rear of the new veneer sheet. Wait for the adhesive to dry to a tacky state, where it doesn’t appear wet, but is still sticky when touched. Place wooden dowels across the width of the countertop that overhang the front by about an inch. One dowel every 12 inches will do.

Place the veneer piece over the wooden dowels, adjusting the positioning of the veneer so that it fits the countertop. Remove the dowels from the center of the countertop towards the edges, allowing the veneer to fall onto the countertop surface little by little. The construction adhesive bonds instantly so the dowels prevent any misplacement of the veneer.

Run a laminate roller over the veneer from the center outward to remove any air bubbles after removing all the dowels. Trim the veneer to fit the exact countertop dimensions with a trim router, and then use a file to round off the veneer edges to the countertop body, filing downward to avoid creating chips in the veneer edge.

Repeat the process for the side pieces of the countertop.