How to Install Laminate Countertop With Corbels

Measure, mark and cut your plywood countertop base. The depth of your counter should overhang the front of the cabinet face by 1 inch. Use a thicker 3/4 to 1-inch thick plywood because you are overhanging an eating area. Cut the plywood with a table saw. Place the counter on saw horses.

Place the laminate over the counter. Clamp the counter in place with wood clamps. Cut around the edges with an oversize router bit so that the laminate overhangs the sides by 1/2-inch on all sides.

Remove the clamps and the laminate and set aside. Turn the counter upside down. Cut strips of plywood 1 1/2-inches wide to fit around the perimeter of the counter to make the counter edge appear to be thick. Screw the strips of plywood to the underside of the counter aligning the edges. Screw every 8 inches using 1-inch screws. Do not allow the screw to penetrate the top of the counter.

Sand the edges of the counter smooth using an orbital sander. Remove all the dust. Place the counter face up on the saw horses. Roll laminate adhesive over the top of the counter. Roll laminate adhesive over the underside of the laminate. Allow the adhesive to dry.

Place dowel rods every few inches across the counter. Position the laminate on top of the dowels and centered over the counter. Remove the center dowel and press the laminate and counter together. Work from the center toward the sides removing dowels and smoothing the laminate to the counter. Roll with a hard roller to press the two firmly together.

Router around the edge of the laminate with a tight cut. Apply adhesive to the side edge and to strips of laminate cut to fit the edges. Allow the adhesive to dry. Install the laminate edges. Trim off the edges with a router. Repeat for all exposed sides.

Position the counter over the cabinets. Open the doors on the cabinets and screw up through the corner blocks at the top of the cabinets and into the underside of the counter. Ensure your screws will not penetrate the counter. Attach the counter to all of the cabinets.

Measure the inside height of the cabinet side where the corbels will attach. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch board to this height. Screw the boards into the inside wall of the cabinet to help support the corbels. Position your board aligned with your corbel placement.

Place your corbel aligned over your interior board support. The top of the corbel should press into the underside of the overhanging counter. Remove the corbel. Apply construction adhesive to the top and side of the corbel. Press the corbel into position. Screw the corbel to the hidden cabinet framing using the screw holes in the corbel. Use the top hole to screw the corbel to the underside of the counter. Make sure the screws will not penetrate the counter. Repeat for each corbel. Space your corbels every 4 feet.