GuitarPhotog wrote:S. Heisley wrote:Stacie, you can order a Formica or Wilsonart cabinet top built to your specifications, ready to be sat upon top of your cabinets. I know Lowes will order it for you; so, Home Depot might, too. Then, there's no waste; and, as long as your measurements are correct, no worry about errors. ...Easy. With the size of your countertop, the additional weight wouldn't be much. ...Just a thought to consider and check into, if you haven't already.
I don't think they have any of the retro "boomerang" kind of patterns available. I just did some research recently and the best I could do was to buy some remnants at a local cabinet shot, but I had no choice of pattern
Lowes counter tops are built of low-quality particle board. The one I have installed for my brewery has begun to delaminate at the bull nose front. Not recommended.
<Chas>
Oh, sorry, Chas. I didn't notice that Stacie wanted boomerangs. I thought that she was just looking for something different, like pinks and yellows, etc.
Yes, I believe that most Formica-style countertops are backed with particle board. It isn't meant to get wet on the underside, which is why the edges are finished. However, it has been used for decades and the majority of people don't have trouble with it; or, at least, they didn't used to.
Maybe that's made in China these days, too!
The built-in back splash and the curved front are definite advantages to a pre-build counter-top. The back splash helps contain spills and the curved front doesn't have any angular edge to bump into in a small space.
There are distinct problems with building and laminating your own counter-tops. Like paint, there are certain temperature limitations. Also, the contact cement should not be used near an open flame or in a closed space and there is a learning curve to cutting the Formica and getting it on right. You use dowels to hold the laminate above the surface and carefully pull one stick out at a time and hope it goes on okay. Of course, you cut your laminate a little bit bigger than you need, just in case and router off the excess after you are finished, etc.
There are other types of counter-top substances which Stacie might be able to use...maybe Stylestone or Corian (expensive and heavy) but the laminates offer so many variations and colors that the other types of counters don't.
Oh! What about using tile? Aggie79 (Tom) used that and glued it to his plywood counter instead of using traditional tiling methods. I don't remember what kind of glue he used but he has been very happy with it. If the smaller tiles were used, it would work in a small space very well.
Found it! Here is what Aggie79(Tom) did:
aggie79 wrote:I used glass tile for our galley counter. The counter was 1/2" plwood. I adhered the glass tile to the plywood using PL Premium. Later, I came back and filled the joints with epoxy tile grount. It has held up quite well - no popping of tiles or cracked joints.
Imagine that in your colors, Stacie....Maybe something on that order would work for you! ...Ideas, ideas, ideas!
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Well, Mr. Hunter. You've gotten information on shelves, baskets, plastic tubs, doors, drawer fronts, and counter tops! ...More than you probably bargained for. (Sorry, I got carried away.) The main thing is....Have fun! Do what suits you and makes you happy! Enjoy your trailer and camping!
by the hunter » Fri Jul 26, 2013 8:34 am 
It's a box. You can always get some used doors if those bother you. 
Oh, and Home Depot quoted me the $300+ price minimum order. And one of the sites I found online was also around the same. 
