laminate : best material, yet economical?

[Tweaked]

I am considering laminating the outside of my upcoming project but know virtually nothing about laminates.

What are some laminates you have used and your thoughts on them?  Where did you find the best deals on the materials?  What are some alternatives to laminating?

[DrewKaree]

What are some alternatives to laminating?

Silly putty or post-it notes.  I'd go with the silly putty, that way, if you drop it, it might bounce.  

Seriously though, a solid plain color will be cheapest (think black or white) with more "wow" looking patterns/colors going up in price.  If you are going to work it with a machine, make sure you get carbide tipped bits.  If you are going to try to cut it with a utility knife, opt to paint your cabinet instead  

[NIVO]

Menards has some from Wilson Art you can order(they dont carry black in stock) A sheet of 30" x 96"  was quoted to me at $41.80 not including tax.

[MonitorGuru]

Menards carries Wilson Art and Formica (yes thats a brand, not a material...like Kleenex ) and a couple others.  They have a large number of take home samples.

If you don't have Menards, of course Lowes and Home Depot will have it too, just more expensive.  Home Depot sometimes has damaged ones that might work too (for a small discount)


I'd stick with something basic, either plain solid color or a basic woodgrain one (but probably not butcher block   )  

Remember, the laminate is about 1/16" thick, so it will make your cabinet wider, though most Tmolding I've found actually is a bit over 3/4" wide so be sure to route the channel AFTER you apply to laminate to ensure the molding is centered over the whole side.

[DrewKaree]

Menards carries Wilson Art and Formica (yes thats a brand, not a material...like Kleenex ) and a couple others.  They have a large number of take home samples.

I also remembered...Wilson Art will mail you however many samples you want, just go to their website and browse...click...enter address...bingo.  Instant samples brought to your doorstep

[F1r3f1ght3r]

Menards has some from Wilson Art you can order(they dont carry black in stock) A sheet of 30" x 96"  was quoted to me at $41.80 not including tax.

I think it depends on the menards.... we have two (menards stores) that are close. the one that I frequent always has black in stock... in different sized sheets.

if you use it.... remember to cut your t-moulding channels BEFORE you put the laminate down.

[MonitorGuru]

Menards has some from Wilson Art you can order(they dont carry black in stock) A sheet of 30" x 96"  was quoted to me at $41.80 not including tax.

I think it depends on the menards.... we have two (menards stores) that are close. the one that I frequent always has black in stock... in different sized sheets.

if you use it.... remember to cut your t-moulding channels BEFORE you put the laminate down.

No, as I mentioned above, cut them AFTER you put it down. The thickness of the lamiate will make the width of the side piece off center if you routered out the channels based on the old center. You want to take into account the entire width of the side, with laminate, before routering.

[RacerX]

I had no luck at my local Home Depot.  All they had in stock were premade countertops with the laminate already applied.  Sure you could order, but it cost$ a lot.

I got lucky at Lowe's.  They stopped carrying the solid black WilsonArt laminate, but they were able to find it for me at another store, so I got two 4' x 8' sheets for $38 each.  If I would have had to order it from them, it would have been about $60 each, which is insane.

[F1r3f1ght3r]

No, as I mentioned above, cut them AFTER you put it down. The thickness of the lamiate will make the width of the side piece off center if you routered out the channels based on the old center. You want to take into account the entire width of the side, with laminate, before routering.

Thank you for correcting my statement.... I should have said if you apply to both sides. on the two cabs that I have put laminate on (after learning the hard way on my original), I used small pieces on the exposed inside faces of the side panels so that I wouldn't have to paint the bare mdf.

I stand corrected.

[MonitorGuru]

I had no luck at my local Home Depot.  All they had in stock were premade countertops with the laminate already applied.  Sure you could order, but it cost$ a lot.

I got lucky at Lowe's.  They stopped carrying the solid black WilsonArt laminate, but they were able to find it for me at another store, so I got two 4' x 8' sheets for $38 each.  If I would have had to order it from them, it would have been about $60 each, which is insane.

Did you check in the aisle that has the unfinished oak base and wall cabinets on one side of the aisle and on the other the put-together-yourself base and wall cabinets with different styles from Mills Pride?   The holders of the 4x8 and 4x4 sheets of laminate are at the end of the side with the unfinished oak cabinets on, right by the back wall of the store in every home depot i've been in.  

$38 a sheet from Lowes for 4x8 is a pretty dang good price if you ask me.


And yes, I was making the assumption you were only putting the laminate on the outside of the cabinet not the inside as well.. Most people use flat black spray paint on the small areas that are visible, and most real cabinets were made that way too, but you definiately can put laminiate, but will end up with more reflection off of it from the screen.

[Link]

Now my question is will full sheets 4x8 fit in the back of my SUV (Durango)?

[MonitorGuru]

I dont know how wide those vehicles are but laminate can be curved *slightly* without breaking. My guess if you have 42" across you should be able to curve the sheet enough to get it to fit, but be careful of bumps on the road/etc..  The less you have to curve the better.  As for length, dunno..  

[Tilzs]

When I picked up some laminate they had it rolled up. I put it in the back of my hachback.

[F1r3f1ght3r]

Now my question is will full sheets 4x8 fit in the back of my SUV (Durango)?

could fit 4X8 sheets of ply and MDF in my 02 D(snug fit). Just have them roll it up. it is easier to manuver that way.

[Zexis Stryfe]

I actually just bought 3 sheets of 48x96 laminate of various colors at my local Lowe's. I got Storm Gray for $50, Sparkle Black for $60, and get this... Fortuneberry Purple for $80. I guess not many people want purple countertops...