Formica CPs warping?

[ddoyle1996]

There have been several posts saying that CPs with laminate on them may warp if you don't put the laminate on both sides of the CP.  Very few people that have used formica on their CP seem to have mentioned this.  

Is it recommended that you use formica on both sides of your CP?  For those people who have used formica on one side of their CPs, have you had a problem with warping?  

[BobA]

I don't remember seeing those posts but my memory has its gaps.   Most kitchen counters are built with laminate on only one side with MDF or particle board as the base.  I think the stability of the base material would prevent warping in most cases.   If you put laminate on a very thin base I can see a possibility of warping.

I put laminated counters in at the lake over 12 years ago and one is on an outside deck (covered) and have not seen any warping.

BobA
 

[_Iz-]

Counters are normally screwed down to a rigid structure (the cabinets) which helps prevent them from warping. If you look at some older countertops that have joints (seams) in the laminate you will notice that almost all of them have gaps where the laminate meet. This is due to shrinkage of the laminate (and in some cases expansion of the particleboard). The laminate will actually move slightly due to some give in the contact cement. If the countertops were not firmly screwed down to the cabinets they would warp slightly instead. The thickness of the substrate can play a factor in this, the beefier the top the harder it will be for the laminate to warp it. Most countertops are formed with a nose and a backsplash at 90

[rampy]

I just did this (laminated my control panel) ... and only on one side...  we'll see how it holds up on 3/4" plywood...

you'll know when I notice warping as you'll hear my screams/see my post =P

how long should it take before it starts to warp...  ?

*shrug*
 
rampy (stares at his control panel waiting...)

[_Iz-]

The smaller it is, the less it will warp.

If the materials sat inside for a week or more before assembling then they "acclimate" to your enviroment and are less prone to change after assembly. Changes to the humidity or temperature in your home can cause warpage. It might happen 6 months later when the season changes.

If you screwed the top down to the box then I'd say you have nothing to worry about. If it's just attached with a hinge on one side then it *could* warp (nothing really to prevent it if it wanted to).  The warpage will probably be slight, you may also see the laminate shrinking away from the edges of the board a bit instead.

*shrug*  

[_Iz-]

Here's a good resource for anyone wanting to learn more...

[neuromancer]

My dad has a part of a laminate countertop made into a table. It's just a square section with legs. He proabably picked it up in 1975. It looks just like the day he brought it home.

I've also seen a lot of free standing laminate shelf stuff in motels and whatnot that are not warped.

Not to say it couldn't happen, just that it isn't necessarily so.

Bob

[_Iz-]

Yeah, there's no guarantee it will warp. Just like there's no guarantee it won't warp...  

It depends on quite a few different factors...