Need new laminate counter tops (countertops, dishwasher, Home Depot, Lowes)

[southfoke]

Any cabinet shops or recommendations for laminate counter tops?? I am in Mebane and don't want to spend and arm and a leg like HD and Lowes seem to be charging.

[GregW]

Mebane? - Lowes is about a cheap as they come unless you want to install laminate yourself.

[desertsun41]

Home Depot and Lowes are sky high. Rapists if you want the truth.

Here is how it works. Joe Smoe the neighborhood counter top shop charges $1000 to do the job for you. If you dont know about Joe Smoe Countertops and do what every other person does who knows no better and goes to HD or Lowes, here is how it works:

Every Home Depot and Lowes uses local contractors. They do not have their own. None do. Never have and never will. All big box stores except Sears uses approved local contractors. So you have HD or Lowes come to your home and measure up and make a template if needed. Lowes or HD contacts their countertop people which in this case is Joe Smoe Countertops who says their price is $1000 but discounted to Lowes and HD to $800. So Lowes and HD call you back and tell you $1600. They automaticly double the price to them. Your price to let Home Depot or Lowes do your tops is $1600.....if you went directly to Joe Smoe Countertops you would pay $1000.

Your goal is to find out who Lowes and HD use for their "installed sales" is what they call it. Then go direct to that counter top shop.

You can actually go to any counter top shop and get a better price then the big box store. Any day any time ! I guarantee and promise you that !

Do your homework. Find out who the big box stores use and then go direct. Let us all know how you make out. The savings you enjoy you can share with us....................

[Cosmic]

Yup, Lowes is not that expensive if you just buy the counter top there. I got your standard 10 footer as a clearance close out for like $60. Those crappy end pieces they sell are a bit of a joke, can make up far better ones yourself.

Got one lil section I needed for over the dishwasher for like $4 from a surplus store. Can check around and see if you have any building surplus type stores, prices can be dirt cheap.

Any fool should be able to install the factory made counter tops, might have to rip out the back splash and redo it but that is sort of standard.

No need to go custom unless you have the need for it. All depends on do you have any special consideration or is it a straight factory type installed counter now? We should not be talking any kind of real money.

Not much info given as to what is required.

[Barking Spider]

You can actually go to any counter top shop and get a better price then the big box store. Any day any time ! I guarantee and promise you that !

Dessert Sonn will give you back 200% of the difference too!

[southfoke]

Yes, I found out that Lowes and HD are much higher. I was looking for the names of some cabinet shops. Lowes and HD use Web Don?

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by Cosmic

Yup, Lowes is not that expensive if you just buy the counter top there. I got your standard 10 footer as a clearance close out for like $60. Those crappy end pieces they sell are a bit of a joke, can make up far better ones yourself.

Got one lil section I needed for over the dishwasher for like $4 from a surplus store. Can check around and see if you have any building surplus type stores, prices can be dirt cheap.

Any fool should be able to install the factory made counter tops, might have to rip out the back splash and redo it but that is sort of standard.

No need to go custom unless you have the need for it. All depends on do you have any special consideration or is it a straight factory type installed counter now? We should not be talking any kind of real money.

Not much info given as to what is required.

True....if one is reasonably handy then one can install their own ready made counter top. But then they are limited to straight or L shaped kitchens. If one has a peninsula or an island then one is doomed. Those tops you speak of have the back splash already on. You just cant cut them off for islands or peninsulas.

And normally the 7 colors available of Wilsonart brand 4X8 sheets of laminate do not match the 9 colors of ready made counter tops sold at Lowes and Home Depot.

Then the next problem is while it is legal to sell laminate, it is illegal to sell the laminate adhesive in most if not all states except to professionals whom are licensed (just like solid surface). So HD and Loews does not sell it therefore even the handy person could not do his own edges if he cuts off the back splash.

Cosmic your right that an average skilled with the right tools can install those ready made tops. But the not so average will have to use draw bolts in the miter. Which in many cases is hidden over a lazy susan or a base blind corner. Or they have to cut the free ends perfectly straight so the edge can glue on. Then one has to use a cloths iron to put that edge on and trim it. What handy person can trim laminate edges with a file and sanding block let alone a trim router?

Finally....those ready made counter tops are cheap cheap cheap! They have their purpose but keep in mind the laminate is so paper thin on top of very soft particle board. Normal laminate is about 3/32" thick. Those ready made "no-drip" edge tops available in the big box stores have 1/32" thick laminate. This is because normal laminate can not be bent and rolled like on those ready made tops. You can not roll it around those no-drip edges and the bullnose end. So thats why they use the paper thin laminate for those tops, because it bends. Normal laminate tops have straight or bevel ends...never a hard roundover.

[Korel]

I just did a Google for "Mebane Countertops" and got quit a few results. Easy as pie. Just do a little telephoning around, get some pricing and references. Ain't the Internet a good tool for finding stuff?

[my54ford]

we just redid our kitchen it was only 200 more expensive to have it custom done then to get everything from menards and install it ourselves. I highly recomend this for a sink !!!!http://karranproducts.com/index.html