Plywood Counters?

DIY Plywood Counter Top Plywood countertops are very versatile. With a sheet of plywood, you have multiple choices of how to finish the countertop. Furniture grade plywood finished with two or three coats of polyurethane gives your kitchen a style of countertop well suited to a craftsman or country style kitchen. Ceramic tile, sheet laminate and wood veneers applied to plywood countertops are just a few of the options to let your kitchen reflect your taste, without breaking the budget. Plywood 1. Invest in good quality 3/4-inch exterior (not treated) plywood for your countertop. Exterior plywood manufactured with waterproof glues that will withstand the sometimes-damp environment of a kitchen contributes to a long-lasting countertop. Exterior plywood also works well with mastics and thinset if you wish to apply ceramic tile to the countertop. If you are planning to apply finish and leave the wood as is, buy furniture-grade plywood, it is more expensive, but the quality is worth the investment. With furniture grade plywood, you will only have to do a light finish sanding and apply stain and finish. Easily complete the countertop in a weekend using fast drying stains and finishes. Use wood that is of the same species as the countertop to trim the front edges. According to Mark Powers of This Old House.Com, a large segment of people who at one time were planning to use either granite or butcher block countertops are opting to use plywood because of its lower cost and “real wood” appearance. Sheet Laminate 2. If you prefer the look and easy care of laminate but do not care for the color choices of preformed laminate countertops, sheet laminate will give you another choice. Sheet laminate works with countertops that have straight, square edges. Laminate adhesive applies to the countertop and the back of the laminate. The adhesive allowed reaching the correct level of tackiness before beginning installation. A router is a handy tool to have to finish the edges of sheet laminate. Wood veneer is another choice to give your countertop the look of high-end wood countertops that you see featured in home magazines. This veneer is more expensive than sheet laminate but offers multiple choices of styles and colors. Ceramic tile countertop. According to Home Time.com, in order to have success in installing ceramic tile on plywood countertops, cement backer board installs on top of the exterior plywood. The cement backer board attaches to the plywood with a layer of thinset mortar and secures with nails driven into the plywood. Ceramic tile installed onto the cement board with mastic, allowed to dry and grouted. Mixing a latex additive into the grout gives the grout flexibility and deters cracking. A coat of sealer applied to the grouted tile keeps the grout from staining and is easier to clean.

Read more: DIY Plywood Counter Top | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_6008307_diy-plywood-counter-top.html#ixzz1D4nW2KXM By Myra Smith, eHow Contributor

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