|
|
Laminates
 |
First and foremost, we
use a custom built heat press to adhere our laminates to a 45lb*
western pine particleboard, this insures that the Formica,
Formica actually being the brand name of one of several brands of
laminate available, will NOT come loose.
Next we bend the backsplashes, if applicable to your top, on a
1-1/4” diameter heated brass bar, built by Dale and Don who were the
original D&D. Pretty cool eh? Now remember it’s a heated bar.
Then we trim and file the edges, do the cutouts for your sink or cook-top and clean it up real nice.
These processes are pretty much the same way Dale and Don did it
from the beginning. By the way, Jim and Bob, D&D’s current owners,
worked for Dale for years after Don sold his portion of the company.
Beveled edges, if applicable, are separate pieces that are attached
with Lockweld glue and are held in place till dry with fiber tape.
When dry, the tape is removed, the edges get filed and we clean it up!
Contrary to what a lot of folks think, the laminate tops with the
rounded front edges are less expensive than the square or bevel edge
styles. They are made in twelve foot lengths and have to be cut like a
picture frame to fit into the corners of your kitchen. This explains where the always present seams in this
style come from.
When we
make a square or bevel edge top, we cut the particleboard and glue it
up in the shape of your kitchen, forming the “blank” to which we apply
the laminate. This affords us the ability to put any necessary seams
in the least noticeable place in your countertop. With a maximum
laminate sheet size of 5’ x 12’, we can possibly build your tops
without seams at all.
*45lb board being defined as what
a cubic foot of the substrate weighs…now you know! |
|
