Even if your countertop looks okay, there may be small, telltale signs of wear that deserve your attention. A small chip in the laminate, a burned patch, a minute edge that has started to peel—all can be indicators of mounting woes that after a while add up to trouble. Don’t wait. If you can take preventative or minor repair measures now, you can extend the life of your countertop.
Let’s say you’ve found a slight bubbling section. It may not be overtly obvious to everyone else; but you know it’s there. If you’re lucky, and extremely careful, you can re-activate the original adhesive by covering the section with a pillowcase and iron the bubble down with a clothes iron—set on the lowest setting. Once it’s heated, the surface can be pressed into place with a brick or a stack of books, but keep the pillowcase in place.
For small chips or cracks, try laminate-repair paste, available from your home improvement store. Take a scrap of the countertop (you should have kept extra laminate) with you to match up the color of the paste. If you find that sections are curled back and peeling, try the iron-heat process first and if the adhesive won’t engage, than use contact cement and press down the sections with books or another heavy object. Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol before pressing down with the iron.
When It’s Too Late
If your countertop is beyond simple repair, you may want to start planning for replacements. Depending on your budget, there are options in materials from granite, engineered stone, new laminates, or ceramic tile. Designs, colors, and options may have changed radically since your original countertops were installed.
