This is the type of thing that’s well within their remit. There is absolutely no reason you cannot or should not do this. Often, high quality antiques are made out of a cheaper wood like pine then veneered in a layer of oak or maple or other very expensive and exotic wood.
Here’s a similar plan to the one in #6, this time using plywood and laminate to make the countertops. As you can see from the title, this project cost only $300 to complete, making it clear how much you can save by choosing this kind of countertop. Other options can be much more expensive, sometimes running into the thousands of dollars for something similar. Although some people might not realize, plywood can be an ideal material to use for building countertops because it’s so inexpensive as well as being extremely easy to work with. However, if you want to make a success of your project, there are a few hints and tips you’ll need to know before you start, and this plan is a great resource that will help you get it right.
You could save yourself a step and use Baltic Birch or Apple Ply for the countertop, which costs a few bucks extra but the edge looks good enough that you don’t need seperate edging. They even sell plastic laminate edging now that looks like Baltic Birch edge grain. If I was going to go that route, I’d use MDO with a solid wood circular wooden picnic table nosing. It’s very water resistant, smooth and IMO wouldn’t look too bad with a one inch oak nosing. Because of the oddball size of the countertop I would have to custom order a laminate top, which would be cost prohibitive. We are having a very hot and humid spell just now and at home with the AC is the nicest place to be.
Neither is really appropriate in this case, since they’re not very durable. There is the molded plastic T-shaped edging, designed to fit into a slot in the edge, which can be durable if you get heavy-duty stuff and glue it in well. Snag milady’s unmentionables and you’ll never hear the end of it. Since quartz countertops are the most popular choice with homeowners, there is a large variety of colours and patterns to choose from. Because of its thickness, the 3 cm quartz can provide adequate support without plywood. Since you won’t need to hide the plywood underneath it, there is no need for a laminated edge.
I started by filling the tiny gap between the two pieces I had to put together for the L-shaped piece, and I used wood filler to fill in this area. I decided to try my hand at building some countertops in this style, and the first step was to pick up a few sheets of ¾” plywood from my local Lowe’s store. I had the sheets ripped to a width of 25 ½” on the panel saw at the store, which makes them much more manageable, and then I could lay out the final length of the pieces once I brought them home. Trim molding covers the plywood edges with the help of wood glue, ensuring a smooth and inviting look all around. The final stain you choose will depend on your style.
Use a table saw, circular saw, or jigsaw to cut the MDF. It is important that the edges are extremely straight and accurate. For a DIY laminate countertop, the countertop substrate should be 3/4″ thick MDF (medium-density fiberboard).