So you've decided to install a new laminate countertop in your kitchen. Whether your home improvement project is to increase the value of your home or to create the dream look you've always dreamed of, price is always a consideration. By choosing laminate for your countertop you're choosing durability, ease of maintenance and customized look and feel at an affordable cost.
Laminate sheets can range in price from $3 to $100 per linear foot based upon color, texture, manufacturer, design and location. First you must determine what type of laminate sheet you will choose for your countertop. You can then determine the material costs associated with your countertop.
Next determine the area of your countertop you will cover, one key point to this is to understand the difference between linear foot and a square foot. Countertop manufacturers build sheets that are customized to a depth of 24 inches the average depth of countertops. The average countertop is between 28-30 feet which means 28-30 linear feet if you measured by square foot your countertop would cover a 56-60 square feet. So measure the linear square feet of your countertop.
Now that you have your price per linear foot and total linear feet to be covered you can now determine your material costs.
[Price per linear foot * Total linear feet = Material Costs]
With your materials costs now known you must now make a decision, will you install the laminate countertop yourself or will you contract out the installation.
1. Costs associated with Installing the laminate countertop yourself
Tools & Supply Costs
Contact Cement ($50)
Wooden Mallet ($15)
Paint Brush w/roller ($8)
Power Sander ($30)
Work Gloves ($8)
Router ($95)
Router Special Grooving Disc ($19)
Sanding Block ($15)
Straight Edge ($17)
Utility Knife ($10)
Fine Toothed Hand Saw ($20)
Fine Toothed Back Saw ($20)
Power Saw ($50)
Power Saw Fine Toothed Blade ($15)
File ($10)
Sandpaper ($5)
Total costs will be around ($387.00) for tools and supplies, please note prices may range based upon region, manufacturer or customized need. Prices listed are the median cost of five different items researched online.
2. Contracting out the installation
Common rates are $20-30 per linear square foot this may differ based upon the rate that you agree on with your contractor or any additional costs associated to supplies or tools needed for your installation. To get a budget range for the installation use the following to get a rough idea of costs associate with contracting out your laminate countertop project.
[$25 * Total linear feet = Labor Costs]
So now that we've determined your material costs, tools & supply costs and labor costs you can now get a better idea of the cost that will be associated with your countertop home improvement project.
If you need any assistance please visit us at how to install laminate countertops. It's our goal to provide customers the best possible information regarding their home improvement project.
Article written by Richard L McCaffery,
How Much Will My Laminate Countertop Cost?
