Rough Cutting

• Laminate pieces are typically cut 1/2 inch wider and longer than the face they will be installed to. The best tool for this job is a table saw with a fine tooth plywood blade. Cut all of your pieces at once to save time. For smaller projects that only require a few pieces, score the back of the laminate using a utility knife along a metal straight edge. Snap the pieces off, by pressing down firmly, with the score line on the edge of a table.
  
  

Application

• Stick your laminate down using contact cement. Wood glues and some hot glues can be used, but for a long-lasting, easy-to-manage installation, contact cement is the best product. It comes in both solvent and water-based solutions. The water-based adhesive is best for do-it-yourself installations. It has no fumes, is nontoxic, and eliminates the risk of fire that can occur with solvent-based adhesives. Spread the glue with a paintbrush, or roller. Allow it to dry thoroughly before fitting your laminate. Laminate must be pressed in place. Use a J roller, or a rolling pin.
  
  

Trimming

• Use a router to trim the edges flush with the edges of your substrate. Set the depth to about twice the thickness of your laminate, typically 1/8 inch, so that the bearing of your flush cut bit rides on the edge of the substrate material. Run the router around the edge clockwise for a smooth cut. Use a sander to smooth off any roughness left by the router. Be cautious when using a sander; any loose edge will lift and can break from snagging on your sander.
  
  

Finishing

• Once the edge is trimmed flush, it must be beveled to prevent the edge catching on clothing and other objects that brush past it. Many laminate manufacturers recommend laminate trimmers. These small routers have specialized guide fences to allow a very close cut. Unless the blade is new or newly sharpened and the fence is properly aligned, the results are typically unsatisfactory. A low-tech, mill bastard file is the tool of choice for most cabinet makers and installers. Run the file at a 45 degree angle along the edge to trim it smooth.