DIY Project – Kitchen Countertops – Installation – Part 2

I could now work on the countertops on the other side of the kitchen. I brought in from the garage the three pieces for the u-shaped countertop. The countertop included metal connectors to put the pieces together.  There were 3 connectors per mitered edge.

I laid the pieces on the cabinets in the places where they needed to be installed.  I found that trying to install these connectors from underneath was not going to be easy. (This was a problem since that is how you install them.)  I removed the drawers from both corners.  I also removed all the items from the corner cabinets so I could work under the countertops.

I started with the short, mitered piece.  I joined the pieces together so I could line up the countertops. I separated them again to squeeze some Elmer’s® wood glue on each edge. Underneath I twisted myself up to fit into the cabinet door opening below. I pushed the countertops back together and inserted a connector in the routed-out area.  Using one hand to hold it in place, I used my open-ended Sears® wrench to tighten down the connector screw.

Once the connector was snug, I installed the other two.  I removed myself from the cabinet underneath and checked the fit of the countertops from the top. With a block of wood and hammer, I tapped the countertops to align them up.  As I pounded, one of the connectors fell out.  Geez!  Underneath I went again and re-installed the connector.  Back on my feet, I worked on the alignment.  Close enough.  I would tighten up the connectors later.

I moved to the peninsula side of the countertop…

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