Getting this 10-foot-long u-shaped countertop aligned on the cabinet was going to be a challenge. As a just okay DIYer, I do not like challenges. Nothing impacts my Zen more than a challenge. I like things to go smoothly and trouble free. I like saying things out loud, like “That was easy,” or “Yes!” not “What the heck?” or “Geez!” (Note the PG swear words.) A challenge prevents me from getting to that end-of-the-project Zen moment.
I started by scribing my line on the top of the back splash. I knew I would need to take off a lot of the laminate as I got to the corner of the countertop. However, I would need to keep the edge near the oven aligned with the edge of the cabinet. Back and forth I went as I pulled out the countertop to remove material and then pushed it back to check the fit.
Finally, I had the countertop closely to where I wanted it. Actually, it was pretty good. Now it was time to glue down the countertops. I took care of the two easy ones first. With the desktop and refrigerator pieces, I would remove them completely and apply a heavy bead of silicone on the edges of the cabinets. I placed the countertops back and I pushed down and towards the back wall. I checked the overhang and the flush edge of the refrigerator piece. I backed away and gave the countertops a look. Good! I would next tackle the behemoth of a countertop behind me.
With the help of my wife, Efiwym, we lifted up the large countertop from the front. We did not remove it. We lifted the countertop as high as I needed to get the beads of silicone where I could. I had one hand on the countertop and with the other, I applied silicone. I had Efiwym hold the countertop by the peninsula. She positioned herself close to the joint to protect it from splitting. Once I was done with the silicone, we slowly dropped the countertop down. I pushed the countertop tightly towards the back wall making sure the countertop lined up by the oven and the other wall. Once in place, I pushed down on the countertop to set it in the silicone.
After a long day, I would install the sink tomorrow.