Can I install laminate countertops myself in my NB kitchen?

Yes, laminate countertops are one of the few countertop types that a confident DIYer can install, and they're a practical budget-friendly choice for NB kitchens at $20-45 per square foot for materials. Pre-formed (post-formed) laminate countertops from big box stores come with the backsplash already curved into the slab, making them the most DIY-friendly option. Custom laminate with square edges or no integrated backsplash is slightly more complex but still manageable.

The basic process involves measuring carefully, cutting the countertop to length with a circular saw (using a fine-tooth blade, cutting from the back side to prevent chipping the laminate face), making cutouts for the sink, and securing the countertop to the cabinet base with screws from underneath. Where two sections meet at a corner, you'll need to use draw bolts (also called miter bolts) to pull the joint tight, and apply colour-matched laminate seam filler to make the joint water-resistant.

Where NB's Climate Creates Challenges

The critical detail for New Brunswick installations is sealing every seam and the sink cutout edges with waterproof silicone. Laminate countertops have a particleboard or MDF core that will swell and disintegrate if water penetrates the laminate surface — and in NB's humid summers, even moisture vapour can cause problems at unsealed edges over time. Apply a generous bead of 100% silicone around the sink cutout before dropping in the sink, and seal the backsplash joint where the countertop meets the wall. This is the step most DIYers rush through, and it's the one that causes the most failures.

For the sink cutout, you'll need a jigsaw with a clean-cutting laminate blade. Drill a starter hole inside the cutout line, then cut carefully following your traced template. Take your time here — a botched sink cutout on a laminate countertop is essentially unrepairable, and you'll need to buy a new section.

When to Call a Professional

DIY works well for straight runs and simple L-shapes with one miter joint. If your kitchen has multiple corners, curved walls, or unusual angles, the cuts become much more demanding and a professional installer at $300-600 for labour alone is a worthwhile investment. Also, if your cabinets aren't level — common in older NB homes with settled foundations — the countertop will need shimming and scribing to the wall, which takes experience to get right.

If your project involves any plumbing changes (moving the sink location, adding a dishwasher connection) or electrical work (adding an outlet for a garburator), those portions require permits and licensed tradespeople in New Brunswick regardless of whether you install the countertop yourself. Budget $20-45 per square foot for materials if doing it yourself, versus $35-65 per square foot fully installed by a professional in the NB market. The savings are real but only if you have the tools, patience, and a helper — laminate countertops are awkward and fragile to maneuver, especially 8-foot sections through doorways of older NB homes.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Thirty Four Renovations
• Gionetterenovations