Surface Preparation

• Laminate can be laid over wood, particle board or even old laminate. Regardless of the material, the surface has to be clean, solid and free of gloss. If the surface is old laminate and it's peeling up in places, glue it down. If a wood surface has gouges or chips in it, fill them with wood putty. Sand the whole surface with a power hand-sander and 80-grit sandpaper until there's no shine left. Thoroughly clean the dust.
  
  

Mounting

• Laminate is mounted with contact cement, which is a type of glue that is spread on and allowed to dry. It won't feel sticky to the touch but will bond instantly to other surfaces that have contact cement on them. Cut each piece of laminate to be an inch bigger all around than the surface it's going on. Spread contact cement on the surface, and on the back of the laminate, and let both of them dry, then press the pieces together. For large horizontal pieces like long countertops, lay rows of dowel rods on the surface and set the laminate on top of them so you can get it properly positioned before pulling out the rods and pressing down the laminate.
  
  

Trimming and Finishing

• Once each piece of laminate is down, roll over it with a rolling pin or laminate roller to make sure it binds tightly to the surface. Use a router to trim off the overhang at the edges; you can purchase a special router bit that's designed for this purpose. Run the router along the edges in a steady, medium-slow motion to prevent chipping, and make sure to wear goggles. For laminate pieces that meet at corners, finish by stroking a metal file over the corner at a 45-degree angle to take off the sharpness.