Formica is a brand name that refers to a type of laminate countertop material. This type of countertop is often considered out-of-date and is not often found in newer homes. If you want to transform your laminate countertops into more sophisticated granite ones, your desire may be closer to fulfillment than you realize. Granite tiles can be applied over laminate with the correct preparation, allowing you to update your countertops with a small amount of effort and achieve the look of granite countertops at a fraction of the price of a slab.

1
Clean the laminate countertops well with mild liquid dish soap and water. Rinse them with plain water. Dry all of the surface well with a towel or allow to fully air-dry.

2
Pry off any portion of laminate backsplash with a small crowbar. Set this piece aside. Be sure to put it in a safe place where it will not be damaged if you wish to reinstall it.

3
Make scratches on the laminate countertop diagonally in one direction with a utility knife. Rescore the surface moving diagonally in the other direction to create hash marks. This creates a surface to which the thinset can cling.

4
Measure the countertop length and width to find the center. Mark it with a pencil. Start tiling here so that all of your edges will be even.

5
Lay out your granite tiles how you want them installed. Remember to leave room for grout lines; use plastic tile spacers if they are helpful. Mark any cuts that need to be made onto the appropriate tiles with a chalk that shows up well and make the cuts with a saw with a diamond bladed wet saw.

6
Trowel a thin, even layer of thinset over the center of the countertop. Place the first, center tile and attach the tile spacers. Continue applying thinset and tiling the entire countertop in both directions.

7
Let the tiles dry 24 hours and spread grout over the surface of the countertop with a grout trowel, working it well into the spaces. Wipe the surface of each tile clean with a damp sponge. Cover the grout with a sealer using a thin brush and allow everything to dry 24 to 48 hours before using the counter.