Reader Sarah successfully removed a layer of more modern laminate from her yummy gold-speckled mid-century laminate beneath. She wrote about her experience — and the products she used — on her blog, Sarahs’ Blue Castle. But before you jump over there, take a look at her note to me and my comments here first –>
Hi Pam!
About a year ago I emailed you asking if you knew of any resources for removing laminate from a vintage laminate counter top. At the time, I was trying to remove laminate that the previous owners had glued to my vintage counters. You didn’t know of any successful way to do this. I managed to stumble upon a citrus stripper that worked wonders, and I was able to successfully restore my vintage counter tops. I wrote a post about it here. I just thought I would share in case it could be a help to any of your readers who may be attempting the same thing.
Thank you for your time. I have learned so much from your site and appreciate the time you put into sharing information with your readers.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Very cool, Sarah — and thanks for getting back to me so I could share your experience on the blog. Readers, Precautionary Pam (that’s me) also advises: (1) You never know what’s in old adhesives. Wise to get a sample tested before you start stripping so that you know what you are working with, and (2) As Sarah mentions on her blog, chemical strippers can be noxious — be sure to ventilate and handle this stuff according to directions. Finally — remember this post from Jan. 2009 — which recommends a product, Countertop Magic, that can help revived dull old laminate.
Where to find speckled gold laminate for countertops? 
Jeff is on the lookout for gold speckled laminate countertops — he uses them for banjo finger boards! 
Vintage countertop laminate from GE Textolite 
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Wow! They look great, Sarah! That’s our countertop (our house was built in 1959). Our tax-preparer has this on her baesment bar, which was built in the late 50′s. I think it is GE Textolite “Golden Beige Twilight”. I need to try some of that Countertop Magic… we have some dull spots on ours where my husband cleaned the counter with the scrubber side of the sponge! Anyway, enjoy your “new” countertops!
Three cheers! What a pretty counter top and here’s to Sarah’s hard work and determination to uncover such a beauty.
Lucky the PO chose to cover the old one up and didn’t replace it. This way it could be rediscovered and brought back to life!
My kitchen countertops are similar, and the back splash is a sheet of coordinating formica applied over the drywall. It was there when I bought the house, and I think it must all be original.
Ha! Wouldn’t the people who covered it up have a good laugh at this.
I’m with you, Sarah. I love the old stuff.
It seems like all we’ve done since moving in to our old house is re-do everything the Previous Owners did. I was sure thinking of them as I tore up that laminate.
It was a bugger to get off, but I love the counters so much better.
Thank you all for your kind comments, and thank you Pam for the feature. It’s nice to find other folks who like the gold-speckled stuff too.
You know, I have this idea that the old laminate is way more durable, too. We’re already experiencing wear with our Formica Skylark. It’s about 4 years old now. We use the space by the sink a lot a lot… it gets a lot of water… it’s starting to drab-ify. I need to get some Countertop Magic myself to see if that does anything. Anyway… again, I bet the old stuff was made with materials or processes (likely not good for the workers) that made the stuff last longer…..Just guessin’
Pam, I think you’re on to something…
…and it’s not just the laminate – it’s the adhesives and substrates that are stronger and more durable as well.
Then of course, the workmanship that went into old laminate countertops just can’t be matched today since laminate countertops are currently considered “Low End”.
I too think you’re on to something… we have the original Formica in our 1957 kitchen and it still looks great. I have seen 4-year-old laminate that looks much, much worse… and sadly, the previous owners cut into the original laminate to install a cooktop without a hood above, so the steam is ruining the original cabinets above. So unless I come up with something to replace just that section, we will need new countertops when we redo the kitchen… it makes me want to cry, losing the laminate that’s there now.
The Formica in our kitchen is 13 years old and looks as good as new… except for the spot where my hubby spilled some chemical the other day (yeah, the pain is fresh) and it ate away the finish.
So maybe it’s the “new new” stuff that isn’t as durable? I am pretty rough on my counters!
I’m amazed and very appreciative for this information — thanks for sharing this!
My grandparents have that laminate pattern in their kitchen (ca 1972). Their backsplash is white 4×4 ceramic tile with tan flecks in the glaze, giving it a slight texture.
When we moved into our 1953 ranch, the counters were covered in tile. Yeah — really sanitary! We decided to go with a black sparkly Silestone because we wanted something retro-looking, but durable. I was sort of hoping, however, when they demolished the tile that some kind of wicked cool laminate would be lurking under there. But alas — the previous owners had whatever it was stripped off before tiling. I was disappointed, because I wanted to get a feel for the colors of the original kitchen, but now I’ll never know.
Congrats on your sparkly laminate! Very cool!
Great job, Sarah! Looks fantastic!
I vote for wallpaper or 4″ square tiles for the backsplash. Apart from everyone and their sister using them nowadays, subway tile is really a 1920s look. The square tiles would be perfect for your cute kitchen!
Hello! I’ve got a question to pose to the DIY experts here at Retro Renovation.
We are doing a retro renovation (naturally!) of our 1962 kitchen. We discovered that the original, awesome formica countertop lives, in good shape, under a layer of granite tile and a layer of drywall that appears to be cemented to the formica. Removing the granite is no problem at all — chisel, hammer, hard work. But removing the drywall looks scarier — I’d like to do it without damaging the formica. Has anybody else run into this in their remodel?
Of course, the internet has PLENTY of advice about going the other way ’round, ADDING granite tile on top of old formica, but very little about restoring the original formica!
And I always chime in here: Get your materials tested for asbestos lead whatever nasties (1) when you move in and (2) if you do further disruption….Consult with the pro’s.