Crumbling particleboard under countertops

[Chris M.]

Hi all,

I'd like some advice on a place that I'm currently zipping up with a tenant likely to move in Nov 1st.

The kitchen is original and the condo was built in 1983. So lots of fake wood laminate and particleboard. Some areas are getting soft but it's serviceable for at least a couple years. It was an all cash deal so I'm looking to recoup after rehabbing the place.

So here is the question. I replaced the dishwasher when I started on the kitchen. The brackets screw into the underside of the counter, which are made of particleboard and crumbling pretty badly now. The screws can't grab hold and I could see bigger chunks of particleboard coming loose as the dishwasher door is opened and closed.

So how would I approach this as a temporary solution before I replace the kitchen? I was thinking of gluing/screwing a long thing strip of wood under the countertop edge and driving the screws into that. Before I go that route I just wanted to get some other suggestions that might be more feasible. I'm a little worried that the strip of wood would come loose eventually as well.

[Jon Holdman]

Are these those preformed laminated counter tops with the built in back splash? If so, I'd just replace them. They're something $10 per lineal foot at home depot. They're not complex to cut an install yourself, provided you buy the pre-cut corners. You also need a helper to handle the weight.

Nothing you stick in there is really going to work very well because the whole thing is falling apart. No matter what you screw into, it going to disintegrate. Plus you may just be noticing the tip of the iceberg. You really don't want a call saying "I filled up the sink and it fell through the countertop."

If you're determined to add some sort of shim the key is going to be to make it big enough that you're gluing or screwing into something solid. If its just the area right around the old screws, you could go back a few inches and find solid particleboard. If the whole countertop is falling apart, this may be difficult. If its just around the screws, you could try drilling out the bad area and using "rock hard water putty" to fill it in. This is a dry poweder you mix up and it really is very hard once it dries.