I guess it comes down to cost but it's a relatively stupid idea to use particle board for a coutertop. I preach to my kids about it but there's always water on the back corner that's leaching into the crack between the top surface and plastic trim they use on the edge. It's lifting and is starting to be noticeable. Brand new Jayco. I've sealed.it with silicone a half dozen times and water still gets in. Ugh!
I hate using particle board for a countertop. It is about as ridiculous as using drywall in a bathroom to support tile in a shower stall. Sooner or later there will be a leak and damage or destruction of the counter top or shower stall.
I encountered a new level of stupidity in my RV. Particle board was used for the substrate for the laminated countertop. Then the manufacturer used a router to bevel the edges of the countertop and exposed raw particle board. Needless to say it did not take long before the particle board started to swell.
When I bought my MH 11 years ago the edge of the particle board was swelled due to water intrusion. I removed the laminate edging and cut slots were it was swelled then applied glue and clamps over night. I then bonded wood edging that was polyurethaned.
Same as your trailer mine is particle board with Formica top layer. I have a 13 inch wide elliptical sink with the faucet mounted through the counter top. Water leaked up through the cheap plastic faucet spout and down into the holes where the faucet was mounted through and slightly soaked into the particle board. Luckily the counter top Formica did not separate. I installed a good quality household bathroom faucet and sealed it good to the counter top with lots of butyl tape. I wanted to install a better sink that the faucet would mount through, but unfortunately after I removed the existing sink I found that they butchered the counter top when cutting the hole. Instead of elliptical they did a sloppy hoe cut that is more gouged out than cut out. the existing sink will fit and seal in the sloppy hole but there is not enough counter top material left at the front of the hole to be able to seal any other type of sink when trying to modify the existing hole cut.
I want to replace the counter top with a better one. I found someone locally that does DuPont Corian counter tops. He says he cuts the holes in the Corian for the bowl and bonds the Corian sinks to the counter tops just like they come premade like you order at Lowe's or Home Depot. Lowe's and Home Depot couldn't order me one the size I wanted. I think he might be able to do a bonded back splash. I told him I needed a 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick counter top 30inches wide x 15 inches deep with 4 inch high backsplash and a small trailer sized bowl in it with the largest size bowl that could fit. Sounds like he can get the small trailer sized sink bowls in Corian. He said he thought he could do it and to measure everything up and E-mail him a sketch and he would let me know for sure. Haven't had time to draw it up yet. I don't expect it to be cheap, but I'm willing to go up to $300 if he can do it.
If interested, you might see if someone in your area does similar Corian counter top work.
I've got a lot going on right now but will try to get the sketch off soon and let you know if it can be done.
Prevention is going to be the best solution for this. There are millions of particle board countertops in use, it's probably the most used substrate for laminate surfaces.
I'd suggest to shop for a plastic edging and epoxy the new edging in place.
If it's under warranty take it back. If not rip that cruddy stuff out and replace it with decent Marine Plywood and either a solid surface or Formica Top!
Rob & Jean 98 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher ..07 Honda CRV AWD
