Ask someone about laminate kitchen countertops and you may get a variety of reactions. At one time, laminate countertops were king, and everyone had to have them. Then Corian and other engineered stones came into vogue, followed by the natural stone, such as granite, of today.
Laminate countertops have been pushed back as choice of yesteryear. You can imagine laminate countertops in your parents or grandparents kitchens. But the tide may be turning a little bit for laminate. Home owners are starting to see once again the benefits of laminate, from its relatively low cost to its thousands of style options. And laminate doesn’t require a huge commitment, so if you are thinking of giving your kitchen a quick update that you don’t have to live with in five years, laminate countertops are a good choice.
The pros of laminate, some of which are mentioned above, is that it is a moderately durable surface that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. You can use regular cleaners on laminate. You also have a lot of options with laminate countertop installation. You can purchase ready-made countertops with pre-molded backsplash and molded edges, or fabricate it on-site yourself. It is inexpensive to purchase and install, and it comes in lots of designs.
The cons of laminate include the fact that it is not heat resistant and can be scratched with sharp knives. (Funny story: before I knew this, I cut on laminate countertops and did not see any scratches). Laminate also shows its seems, and this can be a downside, making it seem “cheap.”
There are so many options now with laminate, including some that look like granite, shiny surface and all.
Laminate is made out of layers of special moisture-resistant paper and decorative paper. The papers are given resin and then bonded together using high heat. A fully prefabricated laminate countertop is bonded in one piece with the backsplash and the edge.
Do you want to learn more about laminate countertops including the different grades of quality? Submit a comment and let me know!
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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