At Valley Marble & Tile, we pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled craftsmanship and sophistication through our premier countertop fabrication services.
You must have got some advice that a laminate countertop is the best option for your remodeling project because it’s cheap and reliable. You might have heard many more such advice from within your circle.
But today you will hear it from the experts and know what they have to say about these composite countertops. These are famous for the right reasons but have their shortcomings too.
In this article, we will discuss the good and bad of these countertop options and will also compare their properties to other materials available in the market.
Also, many people seem to use the laminate with Formica laminate. Formica is the company that first came up with these countertops and since then people have been using the name for all types of laminates. So, let’s start with the things that make it so popular in the market.
The reason why people love these countertops is because of their pricing. These countertops are one of the most affordable options out there. The only other material that comes close to competing with it is ceramic tiles. But they are not that common.
These are mainly made of resins, polymers, and kraft paper. All of these are relatively cheap raw materials. It’s a great option for people who are low on budget and want to get beautiful countertops. It is also a good option for people who want to remodel their interiors frequently.
These countertops come in a wide range of options. You can get almost all sorts of designs, patterns, textures, and colors.
There are multiple options in the market that look exactly like wood, tile, granite, marble, and more. People can have the looks of a luxurious kitchen while spending very little amount.
It’s almost impossible to distinguish a designed laminated countertop from an actual granite or marble countertop. However, the difference is clear one you touch the material or lift it.
Because of their composite nature, they have a non-porous surface. Meaning there are no holes or minor cracks that can absorb dust and other staining materials. It’s a clean, slippery surface made out of quality plastic and covered with protective sealing.
Because of its stain-resistant quality, we see a rising trend in laminate kitchen countertops. It also doesn’t absorb any water or moisture from its upper surface.
As discussed before, it’s a clean seamless surface with no dents or crevices. Because of that, it does not collect any dust, dirt, or other contamination.
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The cleaning and maintenance is very simple. All you need to do is wipe the surface with a wet towel or a wet piece of cloth. If you want to go the extra mile, you can use light detergents or even your dishwashing soap to clean any dust or grease.
The water drains off effortlessly leaving you with a clean and shiny countertop.
It’s one of the easiest to install. These countertops are very lightweight when compared to materials like stone and granite. These are just some plastic sheets that are compacted with kraft paper to form a durable surface. Most of them are precut to fit perfectly with your sink.
You can perform a simple kitchen countertop replacement easily at home. Make sure that the previous countertop is not heavy and dangerous to remove. Also, take time to measure everything correctly before starting a DIY installation.
Yes, they are made of plastic which is a very durable material but these are not invincible. These countertops have the shortest lifespan of all the other options. By short we mean at least 10-15 years, which is still a long time but not as long as marble or granite.
The reason it’s not that durable is because of how it’s made. Multiple layers of resins, composites, and kraft paper are compressed together to form a durable sheet. Now these sheets are weak from the sides and the layers usually start to deteriorate. This causes the laminate sheet to lose its strength over time.
If it gets a small crack then it can be covered with the help of different paints and sealings. However, if it gets a deep cut or is chipped then it’s almost impossible to get it fixed. You can try to fill in that chipped area or crack with lots of sealing, but it will never be the same.
It can also get damaged due to water. It’s waterproof on the surface but if it gets on the sides it will start to weaken the layers. That is why bathroom countertop repair is very difficult to restore the damaged parts.
You have to be careful not to place extremely hot things on these countertops. Some good quality materials can withstand some heat to an extent. But if you are careless, the surface will shrink and melt in front of your eyes. This sort of damage is not repairable and you will have to replace the whole countertop.
Unlike marble and wood, these countertops cannot be refinished over and over again. Other materials are uniform throughout their width. For example, if you’re refining marble, you will get a brand new layer of marble underneath. The same goes for wood and granite. But if you refinish laminate, you will destroy the layers and it will be a complete waste of your money.
Don’t be discouraged because of all the drawbacks of laminate. These are still some of the most popular countertop options in the market and the demand is only growing. It can be a valuable addition to your home while staying on a budget. Just make sure that you use them properly and follow all the precautionary measures that your manufacturer suggests. With proper care, it will last for more than a decade and you will get the maximum return for your investment.
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