About Laminated Countertops

Since the kitchen is subjected to high traffic, proper consideration of the countertops is a good idea. One of the best benefits of laminated countertops is their versatility. One aspect of laminated countertops that every homeowner should research before purchasing is the wood product underneath the laminate.

Types

The most popular types are custom and prefabricated. The latter comes with square edges as well as rolled. Issues like thickness, finish and durability are what make the laminates differ in type. Many are created in the same fashion, but the material used in the process is the most important difference. Consider all possible traffic that the countertop will receive, including hot pans from the stove.

Features

One of the best features of laminated countertops is its versatility. Corners and rounds are easily achieved with laminates, where tile or granite takes a little more effort and time. Laminated countertops can be installed on a section of kitchen countertops that connect to the back of a base cabinet. By raising the height of the back, a bar top is created. Since laminate is lighter than other countertop material, it is less expensive to utilize this feature of laminated countertops.

Benefits

Laminated countertops can be found with a variety of different finishes. With a pattern matching ceramic tile or marble, a high gloss finish is used to create the look of ceramic tile or marble. The noticeable benefit is in the initial cost: Laminates are a fraction of the cost of granite, ceramic tile or marble.

Considerations

Laminates are glued to different types of wood like high-density fiberboard, particleboard or plywood. In order for the laminates to adhere to these materials, adhesives made specifically for this purpose are used. The laminate itself is made up of several layers of Kraft paper, one layer of melamine for the pattern and a clear melamine top layer. These are pressure-treated at 150 degrees F to bind the layers together. With that in mind, consideration should be given when placing a hot pan on its surface.

Expert Insight

Something that isn't common knowledge to most consumers is the option to resurface laminated countertops. Epoxy paint is one of the materials available to use for this purpose. However, it is a precise art and calls for even coats. This is the main issue that consumers have difficulty with when trying to resurface their laminated countertops. This may be something that is best left to the professional, because the possibilities of transforming old countertops into a beautiful addition to the kitchen or bath are endless.