Laminate Countertops

Laminate countertops are made of laminated plastic which are adhered to the substrate made of plastic, plywood, and plastic. You will virtually find laminate countertops everywhere, such as in restaurants, kitchen, bathrooms, and even in bowling alleys.

Selecting a Laminate

As laminates are available in variety of designs and colors, you should have proper idea as of which laminate will be best for your area. Do not prefer a dark colored laminate as on these the scratches are easily visible. If you want to have a dark color, prefer the design on the laminate countertops that makes the scratches almost invisible. Always finalize after you test them in the area where you want it. For this, you can bring chips of the laminate designs you shortlisted and select the best one that suits your area. Also, select a matte finish compare to glossy finish as the matte being course surface hide wears and scratches better.

For selecting edges, you should keep the following points in mind:

· Avoid buying edges with sharp corners as your toddler may bump his head on it.

· Wood edges look better but they are most prone to moisture and wear.

· Bevel edges are those which go in contrast with your laminate. If you are opting for bevel edge, make sure it goes well with your laminate and the area.

Laminating a Countertop

You can easily laminate a countertop at your home. Follow the steps given below.

1. Prepare the surface for laminating: Before starting to laminate, you need to clear the surface where the laminate has to be applied. You should clean with sand and remove any paint or varnishing on the surface.

2. Cutting Laminated Sheets: Measure the size of the surface and cut the laminated sheet accordingly. Always remember to cut slightly oversized sheet so that you can easily trim the sheet later. Also, prefer to cut the sheets from the back, as it prevents chipping.

3. Applying the Laminate: Roughen the surface with sandpaper. Then apply the epoxy adhesives on the surface and on the back side of the laminate. Let both of these dry for few minutes, not for long time. Then safely position the laminate on the surface. Use a roller to apply pressure on the laminate so that it firmly sticks to the surface. Finally, you need to trim the edges safely.

Advantages of Laminate

· It is easy to clean. You can easily clean the laminate with mild soap and water.

· It is strain resistant. Even it is resistant to abrasions and moisture.

· It is handy and easy to paste on the substrate.

· You can easily change your kitchen styles in few years. A new laminate can be easily pasted on your old laminate without removing the old one and thus saving time and cost.

· It's available in variety of color, patterns, and designs. Some of the common designs are cool gray metallic laminate which resembles the stainless steel, wood coloured laminate, laminate resembling granite stone.

· They come in wide variety of range to suit everyone. With premium quality the rates goes on increasing.

· Compare to solid surface, laminate is cheaper and easier to fabricate.