With changing trends and needs, a variety of materials have been used over the years for kitchen countertops. But laminates have stirred a debate for quite some time now.
Laminates are made of wood byproducts and resin glued together, passed through heat and a hydraulic press, later laminated with plastic sheets. They have made a quick reputation in kitchen countertop options because of their low price and variety of designs. However, they aren’t durable in the long run, so they are a good option for someone who’s looking for a low budget kitchen remodelling.
But if you’re looking for something long term then here’s why you should keep laminate countertops are your absolute last option:
1. Less Durability
Laminate countertops tend to last long when properly cared for but their durability is still way less than PVC and wood cabinets. Once the edges and corners of the laminate countertop start to tear off, it is extremely difficult to repair them and stick them back on. You might need to replace the whole thing which is just a dent in your budget!
Laminate is being used for countertops, but according to the following quartz vs. laminate countertop comparison chart, laminate is less durable for countertops as well as cabinets:
- Loses firmness in a humid environment but quartz, wood and PVC materials retain their structure.
- Contain particle board shelves and jambs which are less durable than plywood used in wood cabinets.
- Can’t be repaired once the edges lift off, unlike wood that can be sanded.
Now that we know laminate is definitely not the right choice for you in you are looking for durability or live in a humid environment, let’s take a look at the textures and visual appeal:
2. Limited Visual Appeal
If you are an admirer of classic and traditional kitchen design styles, nothing can beat wood! Laminate countertops come in a variety of styles and finishes at a cheap price, but they lack depth and it can be easily distinguished from real wood.
There are some high-end expensive laminate countertops that are really similar to wood but they are definitely not budget friendly and why bother when you can get the real wood at the same price? Similarly PVC can be customised to a variety of designs and comes with a better durability and fire resistance than laminate.
3. Cost and Resale Value
We get it, saving money on kitchen countertops sounds really tempting, and laminate countertops provide you with just the thing, But here’s the catch, they don’t add to your home’s resale value in any way. Whereas wood and other materials might be a little pricier, they are a top tier material and the extra money you spend on them will add to the resale value of your home.
On the other hand, if you save money and get yourself laminate countertops , they will wear out sooner and might just end up decreasing your resale value if anything.
4. Maintenance & Care
Laminate countertops are no doubt really low maintenance and easy to clean. They can be cleaned with mild cleaning agents and don’t need any high end maintenance. But caring for laminate countertops is not as easy as cleaning them. As already established, they are prone to damage with humidity and also get damaged with heat and start to peel off. The repair costs on laminate countertops can be too high and you can’t save the edges from peeling off over time even with extreme care. It makes more sense to just get a good quality wood or PVC structure that will last you a long time and save you repair costs.
Now that we have established that Laminate countertops are not the right choice for your kitchen given their less durability and visual appeal as compared to wood and PVC. They might be easy maintenance, and save money on kitchen remodel, but it is only for a short time and they’ll start to wear out sooner than wood and PVC. What’s the point of saving that money on something that isn’t going to last long? So don’t get yourself something that isn’t durable just to save yourself money on your remodel and end up spending more money on repairing it! Remember to only choose laminate countertop if you REALLY have to in case of unavailability of other options!
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