Laminate is a wonderful material that’s popular among the masses. It’s can be called similar to wood and is affordable than most stone countertops like marble and granite countertops. If you are willing to buy laminate for your kitchen countertops, then you better keep these things in mind.

Composition Of Laminate Countertops

Laminate, at first glance, might seem like it’s made of plastic. It’s made out of thin sheets of medium-density fiber wood and that is what gives it that characteristic wood-like appearance. The MDF is applied on top of a layer of a base layer of laminate and it’s all topped off with a decorative and protective layer that can make the countertops look even more beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

The shiny protective coating on top is what gives the illusion that laminate is made out of something like plastic, but it’s thin layers of wood and that’s pretty awesome.

The Wide Variety

Laminate is one of the few countertop materials that will leave you awestruck with all of the colors, patterns, and choices it has to offer. There is something for everyone, from someone who likes softer colors to options that will sate the inner creative fanatic in you too. The colors are endless because the fabrication is pretty simple.

All you need is some different colors of the protective paper and you’re good to go luckily, these can be made pretty easily, so customers can choose from an endless array of colors and designs and choose something that resonates with their likes and personality.

It Is Inexpensive

Laminate is wonderful because of its price as well. Think about the varieties you’re getting at a very reasonable price. It’s a steal for people. A lot of the time, people tend to stay away from countertops that are just too glamorous and out of range for them, because, at the end of the day, they want to be able to install a budget-friendly countertop for their kitchen.

If they can’t afford a high-priced material, then their qualities are pretty useless and that’s quite valid. Well, laminate is amazing because it’s almost half in price, if not less than other stones and it gives other countertop materials a run for their money.

It’s Low Maintenance

Another great thing about laminate countertops is the fact that their cleaning and maintenance is easy. First of all, these countertops are non-porous so you can forget about all of the worries that come with stones that need to be sealed, because laminate does not need to be sealed.

It’s also quite easy to clean, given its very fluid-resistant “plastic” surface. Liquids just bead on top of the surface and don’t seep in further. This can be a huge problem with a lot of stones, especially the ones that are porous because water can do damage of epic proportions and it can ruin the most expensive of stones. But laminate will restrict the damage by restricting water from seeping in and spills can be cleaned up simply with a wet washcloth.

DIY Friendly

Not a lot of materials have this quality and DIY lovers will have a field day with this information. Laminate is pretty easy to install, so if you don’t want to hire a contractor, then you can get it done by yourself. It’s very easy to mount on existing countertops and you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get the installation done.

A lot of materials, whether it be granite or marble and even quartz, can’t be installed by yourself, because they’re heavy, there’s a huge risk of seams and no matter what you do, you’re going to need a professional. But with laminate, you can kiss all of these worries goodbye.

It Has Low Resale Value

This one is a bummer and if it were the opposite, then you better believe that laminate would have been the perfect material. It is a material that isn’t loved by a lot of people, especially the ones who are obsessed with the opulence of natural stones.

Because of this reason, laminate doesn’t have a great resale value and it won’t give you a good deal when you try to go ahead and sell your house. This is a huge letdown, given that laminate has a lot of qualities and it’s more affordable than most countertop materials. If you want to increase the value of your house, go with granite, marble, or quartz.

Lasts Reasonably Long

Laminate is not the kind of material that will lose its strength. It’s a good material because it can last from 10 to 20 years if maintained properly and that’s an amazing fact. Laminate is the perfect material.

It doesn’t need a lot of maintenance. It can go without being sealed or anything and it’s also lightweight, so installation will be a breeze. Add to all of it the factor of reasonable durability, and you really can’t say that this material doesn’t have it all. This is why many homeowners who want to do countertop replacement Durham NC on a small budget, choose laminate countertops.

It’s Preference-Based

Not a lot of people like the look of laminate and that’s a fact. This is one of the reasons why it’s not as popular as other luxurious, natural stones. It’s truly a bummer, because all of the other qualities of laminate are amazing, but just because of preference, this material isn’t as widely appreciated as others. It’s just not the first choice of people and if they have the budget, then they will certainly go for those expensive stones, and that’s just how it is.

Laminate is more popular among people who can’t afford pricey stones and want to stick to something durable and long-lasting. It’s truly a preference thing, and it’s the harsh truth that laminate isn’t just as preferred by customers. It has something to do with the cheap-looking appearance and the tackiness of the material, in general. So, if you’re someone who is bothered by these things, then laminate isn’t for you.

It Can Mimic Any Countertop Material

This is one of the biggest qualities of laminate. It can mimic almost all and any type of countertop material. The protective layer on top of the laminate countertops is a paper that can have any design printed on it in any color. This allows you to transform your laminate countertops into faux granite, marble, quartz, sandstone, and even wooden countertops.

This paper can be stuck easily on the surface of the laminate countertop and it’s just a matter of time until you can fool the eye with illusions. You can request the fabricator to make a specific countertop for you, or you can have the paper printed and then you can stick it by yourself if you’re feeling like getting your hands dirty with a small DIY project. You will love the results.

Conclusion

Laminate might be a wonderful material, but that doesn’t mean that it can be well-suited for all. Whether you choose laminate as your countertop material or not, depends on your preference and your budget. If you need faux granite countertops NC or wood-like countertops at a low price, laminate is a good option.