How to select Laminate Countertops

Posted by Deepak Kumar on June 23rd, 2017

Scratch Test: Choose the laminates you like and give a test run with a steak knife and see how they hold up to wear and tear.

Although laminates are durable, scratches are inevitable as countertops get heavy wear. Scratches are generally light coloured, which makes them visible against deep colours and virtually impossible to hide.

If you like a deep colour, find a pattern in the same colour that will help disguise scratches. Test this by taking a colour chip and dragging the coarse bottom of a coffee cup on it, and then a steak knife. Check how visible are the scratches.

Test laminate colours first in your kitchen:

Laminates sheets are available in an array of colours and patterns, which can make it difficult for us to choose. Select few chips and wild card to take them home for a week or more. Judge them against the wall and cabinet colours in your kitchen. Observe then in daylight and under room lights in the evening too.

To make sure you make a good collection, visit a kitchen speciality retailer or a home centre. You may find different and wider range of option. You can also visit the laminate manufacturers' web sites.

Choose a post-formed laminate:

Laminate countertops are available in a number of shapes and edge treatments. The most common is post-formed, which means the top is formed from a single piece of laminate that is shaped into a backsplash at the rear and rounded edge in front. As it has a single piece, it has no corners to catch dirt and no seams to separate.