Laminate Worktops: Poor Quality or Good Value?
Many people elect to install laminate worktops in their kitchens. Even though they are one of the most popular types of kitchen worktops, some people are put off purchasing them because they believe that they are of poor quality and will not last very long. In this post we will explore whether or not this opinion is rooted in fact, or whether it is a tag that has been unfairly attached to laminate worktops.
Obviously, concepts such as poor quality and good value are very subjective. Your definition of these terms might be very different to the next persons. However, there are some general statements that have a wide consensus. Laminate worktops are towards the lower end of the worktop market in both price and quality. Compared to granite, for example, laminate kitchen worktops look very flimsy and low-grade. Yet, if you have the budget to even be considering granite counters, you are not a potential purchaser of a laminate worktop anyway. We must avoid the temptation to compare laminate kitchen worktops with the top of the range counters, and focus on looking at what they actually offer themselves.
Laminate worktops have a number of things going for them. First and foremost is the price tag. Laminate worktops can be had extremely cheaply and thus are well suited to kitchen redesigns on a tight budget. Furthermore, laminate kitchen worktops are cheap and easy to cut, shape and install. You will not require a specialist installer and sinks and stoves can easily be incorporated. Finally, laminate worktops are easy to keep clean. The surface is waterproof, making it very hygienic.
Laminate worktops do have some considerable downsides that can’t be glossed over. First, laminate can look very worn and tired in a short space of time, particularly at its edges and corners. If a laminate surface is not treated with care, it is all too easy to irreparably damage the surface by scorching it, cutting onto it and catching the edges so that the laminate detaches from the worktop core. Secondly, it is very hard to join two pieces of laminate worktop in a seamless way. Laminate joints are usually very visible and can become an entry point for water to penetrate to the core. This will lead, over time, to a loss of the worktop’s structural integrity.
That said, I believe that laminate worktops do represent good value for money. If they are treated with care they can last many years, and they are a viable option for a kitchen redesign on a tight budget. The laminate worktops of today are much better quality than those of the past.
Related posts: