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Laminate Kitchen Worktops
Laminate kitchen worktops have and always will be the most popular preferred choice for home owners all around the world. The main reason why they are so widely popular is because they are inexpensive as compared to other varieties of kitchen worktops and also because they are quite durable and easy to maintain.
In spite of this huge advantage, other fancier worktops such as steel, wood and even glass have become more common now as they lend a classy and modern look to any kitchen. This article will tell you all you want to know about laminate kitchen worktops and why they deserve a second look.
What are laminate kitchen worktops made of?
Laminate is made with layers of paper that includes a decorative layer and it also has a melamine resin. The thicker the laminate, the more durable it is with high-end laminates looking good till 10 years. Traditionally laminates used to look cheap but with today’s advanced technologies any laminate can be made to look like real granite, stone or wood at more than half the cost.
Exactly how durable is it?
Today’s laminates are much more durable than what was available a few years ago. The laminates that you see today in the market don’t chip off easy nor do they develop cracks. That being said, they are still not the most durable when you compare them with granite or stainless steel as the laminate still tends to develop scratches easily, stains easy and is not very heat resistant.
Is it easy to install?
Laminate is perhaps the easiest material to install. All you need is a step by step guide and few tools and you can easily install a laminate kitchen worktop all by yourself. You will need a jigsaw, scribing tool, sander and a cordless drill and you can buy the material needed from any hardware. It does not take much time and can be done over the weekend.
How do you care for laminate kitchen worktops?
In spite of the few above mentioned drawbacks of laminate worktops, you can easily make yours last for as long as up to 20 years if you follow these tips:
- Don’t use your laminate kitchen worktop as a cutting or chopping board to avoid getting scratch marks on its surface.
- Always use a trivet for keeping hot things on the worktop. Keeping hot pots or pans directly on the laminate surface will surely ruin it.
- Always clean the surface of the laminate worktop with water and a non-abrasive cleaner to ensure the laminate stays fresh and new for long.
