Plastic Laminate Countertops Explained

By far the most popular material used when it comes to kitchen countertops is plastic laminate. Some people may even call it Formica, but that’s a brand name just like WilsonArt.

The reason they are so popular is that they are easy to install, clean, and maintain, are very inexpensive, and come in a wide range of textures, patterns, and colors.

You’ll want to watch out for them; use a cutting board, as scratches and chips from sharp knives will damage your countertop quite easily. If you have a scratch or chip, call a professional to fix it or you may be replacing your countertop.

Always use trivets as the countertop cannot absorb the heat from hot pans and scalds and burns cannot be removed.

While solid core laminate is a little more expensive, it’s worth it. Since the color runs throughout the interior, small scratches will not be obvious and both the seams and the edges will show better.

One design element I like to see when it comes to plastic laminate countertops is when people add a stone or tile edging material to them. If you’re interested, it’s not hard to dress up your counters that way, you can ask the manufacturer to leave the front edge of the countertop open (as well as the ends) and then attach your choice of edge after the countertop is installed.

One last thing I would like to mention is that when it comes to backsplashes, postformed backsplashes look so much better because they have a uniform look. So keep that in mind and think about buying your backsplash at the same time you get your plastic laminate countertops.