The worktop is an important part of any kitchen remodelling project, but choosing the right material can be a confusing task. You have the option to choose from granite, quartz, wood, Corian and of course, laminate. Now, it would be wrong to state that laminate worktops are a better option everywhere, but considering all the pros and cons of each material, it would be safe to say that laminate kitchen tops are arguably the best overall options for most of us. To understand why it is so, go through the following five reasons as to why laminate just makes more sense than others.
Laminate is Comparatively Cheaper
Remodelling the kitchen is not a cheap affair, and when you have already spent thousands of dollars on the cabinets and appliances, it only makes sense to save a bit of your hard-earned money by opting for great value laminate kitchen worktops that are inexpensive without sacrificing on quality. Check out Savoy Timber for low prices on a wide range of kitchen worktops that include everything from black and white sparkle designs to white slate and black gloss finish. You’ll end up with a whole new look.
It Will Last Longer
A worktop in the kitchen is supposed to be durable and that’s where laminate is so good. Not only do laminate kitchen tops last a lot longer than wood in general, these are naturally more resistant to scratches, stains and cracks as well. After all, you are going to prepare food on it every day, so it needs to be hardy enough to resist the regular cutting, chopping, spilling and cleaning. Wood on the other hand, is a bad choice for kitchen tops because it can become dirty and even infected fast, not to mention, wood also stains easily and cannot be cleaned with anything strong or caustic. If you really like the look of oak though, just choose a laminate worktop that mimics the look and you will save money both in the short and the long run.
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The More Hygienic Choice
As mentioned in the previous point, wood is not hygienic and that’s because of the material’s organic nature. Unless a wooden kitchen top is cleaned often and extensively, it is common for them to harbour bacteria and microbes which can lead to food poisoning. Laminate kitchen tops on the other hand, are made by sealing the inner MDF core with the plastic lamination, which essentially negates all chances of allowing bacterial growth, as long as the user practices even the basic kitchen hygiene. This leads us to the next point…
Easy to Maintain and Replace
Unlike most other materials which need to be cleaned carefully and with close attention, the plastic lamination allows the laminate kitchen tops to be cleaned very easily. All it needs is regular wiping with any good cleaning solution after the day’s cooking is over and that’s about it. You don’t need to be super picky about the cleaner fluids either because very few cleaning chemicals (if any) affect laminate kitchen tops; something that you cannot say about most of the other materials. Besides, the cheaper price tag also makes it more feasible to get rid of a stained, old laminate kitchen top when you have to.
The Choice of Designs
Granite is considered to be the ultimate choice of material for kitchen worktops and in many ways, it is the superior material to even laminates. However, the issue lies in the fact that even with granite, your choice of design is severely limited. The same problem of limited design choices is true in case of quartz, wood or even Corian for that matter, but that’s not a limitation for laminate worktops. They can basically be made to resemble any material you want or would go with your kitchen’s overall décor. When you choose laminate, you won’t ever have to worry about the aesthetics or the theme because there’s always an option for every kitchen.
It can be argued that granite or even quartz is a more durable and better material for the kitchen worktop but there’s one big advantage that laminate has over them; the price-to-performance ratio. Laminate kitchen tops are hygienic, versatile and durable, but they won’t bore a hole in your pocket either, which is the biggest advantage that it has over the more expensive materials. In terms of pure cost-to-performance ratio, it is hard to beat laminate tops which offer a lot without a premium price tag that accompanies granite tops. Sure, granite might last longer, but what if you want to remodel your kitchen again in a few years and the granite worktop just doesn’t go with the new theme anymore? If you opt for laminate however, replacing it with a new and appropriate design will definitely be a much more affordable option down the line.
*This is a collaborative post*
Featured image source fotoplan/Shutterstock
It sounds like laminate has everything you need in a kitchen surface