The pros & cons of laminate worktops
How are laminate worktops made?
Laminate worktops are made the following way. Sheets of kraft paper are mixed with resin to form a stiff brittle sheet. This sheet is called laminate. The laminate sheet is then bonded to a chipboard substrate to make a laminate worktop.
The pros of laminate worktops:
Cost
Laminate are the least expensive type of worktops available on the market.
Durability
Laminate tops are durable. Despite being cheap, they are highly resistant to scratching and staining.
Cheap & easy to fit
Unlike natural stone that requires costly installation by stone fabricators, laminate tops are quick and cheap to fit, requiring little more than basic DIY skills.
Wide choice of colours & finishes
They are available in literally hundreds of different colours & finishes to cater for every conceivable style preference.
Often impossible to tell apart from real wood & stone
With recent advances in HD printing techniques, some laminates are so realistic at mimicking the look of wood & natural stone that it’s almost impossible to tell they are laminate.
Despite looking identical to real wood & stone, the worktops pictured below are all laminate. However, unfortunately, you’re unlikely to find these in the high street chains & trade-only suppliers. This is because they’re all high-quality, German laminate worktops sold in German kitchen showrooms. They cost similar to the laminate worktops you’ll find in the high-street chains & trade -only suppliers, despite being much higher quality. All of the German kitchen showrooms we recommend offer them.
Price wise, the units the German kitchen showrooms we recommend sell also cost similar to the high-street chains & trade-only suppliers. Again, this is also despite them being much higher quality.
Use with a flush fit sink for a designer look
These types of worktop can also be used with flush fit sinks. Flush fit sinks gives the seamless look of a designer kitchen without spending £1,000’s on granite or quartz worktops.
Pictured below, the Deca & Onyx flush fit sinks from Carron Phoenix & Astracast.
Can match the worktop to the door
If you buy a German kitchen, you can match the worktop to the door. You can’t do this with a quartz or granite worktop. Matching the worktops to the door gives the ultimate seamless finish.
Plus, the worktops still only costs about a quarter of the price of a granite or quartz worktop.
Below are some examples of German kitchens with matching German laminate worktops. As mentioned previously, unfortunately, you’re unlikely to find these in the high street chains & trade-only suppliers. This is because they’re only sold in German kitchen showrooms. They cost similar to the laminate worktops you’ll find in the high-street chains & trade-only suppliers, despite being much higher quality. All of the German kitchen showrooms we recommend offer them.
Price wise, the units the German kitchen showrooms we recommend sell also cost similar to the high-street chains & trade-only suppliers. Again, this is despite them being much higher quality than the units you’ll get from the high-street chains & trade-only suppliers .
The cons of laminate worktops:
Must be treated with care
Although laminate is highly scratch, stain & heat resistant, like other types of worktops, its not advised to cut or place very hot pans directly on laminate. Trivets & chopping boards should always be used to protect the surface from potential damage.
Can be damaged by water ingress
Because they have a chipboard substrate, if one of the joints fail, there’s the risk that water could penetrate the joint causing the worktop to blow.
Our free service recommends the best value kitchen suppliers in your area. Their kitchens cost similar to places like Howdens, Wren and Magnet, but are higher-quality and will last longer.
All suppliers offer free, no-obligation quotes.
Read what our customers say about our service below:
“Lloyd was able to point me to local independent kitchen retailers offering greater quality and value compared to the high street chains”
Mohammed Hashi, Northolt, Middx
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Natalie D R, Stanmore, Middx
“What a fantastic service! You have been of immeasurable help in sorting the wheat from the chaff!”
David Griffiths, Poole, Dorset
“The price was similar to builders merchants & DIY chains, but the kitchen was much better quality”
Andrew Scott, Wivenhoe, Essex
For more info on laminate worktops, visit the following websites:
