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Laminate CounterProducts Relating to 'Laminate Counter'

Laminate counter tops are the most popular, enduring countertops on the market for a whole lot of reasons. Offering beautyand versatility, these counter tops come with some ups anddowns just like their more expensive counterparts. Still, thesecounter tops are enduring for a whole host of reasons.

Laminate counter tops are generally made using formed plastic,or laminate, for the visible surface. These counter tops aremore readily known as Formica, but can go both other names, aswell. They are a popular choice due to the versatility theyoffer in appearance and their relative affordability ascompared with others counter top materials.

The advantages of laminates are many and they include:

Form. Laminates are made by putting a sheet of plastic over aformed fiberboard base. The base material is shaped and cut intothe design that's necessary for the surface and the laminate isused to provide the outer, attractive surface. Because of theirstyle of design, laminates readily adapt to a number ofdifferent shapes.

Cost. Laminate counter tops are considered the mostaffordable of counters on the market generally. Due to theirdesign, they can come in all sorts of different colors andsurface textures, too. They tend to be more versatile inappearance.

Cleaning. Laminates are generally the easiest of counter topsto clean, as well. Typically mild cleansers or soft abrasivescan handle almost anything that marks up or dirties a laminatecounter top. For tougher stains, lemon juice and baking sodaoften do the trick better than harsh abrasives.

While laminate counter tops are the most common and popularcounters on the market, they do have a few downfalls. Many ofthese, however, are shared with almost every counter top styleavailable. The fact is counter tops take a beating during thecourse of everyday use.

The cons of laminates include:

Scratches: Unlike granite that can typically be buffed out toremove scratches, laminate counter tops do not offer thisproperty. When cuts go in, they tend to stay in. This can beavoided by using proper cutting boards and avoiding directcontact with sharp surfaces.

Burns: Due to their plastic natures, laminates can and doburn and scorch. It can be virtually impossible to remove thedamage once it's done, too. The best way to avoid this problemis to use hot plates and hot pads. Never set hot pots or pansdirectly on laminate counter tops.

Seams: Unlike formed counter tops, laminates tend to showvery visible seams not only where the counter tops cometogether, but also on the edges. The look, when well made, canbe quite beautiful, but if a slack job has been done, it willbe evident.

While laminate counter tops do have their down side, thereality is they are loaded with more perks than pitfalls.Laminates can and do stain, scratch and burn, but so do mostother types of counters. With proper care, they can be abeautiful addition to any kitchen or bathroom that needs flatsurface work space.

Article Published: Friday 18th May 2007