Kitchen Countertops.?

Question

Is lamaniate countertops good, or should I go for the marble one.

Answer 1

Granite is a great material. I would avoid marble, for the price it's not any better. There's silestone and soapstone all very good. With natural material like this there's maintenance involved. They have to be sealed every so often. There's corian by DuPont and it's really good, and very stylish, but it can sometimes warp. I like corian because I like the seamless transition from counter top to sink. With stones like the ones mentioned above, you should have a sink installed as an under mount.

If you have the $$$ to avoid laminate you should. Technology has come a long way and the patterns are getting better. Most laminate pieces are made with a vacuum press now days to avoid warping, but there's something about stone that's just so great. Oh another choice is concrete, a professional installer would have it looking better than we would think.

Good luck

Answer 2

Laminate countertops are not the way to go.

If you can afford granite, do that, but marble is not the best either because it is a softer natural material than granite. Corian, or solid surfacing is okay, it will still stain but because it is solid all the way through you can have it sanded and repolished but it is pricier, sometimes as much as granite.

If you are working within a budget butcher block is a great counter top too, price point it comes in around laminate and while it stains as well, you can sand it a bit when needed.

Ikea sells great butcherblock countertops at great prices too.

Answer 3

Laminate counter tops are ok. They are much less expensive than marble, but they can be burned, like with a hot pan off the stove. The laminate will start to peel over time. And the particle board they are usually made from does not react well to water from plumbing leaks. The kitchen faucet in my daughters apartment leaked for months before her useless landlord finally replaced it. Now the counter top and back splash all around the sink is swelled up, with the laminate peeling.
A solid surface counter top will never have these problems.

Answer 4

Laminate is fine for a budget. Marble is not an option for a kitchen. Granite is nice, and cheaper than Corian, but it absorbs every spill you get on it. Corian is nice as it resists and spills and is easy to clean up. It also resists cutting into, unlike granite, which can also chip easily.

Answer 5

If you can afford marble or one of those man-made solid counter-tops, I'd go for those. They are very attractive and durable. Laminate is less expensive but can also be very attractive, in a wide array of styles and colors. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and check out the samples and pick up their brochures to read more about them and decide which you prefer.

Answer 6

none of the above!
i've tried marble and have replaced them with granite
stick to granite you'll never regret!

Answer 7

The laminates are very pretty,but care must be taken when using them. Knives will cut them and hot pans will burn/scorch them.