Cabinet Countertops -- Plastic Laminate - Eastbank Interiors Portland, Oregon

	Cabinet Countertops
	Plastic Laminate

	High-pressure laminate is the workhorse of the countertop world: It's practical and economical, and you'll never brag you won it. Laminate is the choice in 65-75 percent of all new kitchens in the US. The real name for plastic laminate is "thermo-setting high pressure decorative plastic laminate". Plastic laminate was invented at Westinghouse, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1907. Laminate was invented as a material for electrical insulation, not decoration. Despite the fact that we call it "plastic laminate", laminate contains only 18% plastic resins, the rest of the product (82%) is comprised of paper. Standard high-pressure laminate, roughly 1/16 inch thick, is a sandwich of kraft paper impregnated with phenolic resin and topped by a decorative layer of melamine-protected paper. In sheet form, laminate is glued to a particleboard substrate, either on site or in a fabricator's shop. A thinner version is manufactured into a ready-made countertop with a rounded front edge and an integral backsplash called a post-formed counter. Laminate is available in dozens of colors and patterns for $2 or less per square feet in sheets up to 12 feet long and 5 feet wide. Post-formed counters, ready to drop into place, may be $5 or less per square foot at big home centers. There are fewer colors to choose from, and post-formed counters are for straight runs only; curvaceous kitchen designs won't work. Most kitchen countertops are made of general-purpose laminate, but laminate is also available in high-wear, extra-thick, and fire-retardant versions. A variety of new edge treatments has eliminated one of laminate's long-standing aesthetic weaknesses: the dark line formed where the top of the counter meets the front edge. Edging made from wood, solid-surface material or beveled laminate can make that seam all but invisible, but a a higher cost. Laminate's real breakthrough in recent years has been in the top decorative layer. Digital printing and metallic inks have resulted in higher-fidelity reproduction, allowing manufacturers to create uncannily accurate patterns of materials such as wood, stone, and fabric. PROS: Inexpensive, relatively durable, easy to clean, needs no regular maintenance, wide range of colors and patterns available. CONS: Damaged by sharp objects and heat, not repairable. COST: Uninstalled - $5 per sq. ft. for post-formed, $1.50 per sq. ft. for sheet laminate. Installed - $8 to $11 for post-formed, $10 to $17 for laminate sheet. SOURCES: See list for Solid Surfacing.

	Check out all of the possibilities, get a full description, and read about the Pros and Cons. Butcher Block Concrete Tile Solid Surfaces Slab Stone Stainless Steel Composite Materials, Lava, and Fiber Cement

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