What is the difference between arborite and laminate

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Sign In. Registered Customers. Forgot Your Password? Create New Account? Generally speaking, it is still countertop materials such as granite or engineered quartz that are thought to add real estate value to a home, while laminates are thought to be decidedly low-end. Finally, though, the laminate countertop industry has begun to change that by offering laminate counters designed to appeal to buyers and remodelers interested in higher-end kitchens and bathrooms.

Most luxury laminates fall into the category of high-pressure laminates HPLs. High-pressure laminates are second-generation descendants of the original plastic laminates, and they often include special properties such as very high resistance to wear, fire, and chemicals. Some grades of HPL can be shaped into ornate edging treatments. HPLs are produced with multiple layers of kraft paper bonded with phenolic resin and topped with printed decor layer, which is then fused under high heat and pressure to form a rigid laminated sheet.

The high temperatures used in the manufacturing process create very strong bonds that make for a very durable product. Here are three of the best laminate countertops. These products also incorporate antimicrobial protection. To identify these luxury laminates, look for Wilsonart products identified as including AEON technology. The HD line includes 36 different options in a variety of stone- and wood-look patterns.

I have already picked out Wilson Laminate for my new remodeled kitchen but trying to find a dealer with you product was difficult, it is going to be my kitchen counter top. My daughter got a sample in Wisconsin and I liked it.

I picked it out at Home Depot. I also need the backsplash to match, is that available? I have an older house and might need that to cover up small area on the wall or seams that have been created by the house settling somewhat…. But today's laminates are of considerably better quality than the classic Formica countertops of the s.

While they still may not have the prestige of quartz, natural stone, or composite materials, these latest high-pressure laminates HPLs are by no means inferior countertop materials.

Today's laminates offer hundreds of design options and are still much more affordable than most other materials. For DIYers, laminates offer one fo the best choices for building your own countertop. But laminate countertops tend to have a shorter life than other materials, and even the best of them can be susceptible to burns, chipping, or delamination.

All plastic laminates used for countertops share the same basic manufacturing process, although there are small proprietary variations between manufacturers.

In the basic process, plastic phenolic resins are laminated onto layers of ordinary brown kraft paper, then a decorative print layer is added, which is then topped by a wear layer and a thin, transparent melamine resin layer that protects everything. In modern high-pressure laminates, the plastic resins are impregnated with cellulose layers that solidify into a solid under heat and pressure, giving the product considerably more strength and resistance to heat and scratching.

Laminate is still one of your cheapest countertop options. The cost of a laminate countertop will also vary greatly depending on if you are having a custom countertop fabricated and installed; building your own from raw laminate, or installing prefabricated countertop segments called a post-form countertop.

Laminate countertops are made from plastic resins that make the countertops very easy to clean and resistant to stains. Simple cleaning with soap and water is all that's normally required. They can, however, be scratched if abrasive cleansers are used on them. Laminate countertops can be subject to delamination over time, especially if water seeps through seams, and repairs are very difficult to make. Serious damage usually requires replacing the entire countertop. Once limited to basic faux stone and woodgrain patterns, modern high-pressure laminates are available in many hundreds of different colors, patterns, and textures.