On the Surface
While stone crushed its competition in the world of kitchen counters for more than a decade, remodeling experts remind homeowners laminate is still a stable option.
“TV and other sources out there give the illusion that homeowners need to have stone,” said David Wood, owner of Butler-based Home Improvement Center. “There's really not a lesser-quality product in our world today”
Wood said laminate has evolved over the years, with the biggest area of improvement being modern seamless designs.
A laminate countertop is a particle board surface coated with layers of plastic.
He said the laminates of the 1970s and '80s had creases and multiple pieces glued onto places like edges. Wood said new encapsulation technologies give modern laminates a unibody look and range in colors, even mimicking its stone competition.
“The top brands of laminate countertops are still going toe to toe with stone,” Wood said. “It's come a long way.”Wood said he still gets plenty of requests for stone countertops, and considers them a good option. He said stone is just more expensive.According to multiple comparisons, laminate countertops could cost between $10 and $30 per square foot, but stone can cost anywhere between $20 and $50 more per square foot.“Moving into stone is a pretty big hop to do,” Wood said.He said while many people still like marble and granite countertops, those looking in that price range are also considering quartz, adding how that option has less upkeep costs than the other two.“Quartz is a man-made stone, and it does not need to be sealed,” Wood said.
He said all stone products have resistances to heat and cuts, but marbles and natural stones need sealed.Wood said he makes his customers' lives easier by taking care of the sealant for them with a long-term option. “We use a dry heat treatment for most of the natural stone, which will keep for much longer.”Wood said the last part is pairing a sink with the counter.Stainless steel is an option for both countertops and sinks, but as a sink it wins the majority of people's business, according to Wood.“Typically what you're going to see 90 percent of the time is stainless steel,” he said.Stainless steel shares many of the same benefits of corrosion, heat and scratch resistances as stone, but it is also much easier to fabricate.Wood said there are stone sink options that can produce colors. He said some people like white, others black, and some want their sink to match the tone of their countertops.
He said a stone sink would be a great fit for these people. However, because of the material, the sink becomes heavier and more difficult to install and support.Wood said the only sinks he would not recommend immediately would be acrylic and cast iron.“I'm not one to push products that fail in the field,” he said.Whether it's the countertop, the sink or both, Wood said it is important to remember to factor all costs into your decision.He said many box stores will sell a new counter set with the idea of square footage being the sole factor.“What they don't realize is the cost of the finished product you want,” Wood said. He said his company uses quality products and makes sure to get the job done right the first time.“You want the highest quality people doing your work. You can't replace the 40 years of experience that we have,” Wood said. “We have to be perfect in the field.”
