The Counters Blog

Crestline Laminate Sheet Canada

Crestline is located in an underground garage with generous storage lockers for you outdoor gear. Currie; a kitchen that inspires, generous underground parking and storage, a recreational wash-down area, and all close to everything that matters.

How To Select Laminate Countertops — The Family Handyman by familyhandyman.com

Although laminate is durable, scratches are inevitable because countertops typically get heavy wear. If you love a deep color, find a pattern in that color that’ll help disguise scratches.Select three or four chips you like, plus one or two “wild card” choices, and take them home. Observe them both in daylight and under the room lights in the evening. You can also request samples directly from laminate countertop manufacturers. If you want to venture beyond one color or pattern, say for a fancier counter edge or different-colored backsplash, take samples of those home as well. You may find a somewhat different color selection and wider range of edge options. You’ll basically have two choices of surface finish: matte and glossy.Also, some types of matte finishes have a coarser surface, which can be quite attractive but may require more careful cleaning, especially if they’re light colored. The most common is called “post-formed,” which means that the top is formed from a single piece of laminate that’s shaped into a backsplash at the rear and a rounded edge in front. You’ll find limited colors, sizes and shapes, and it’ll take a bit more work to install them because you’ll have to cut them to length and install laminate end caps. But consider other options if you want to add that decorator touch to your kitchen. This method gives you a bit more countertop depth, but make sure you think through all the wall details before you choose it. Laminate has a lot of style, especially when it comes to countertop edges. You have to touch up the finish periodically to keep them looking sharp. Make sure any edging you choose won’t interfere with drawers or the dishwasher door. And make sure the longest countertop piece will fit through the door and around obstructions to get to your kitchen! Laminate is made from layers of resin-coated brown paper that are sandwiched together under high heat and pressure. The result is a hard, durable material that’s water resistant, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive. Since square corners usually show the brown edge, some manufacturers make a laminate with color throughout by using colored paper for all layers. Scratches tend to be light colored, which makes them highly visible against deep colors and virtually impossible to hide. Test this yourself by taking a color chip and dragging the coarse bottom of a coffee cup across it, and then a steak knife and a pizza cutter. Another option is to choose a “color core” laminate, which has a much thicker color layer than regular laminate. Unfortunately, this type is three to four times more expensive and not as durable. Put them on the counter for a week or more—live with them—and judge them against the cabinet and wall colors in your kitchen. Or have paint mixed to match the chip and paint a larger board to set in your kitchen. To make sure you get a good selection, visit a kitchen specialty retailer as well as a home center. Any type of glossy finish will accentuate scratches, and wear will dull it in heavily used areas. Some matte finishes tend toward the glossy side, so run your scratch test on these chips too. Since it’s a single piece, it has no seams to separate and no corners to catch dirt. And some have a slightly raised front edge to keep spills from running over. You can buy 45-degree angled sections for corners and join them. The conventional post-formed, coved backsplash has it hands down when it comes to cleaning and convenience. A butt backsplash, which sits on top of the countertop, allows you to choose different colors, patterns and materials to accent an otherwise plain top. You can run tile, stone, sheet metal or laminate itself on the wall down to the countertop and run a smooth bead of caulk along the countertop/wall joint. Dealers can show you a wide range of them, from simple bullnoses to beveled laminate, to wood, to various inlays—at a wide range of prices! Wood edges are handsome, but they’re more vulnerable to moisture and wear. If you opt for a natural stone–style laminate, choose a beveled edge to mimic a stone edge. All you need for your initial visit to a kitchen dealer is a rough sketch of your kitchen and rough measurements. The very top layer is a decorative (colored) paper that’s covered with a hard plastic overlay. What’s more, under heat and pressure it can be easily shaped, making it ideal for the rounded edges of countertops. However, these types are less durable, more brittle and more expensive.