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Laminate Bench Top: Fact Sheet 101
Laminate is the most cost effective surface for bench tops. It is manufactured from layers of paper, with a decorative paper providing the colour/pattern, and an overlay providing durable properties. It is considered a good environmental choice, with all decorative papers free of elemental chlorine.
Laminate is a decorative surface and is most commonly used in bench tops, but can also be used in vertical applications. It’s used widely in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries, (including bench tops around ovens and hot plates). It is not recommended for exterior use or as a splashback surface behind gas appliances.
The laminate is bonded to a substrate board (such as moisture resistant particleboard) and then carefully heated and curved around the edge(s), to create a shaped (post formed) bench top.
- Laminate has good durability, including resistance to surface wear, boiling water (up to 180ºC), dry heat, impact and staining. However, direct exposure to steam or radiant heat can cause a moderate change in colour or gloss level. Cigarette burns can cause moderate changes in gloss level and moderate brown staining.
- The laminate that we use conforms 100% with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 2924.1).
Dispelling the Myths:
- Laminate is plastic – laminate is not plastic, but made from layers of paper. The paper is reinforced with thermosetting resins.
- Laminate is not durable – laminate is very durable for interior applications and meets all Australian standards. Laminate bench tops that are maintained and cared for will last many decades.
- Laminate doesn’t look like stone – digital printing has allowed even greater print clarity and realistic stone patterns to be printed onto paper, that are then manufactured into laminate. Choosing specialist laminates such as Laminex's 'DiamondGloss' and Squareform (Tightform) front profiles (38mm thick), provide even better stone interpretations.
For care and maintenance information about Laminate bench tops, click here.
For more technical information about Laminate, click here.
For laminate bench top Tips and Design Advice, click here.
We hope that this information has been helpful for you.
If you need further help or more information on this topic please:
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