Formica Countertops
Formica countertops are by far the least expensive cabinet tops that you can buy. They have been a common kitchen surface for fifty years. The selection of colors for this product is much greater than any other type countertop.
Often Formica is used as a term for any plastic laminate, but it is a brand name of plastic coatings instead. Formica is one of two primary manufacturers of plastic laminates; the other is Wilson Art. Which manufacturer a cabinet installer uses is generally based on:
* personal preference
* texture
* color selection
Although most of the colors by one manufacturer have a close relationship to those of the other, there are some variations.
Many people who order Formica countertops don't know which brand they are getting because the industry recognizes both as approximate equals. If you are choosing colors for a countertop, make sure to make it clear if you want post form tops, just the laminate itself, or both.
Post form tops are made specifically to fit a standard size base cabinet, and they work well from the installation standpoint because they are relatively easy to put in. They usually have a rolled front, a curved area at the five-inch backsplash, and a rolled top on the backsplash. This gives a smooth transition and allows for easy cleaning.
Because the backsplash only has a short profile, it is necessary to put something else on the walls between the Formica countertops and the wall cabinet to complete the backsplash. One of the most common products to use on this wall is the same Formica that comes on the post form top. It is bought in sheets and ripped on a saw to fit the area.
If you are selecting your colors from sample chips, you will probably stay with one manufacturer for your plastic laminate backsplash pieces and post form tops. Color chips are rather small, and you might want to see a bigger piece of the material to better visualize how it will look in your kitchen or bathroom.
Some people choose to have plywood countertops installed and have their installer glue the Formica or Wilson Art to them. This gives three areas where water can penetrate the top:
* at the front edge
* where the top joins the backsplash
* and at any joints required in the top
The reason some people prefer to have their installer hand build their tops is because they don't like the fact that post form tops are made from particle board.
Countertops and flat pieces of plastic laminate come in twelve-foot lengths. This means that if you have a straight counter without any turns and it is any length up to twelve-foot, you won't have a seam in the top, and if you have a post form top, it will be water tight except at the ends.
Formica countertops will remain a choice for cabinets for many years to come because of price, selection, and ease of installation.
