Did You Choose Laminate Countertops for a Kitchen Remodel?

[KandiB47]

We are in the middle of our remodel but our counters and cabinets have not been ordered yet. (They will be ordered in the next day or two) Until reading this thread I had planned on ordering high end cabinets and topping them off with a top-of-the-line laminate. Having read through all this, I am second-guessing myself. Should I go with a lesser quality on the cabinetry and have either a solid surface or granite counter put in? It seems amazing to me that people would value the top surface more than quality cabinets underneath--but since a resale is probably in our future (3 years or so) I guess we should think this way????? I told DH that we could put in the cabinets I love now with a laminate counter and then re-do it with granite in a few years and he said no way. What to do...
I have to decide TOMORROW!!!! Help! BTW--my kitchen and counters are huge. Just behind my sink area the counters go two feet to the windows. Lots of sq. footage to cover!

Being a person who doesn't have a clue about interior design, I would say spend more on the countertops. This is my logic. When we were house shopping, I would definitely have noticed higher end countertops (probably because of HGTV) and not had a clue what higher end cabinets looked like. As long as the cabinets look modern, I don't think most people will care. Everybody will notice the countertops so if you have the money, go for it.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Should I go with a lesser quality on the cabinetry and have either a solid surface or granite counter put in? It seems amazing to me that people would value the top surface more than quality cabinets underneath--but since a resale is probably in our future (3 years or so) I guess we should think this way?????

YES!

YES!

YES!

The average person who buys your house is not going to know the difference between a good looking cabinet with veneer and MDF innards and a custom made solid wood (like the high end Schrock cabinets) cabinets.

The will, however, run their hand across the laminate and go, ew, laminate!

Absolutely go with a silestone or solid surface or even granite (if you must-good for resale but I don't like it for 'real' cooking) and drop down a few notches on your cabinets.

ESPECIALLY if you're looking resale. Your listing can say "Silestone Counters" or "Granite counters".

 

[Miss Jasmine]

There is a great remodeling thread on the Community board. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1379800

 

[DebMcDonald]

We just built our house and I have a big kitchen and was already over budget $6000 between my kitchen and baths not including applicances, so we went with laminete. Our original color was butter rum granite (I understand it's the most popular color), but then we changed the cabinet color and that would not work any longer and we currently have jamocha or something similiar in the same level as butter rum granite. I;m very happy with it and have received lots of complients.

 

[Belle5]

Well, y'all talked me into foregoing the HD laminate and going with granite for our kitchen remodel. The granite man was out today (he had to wait to measure once the bottom cupboards were built) and he showed us some really pretty granite and we chose one. The only thing is he told us it would be 3/4 inch thick with a bullnose. Does that sound right? Should it be thicker in the kitchen? Will it crack at that thickness? I am a little concerned...

 

[Belle5]

Never mind...we are going with a 1 1/4 inch granite. I feel better about the sturdiness of that compared to the 3/4 inch--seeing as I will have to stand on it to wash windows and hang curtains, etc.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Never mind...we are going with a 1 1/4 inch granite. I feel better about the sturdiness of that compared to the 3/4 inch--seeing as I will have to stand on it to wash windows and hang curtains, etc.

Doesn't matter how thick you get it, if you stand on it, you'll take a chance of cracking it.

Ask your granite fabricator if you can stand on your countertops-he'll get a funny look on his face

Invest in a good stepladder, it'll be cheaper than a cracked slab

I like the bullnose edge, too, although I prefer the double ogee edge.

 

[mamalle]

we went with corian but didnt go through either home depot or lowes- too expensive. we went through a private company. they were great. right on time with everything and the price beat both competitors out with labor. dh bought our cabinets through lowes but he and a friend installed them. gotta love a firefighter that has a second hobby!

 

[Belle5]

Doesn't matter how thick you get it, if you stand on it, you'll take a chance of cracking it.

Ask your granite fabricator if you can stand on your countertops-he'll get a funny look on his face

Invest in a good stepladder, it'll be cheaper than a cracked slab

We don't have a choice. I can't think of any other way to hang blinds, wash blinds, wash windows, mount curtain hardware or hang curtains in the kitchen without stepping on the granite. It would be a very odd step-ladder to put me way back there. As I said several posts back--our counters extend two feet behind our sink. Behind those are the windows. It's very pretty to put plants and such back there but it really is costly and impractical. Besides, from what I have been reading on line, the granite needs a lot of support from the framing of the cabinetry and ours certainly has sturdy framing on which the granite counters will sit. With our laminate counters, we walked along the counters on a daily basis without every giving it a thought. That is how we had to put some of our dishes away into high cupboards. Knowing how people are about warranties, I wouldn't be surprised if the person who installed the laminate counters years ago, if asked if he could guarantee that the counters wouldn't break if walked on, probably would have said no--don't walk on them.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

First off my DH was a carpenter for 25 yrs......his has just retired from a different industry...We do all our own work if we can..Just installed the Wilsonart counter top from Menards.....they were almost $100 less than Lowe's......he wanted granite ($1800 we install) i the laminate for now...heck it looks like granite.....new sink and faucet also.....the custom color sink cost more than the counter top....the big change was buying new hanrdware for the cabinets (18yrs old and perfect)......can't tell you the GREAT difference it made.....around $-5 a handle (Lowe's)....we had to have $5000 done on foundation repair so this was a major factor.....also bought new A/C unit, and the new carpet is yet to be ordered.... ......My DH remodeled a condo my DD bought this yr....gutted the kitchen and she got new cabinets..Menards and her counter top really looks like granite...i think it depends on the color......IF i was doing granite in my kitchen i would have wanted new cabinets and at this point it didnt seem necessary.I should add neighbors tease us....saying isnt this cutting into your Disney trips....Will only do 3 instead of 4 this yr.....gotta make choices........

 

[gottaluvdis]

I just had my kitchen redone last December and we went with quartz (Silestone). it is burn proof. extremely durable, and look like granite (the pattern we picked...you can also get solid colors and other types of patters as well). Unlike granite, Silestone will not absorb liquids that may stain it.

It never needs to be polished or sealed.

We did the same thing with our kitchen remodel about 2 years ago. I love the Silestone! It looks and feels just like granite, without the hassle. Ours was composed with an antimicrobial agent as well. You can put hot pans on it (although I don't - I have put very warm pans on it and it's been fine though). We have an undermount stainless sink and it looks great with the Silestone. We didn't want laminate again, and I'm not a fan of Corian, so this was a good choice for us.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

.I should add neighbors tease us....saying isnt this cutting into your Disney trips....Will only do 3 instead of 4 this yr.....gotta make choices........

Ha! Same here! We've got two trips planned for next year instead of four because I need to add a garage onto the house, and one of them is to vero so we won't buy annual passes next year (first time in like, 10 years).

At some point we were like, hoo, house is really starting to fall apart, might not be standing when we get back from Disney if we don't do something about it. Our neighbors think we're crazy too.


Which is why I still have 40 year old laminate holding on by a thread in the kitchen....

Someday I'll pick Silestone over Cinderella, but not today.

 

[Belle5]

I must update and say that our granite counter tops are GORGEOUS! Black with mahogany flecks and double bull-nosed edges. We ended up with 77 sq. ft. of the stuff...We did ask our installer about walking on the counters and he said, "No problem" and hopped right up on them and walked over them for us. He warned us that only one person at a time should walk on the counters and cautioned us not to walk on the "skinny" section in front of the sink (I can't imagine trying to walk on the 3 inch section in front of the sink anyway--that would be a weak area. Your mileage may vary depending on the thickness or density of your granite--but for us it's no problem. We'll be able to hang curtains and clean windows after all!

 

[lg3]

Didn't have a chance to read the whole thread, but we have WilsonArt laminate - the Verdi Pompeii - and we love it. I used to work at Expo Design Center and sold a LOT of high end countertops. There really is a difference, it depends on your usage and what you can afford. The laminate suited our needs and pocketbook when we built this house, and the colors are perfect for the decor.... but I would seriously consider granite in a different house if we moved if we could swing it.