Are formica countertops worth the price? Formica is quite durable and looks nice but is it really worth the amount of money you will have to spend on it? Well that is up to each individual to decide, and the price can fluctuate greatly depending on the edge style, pattern, backsplash and installation costs. This article will break down the pros and cons of having Formica laminate countertops in your home, while answering common questions and helping you to make an educated decision before installing laminate countertops in your home.
Formica is a brand of laminate countertop that has been around since 1913 and was originally located in Cincinnati Ohio. Since that time pretty much every home in America has had some form of Formica countertop or flooring unless the homeowners had the money to spend on an expensive countertop surface like granite, marble, stone or concrete. Over the years formica has been able to replicate many of the natural stones that you would see in homes such as granite, but made them much more affordable for the average homeowner to install in their home.
Some of these amazing Formica colors mirror looks that you would see in nature such as stone, granite and butcher block countertops. However, some reflect modern man-made colors and textures. The colors of formica countertops range from metallic silver, blacks and whites to many of the bright colors of Art Deco. If you can imagine a color or design, chances are there is a laminate countertop to fit your taste.
On the downside, formica countertops are not quite as durable as granite countertops, corian countertops or concrete countertops. Not only are formica countertops not as durable, but they are not as easy to clean or to keep clean. If you do happen to get your formica countertops dirty, they can be cleaned with mild soap and water, or if it is a scuff, mark, stain or moisture ring you can try baking soda and other mild household cleaners. You must be careful when cleaning your countertops with abrasive cleaning agents. Using too abrasive of a pad may scuff, mark, and damage your Formica countertops often times wearing down its finish causing them too look dull and old. Formica countertops are also easy to cut and scratch, unlike solid surface counters like granite and concrete, for this reason it is good to remember that you must protect your tops from cutlery and sharp objects. Laminate countertops are not extremely resistant to heat either, so if you plan on putting any hot pan or dish on them as they will burn leaving permanent marks that cannot be removed without a lengthy repair process.
So reviewing some of these pros and cons of laminate countertops you may be able to come to your own conclusion of whether or not Formica brand laminate countertops are for you and your home. With a price tag of about $7-$20 per square foot, it is really hard to beat the price and ease of installation of laminate countertops. If you have the money and want to spend about 70 to 100 Dollars per Sq. foot, then by all means install granite in your home.
