Plastic laminates are still in high demand today--among builders and homeowners alike--because they offer many great color and style options at great value. Laminates provide very durable and attractive options for surfacing kitchen counters and cabinets, bath vanities and tabletops.

Formica laminate, Butter Rum Granite

Plastic Laminate Colors and Finishes
Part of plastic laminate's appeal is that it's available in literally hundreds of colors and dozens of patterns, including many that resemble stone, wood and leather. (Formica and Wilsonart combined offer nearly 600 colors and patterns.) Laminates also come in various finishes, which often dictate its use. For example, only laminates with a matte or fine-matte finish should be applied to countertops and heavily used tabletops. High-gloss or heavily embossed laminates add texture and visual interest, but show signs of wear if applied to counters and other high-use surfaces. Note that not every laminate color or pattern is available in each type of finish.

Wilsonart High-Definition Laminate, Bella Carpispot

Plastic Laminate Types
There are two basic laminate grades: 1/16-inch-thick general-purpose grade laminate, and 1/32-inch vertical grade laminate. Only general-purpose laminate is suitable for counters, tabletops, shelving and desktops; vertical grade is for backsplashes, and cabinets, doors and drawer faces. Plastic laminate is readily available in 4-by-8-foot sheets, but longer laminate sheets--up to 12 feet long, and wider 5-foot sheets are also available. Prices range from about $1.50 to over $2.50 per sq. ft., depending on the laminate's color and pattern. Formica, Wilsonart, Nevamar, and Pionite are just a few of the plastic laminate brands available.

Nemar plastic laminate with metallic laminate edge treatment

Standard plastic laminate is made from layers of resin-impregnated kraft paper topped with a decorative melamine surface, and then pressed into sheets under extreme pressure and heat. That manufacturing process produces the familiar dark brown line at the edge of the laminate. For customers that find the dark line objectionable, there are solid-core laminates, such as Formica's ColorCore. These specialty laminates have solid color running throughout the sheet but are available in very limited colors and finishes, and typically only in 4-by-12-foot sheets.

Plastic Laminate Construction Details
Plastic laminate is adhered to a substrate with contact cement, which can be applied with a sprayer, roller or brush. Particleboard is the most popular substrate used for plastic laminate, though medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood are also used.

The amount of time and expense it takes to build a plastic laminate piece is often related to the size of the piece, the amount of seaming involved, and how the edges are treated. Most pieces have a simple square edge, where the top laminate piece meets the edge piece at a 90-degree corner. However, custom edging, including beveled laminate, chamfered wood, and pin-striping is also possible.

While most plastic laminate counters are custom-made by kitchen installers and cabinetmakers, ready-to-install post-formed laminate counters are also available. They feature seamless construction: The front edge, top surface and backsplash are all heat-molded from a single sheet of laminate and then adhered to a particleboard substrate. Prices vary widely, but an 8-foot-long post-formed countertop typically costs between $80 and $100.

Additional Resources
American Composites Manufacturers Association
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association
National Kitchen and Bath Association
Ryan Links