Laminated countertops are a good option for a certain segment of the buying population. But what if you purchased a house with laminate countertops that are now showing signs of delamination? It seems to us that they are good motivation to make the switch to stone.
One of the upsides of laminates is their cost. Compared to natural stone products like granite and marble countertops, laminate countertops are comparatively cheap. But with a lower retail price come tradeoffs. One of the tradeoffs is the potential for delamination. Given enough time, nearly every laminate countertop will eventually suffer from some level of delamination.
A Core With an Outside Layer
Laminate countertops start as a manufactured wood core. The core might be particle board, pressboard, or even a type of plywood. It is covered with a laminate – a layer of manufactured material that is typically synthetic. The laminate layer is attached to the wood core with glue.
Properly applied, the glue can hold the laminate layer in place for decades. But even the best glue will dry out at some point. And when it does, delamination can occur. The laminate layer actually separates from the wood core.
How Delamination Begins
Delamination generally begins in very small areas. For example, an underlying wood core might swell due to moisture exposure underneath. As it does, the swelling puts stress on the glue holding the laminate layer in place. As the core dries out and contracts, a gap forms between the wood and laminate.
As the laminate begins pulling away, you might notice small bubbles. You can actually feel the space between laminate and wood core by pushing on one such bubble. Bubbles could appear in the middle of the countertop surface or where two seams meet.
There are other signs of delamination:
- Edges lifting, separating, or peeling from the wood underneath.
- Laminate buckling or popping, especially close to heat sources.
- Cracks or gaps along seams and counter edges.
Newer countertops are not likely to delaminate if they have been manufactured correctly. But every laminate countertop is subject to delamination with age. Simply put, the older laminate countertops are, the more likely they are to begin delaminating. It is just the nature of the beast.
Switching to Stone Countertops
Stone countertops offer a solid, one-piece surface. There are no laminate layers or glue, so we can guarantee that a natural stone countertop will never delaminate. That is a plus if delamination is detracting from the appeal of your current countertop installation.
Here at Bedrock Quartz, we offer four different materials to choose from: granite, marble, quartzite, and quartz. The first three are natural stones that are quarried to create large blocks that are ultimately cut into slabs for making countertops. The fourth option, quartz, is actually a manufactured material that displays many of the same properties as natural stone.
Quartz countertops are manufactured by combining quartz minerals with resins and dyes. The resins are needed to bond the quartz minerals together. Meanwhile, introducing dyes allows manufacturers to create quartz countertops with a variety of different looks. Quartz countertops can be made to look like natural stone, solid-colored slabs, and everything in between. Come view our stone countertop materials in-person at one of our Utah showrooms.
Strong and Durable Countertops
Choosing a stone material equates to choosing strong and durable countertops that could very well last a lifetime. With minimal care and maintenance, stone countertops will perform admirably year after year.
If your current countertops are showing signs of delamination, you are going to have to do something eventually. Why not just replace them with stone? Installing stone countertops means never having to deal with delamination again.
