Can I compare a formica countertop with a granite countertop? These are the questions I always get asked. Well, can you compare wood with stone? No you can’t! Same goes for countertops. A formica countertop is made up of chipboard as the core of the countertop and laminated with formica on the surface of the chipboard. The formica material it self also comes in a roll and can be used to stick above the countertop below the wall unit as a back splash. You can also make up your own laminated kitchen countertop by cutting a piece of chipboard, preferably 32mm thick, the shape you want and then sticking the formica onto the chipboard. One of the best glues to use would be either Contact glue or my favorite Gemkem. A formica countertop isn’t as durable as a granite countertop but it is durable. If you take care of your countertop you will get allot of mileage out of it.
How do you take care your counter tops?Unlike granite where you can cut on and place hot pots on, you can not do the same with formica counter tops. Although a formica countertop is scratch and heat resistant it isn’t scratch and heat proof. This means you can not cut on a formica countertop or place a hot pot on it but you can drag a pot across the counter without scratching it as well as place cooler temperature pots and pans on it without burning a hole in the formica. So if you’re asking whether a granite countertop is tougher than a formica countertop you have your answer but remember, granite cost’s about 5 times more than formica. And that’s the cheaper granite I’m talking about. Plus you can cut the countertop to size yourself you don’t need special machines and templates like you’d need with granite. This makes the formica countertop installation process allot easier.
Installing a formica countertop is very easy. So easy that fitters sometimes rush the job and make mistakes. Don’t make this mistake. “Measure twice cut once” is your number one rule when fitting a countertop, specialy when doing intricate measurements like your cut-outs for your sink and hob. Remember, it’s much easier to prevent a mistake than to fix one…that’s if it can be fixed. Formica counter tops also aren’t waterproof so when you’ve finished your sink and hob’s cut out seal the inside of the cut outs with marine silicone. The kind you use to build fishtanks with. This will prevent water form drawing into the chipboard and we all know what happens when water touches chipboard. Let’s just say “it’s like mixing water with Weatbix”.
A formica countertop is also easier to handle and lighter to work with. If you’ve ever carried a slab of granite up three flights of stairs you will know what I’m talking about.