If you are looking for countertop materials, then you will be surprised at the variety and how many different types are available in the market other than granite, marble, and quartz kitchen countertops. To help you out, here is a comparison between solid surface countertops and laminate countertops.

Solid Surface Countertops

What Is It Made Out Of?

Solid surface countertops are primarily made out of quartz. Essentially, it is a man-made engineered quartz countertop. Since it is man-made, it has a lot more strength than regular quartz and it is also non-porous, which means that it doesn’t need to be sealed. Unlike natural quartz, which is porous and needs to be sealed in order to be waterproof, there is no such need for solid surface countertops.

Is It Durable?

It is definitely more durable than natural quartz and if you compare it to laminate countertops, the solid surface countertops will win this round. It is a man-made material with reinforced resins, and pulverized stones, and they are all fused together in a huge slab with the help of a powerful polymer adhesive.

This compact nature of solid surface countertops makes them non-porous and no liquid or moisture can seep into them. It is definitely a great choice if you are looking for something which will not require a lot of care and maintenance and will last long.

Its Maintenance Is Easy

Solid surface countertops have a naturally shiny and lustrous surface so it doesn’t need to be polished in order to get that shiny top surface. Its maintenance is naturally a lot less because it is a no-fuss material. It doesn’t need a lot of cleaning and it doesn’t stain either.

It is great for any type of environment, whether you live in humid or very dry areas. It doesn’t crack under pressure, literally. It is also fairly resistant to temperature and heat, but it’s best if you use trivets for hot pots and pans, otherwise, it can stain over time.

Laminate Countertops

Not Good Under Pressure

Laminate is a great material if you are looking for something very cheap but you still want to remodel your kitchen countertops. As inexpensive as it is, laminate does come with a lot of cons. First of all, you can’t use a lot of force on these countertops, as they can easily crack and get damaged. They don’t do well under heavy pressure and they can be weakened very easily.

It is also not as resistant to temperature and it will produce stains under heat. If you put a hot pot or pan directly on the surface of a laminate countertop, you will see a blackish-brown stain forming on its surface almost immediately.

It Is Less Expensive

One of the good things about laminate countertops is that they are very reasonable in price. They don’t cost a lot so their replacement, even if they get damaged, is very easy on your wallet. You don’t need a mini fortune to get these countertops installed in your kitchen.

That’s the only good thing about laminate countertops, but other than that it is a weak material, but people still gravitate towards it, primarily because of its reasonbale cost and if you use it properly and carefully, it does last a reasonable amount of time.

It Is Prone To Scratches

Laminate is prone to scratches. It is advised not to use sharp objects like knives and cutters directly on the surface of laminate countertops, as they will scratch the surface almost instantly. It’s better to cut things on a cutting board if you don’t want your countertops to get scratched by a sharp knife. It is also a lot more sanitary to use a cutting board for cutting things like vegetables and meat, as it keeps the mess on the cutting board and you can easily wash it after use.

Conclusion

There you have it! Now you know the pros and cons of both these materials, so choosing will be much easier and less tedious. You can easily decide which material you want to install in your kitchen as a countertop. Get these materials from a reliable quartz countertops dealer Rockville to avoid low-quality materials.