We are about to have a new kitchen fitted. Originally we were planning on having a corian worktop but after building work being more expensive something had to go, and unfortunately it was the worksurface. Until we have a bit more money and can replace it, we are going to get a good quality laminate worksurface. We were planning on having a matt black speckled colour. However, after seeing the shiny black worksurface on Property Ladder last night we are thinking of getting a glossy black instead. We didn't realise how much light a gloss laminate reflected, although we realsie the one on Property Ladder was brand new and had probably been made to look really shiny.
Are gloss laminates easy to keep clean and looking shiny and new? Or are matt laminates better for not showing any marks and scratches?
Which type of laminate do you think looks more stylish? We have bought good quality solid oak units and don't want to ruin the whole look of the kitchen and cheapen it by putting in a nasty looking laminate. Any advice/opinions would be great!
Gloss laminates do look stylish in the right place. The one on PL is the most commonly sold and they do have a bad write up. However the best piece of advice I can give is only clean them with soapy water. With modern detergents and cleaners being so powerful they work away the layers of protection on the worktop and in time make smears more visible and more the top more prone to scratches. Also use small foam pads on items you keep on the worktop, ie. breadbin, panstand....etc.
A good alternative to corian is capri worktops. Very easy to fit, easier than anything else in fact and also easy to matain and if you scratch them you can lighty sand the scratch out. A brilliant alternative to corian, even confuses EA's as they can't tell the difference. Price wise they'll set you back about a grand but that a quarter of the price of corian!
If you are planning to upgrade your worktops in the fairly short term it hardly matters - you won't have to live with them for long and there's only so much damage you can do. Go for glossy if this is a look you like, invest in a large & sturdy wood block chopping board and make sure you use it! If you had been intending to live with the same kitchen for years and years the general rule is to buy cheap units and the best worktops you can possibly afford.
We have granite worktops in the kitchen, but as we were replacing the utility room at the same time we put in black gloss laminate in there. It does scratch easily, but as has been said, put pads under metal items that stand on the worksurface, don't drag anything across it, especially heavy cast iron pans, and ALWAYS use a chopping board. When opening tins, do it on a plate (the turning tin can scratch).
I clean mine with a damp soapy sponge. I never use any other cleaner than washing up liquid.
If you take reasonable care, the worktop should last a number of years. And it does look nice, much nicer than the ordinary matt laminate.
