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Minneapolis Laminate Counters

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Looking for a sensible, good looking countertop for your Twin Cities' kitchen or bath? You might want to give laminate counters in Minneapolis a closer look. Long heralded as a cost-effective countertop solution, laminate counters have turned the corner as of late, and are now also known for their huge selection, good looks, and performance. In a place like Minneapolis-St. Paul, where Midwestern sensibility combines with trendsetting looks and design, laminate counters in Minneapolis are giving the competition a run for their money.

The Cost of Minneapolis Laminate Counters
Cost is as good a place as any to start when it comes to a discussion of laminate counter tops in Minneapolis. In general, only ceramic tile offers you a better deal than laminate when it comes to working on a budget. Keep in mind that the price of laminate will vary depending on product lines, the size of your kitchen, and whether you opt for added features like beveled or rounded edges and accompanying backsplashes. Nevertheless, $8 to $20 per square foot is a good baseline to plan from if you think a laminate countertop in Minneapolis is the right choice for you.

Minneapolis Laminate Counters: The Basics
To catch you up to speed, laminate counters in Minneapolis utilize several materials in the building process. High-density fiberboard or plywood makes up the base, on top of which the laminate itself is then applied. The laminate is faced with a high resolution image to give it the look of your choosing, and then the whole thing is finished with a durable, melamine resin. It's this multi-faceted construction that makes laminate so affordable (as much as five times cheaper per square foot) compared to solid slab countertops like decorative concrete, engineered stone, or granite.

Minneapolis Laminate Counters: Looks
After affordability, it's looks that win most Twin Cities homeowners over to laminate counter tops. Because the looks are achieved with a high resolution image, the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing laminate counter tops in Minneapolis that are the perfect fit for your home. There are hundreds of designs to choose from, ranging from those that imitate natural materials like wood, stone, or metal, to more custom looks like baseballs, basketballs, and bubble gum for specialty applications. In addition, laminate countertops also offer you other design options for a little higher price, such as the beveled and rounded edges mentioned above.

Minneapolis Laminate Counters Are a Healthy Choice
Looks are important, but it's really function that sells a quality countertop material. Another one of the unsung benefits of Minneapolis laminate counter tops is found in their cleanliness. Because laminates have a non-porous, smooth surface, they are easy to clean, and resist the development of harmful food borne bacteria that can take root and flourish in wood, porous stone, and in grout lines between tiles. The health of you and your family should always be top priority when it comes to choosing countertop materials. It's nice to know that laminate has you covered.

Minneapolis Laminate Counters: Durability
The one area that gives some homeowners in the Twin Cities pause when it comes to laminate is durability. To be fair, laminate can't go toe to toe with natural stone, decorative concrete, or even most ceramic tile when it comes to scratch resistance and warding off hazards caused by hot pots and pans placed directly on the surface. That doesn't mean laminate is cheap, or damage prone, however. Solid surface inlays can provide a place to set hot pots and pans, and prepare food, and the commonsense use of cutting boards and hot pads provide more than enough protection. If you neglect your Minneapolis laminate counters, blemishes are probably waiting in the not too far future. If you take some simple steps to protect them, however, laminate counter tops in Minneapolis will last you for years, if not decades, to come.

If the low cost, great looks, and solid performance of laminate counters in Minneapolis sound good to you, talk to a contractor experienced in installing laminate about what it will take to install them in your Twin Cities-area home.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

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