Laminate Kitchen Cabinets – An Affordable Alternative to Hardwood
Laminate kitchen cabinets are an affordable alternative to wood cabinetry. Laminate has a sleek texture, comes in a range of wood stains and colors and resembles genuine hardwood. It is easy to clean, more durable than wood, and is a viable option for DIY cabinet refacing. For busy homes with high kitchen traffic, laminate is a good choice. This short video shows you some of the possibilities in design:
Not all laminates are alike. The price of laminate kitchen cabinets depends on their construction. Laminate, unlike wood, is composed of layers of materials that are glued together. Low-pressure laminates are made of lower quality materials and have a tendency to crack and chip. High-pressure laminates are more durable and better suited for cabinetry but are more expensive. Prices start at around $50 to $75 per linear foot.
Pine laminate has a soft subtle wood grain and a natural rough wood appearance that works well in rustic kitchens. To create a warm ambience, choose maple laminate kitchen cabinets. Maple contains a mixture of golden, peach and mocha wood grains that can be accented with wrought iron or brushed nickel cabinet hardware. Oak laminate is a perfect choice for country kitchens with its golden brown hue. If you want dark cabinets, walnut laminate is a versatile choice that can be used for virtually any kitchen style. You can coordinate walnut with your kitchen by selecting the appropriate hardware.
If you are thinking about laminate, be aware that it is best suited for plain cabinets door styles as it cannot be molded or shaped. It is also more expensive than RTF veneers. If your laminate kitchen cabinets chip, you can buy matching sheets of veneer that can be applied over the chips. You can paint these cabinets if you decide to change their look at a later time. While these cabinets can be cleaned easily, do not use abrasive cleaners as they will scratch and dull the finish.
Manufacturers of laminate kitchen cabinets include Aristokraft, Merillat, Kitchen Magic and CamTech. Aristokraft cabinetry comes in several door styles and profiles with antique and white finishes. Merillat’s product lines are Masterpiece, Classic and Essentials which all include a white laminate option. Kitchen Magic has a wide range of laminate styles and colors, including hazelnut, cherry pear, mahogany, medium birch and chestnut, which can be used for new cabinets and cabinet refacing. CamTech’s Surfusion products for doors and drawer fronts come in two vertical grade laminate options and in 22 colors including dark wild apple, classic cherry, chocolate pear, walnut and hard rock maple.
