Linoleum countertops?

[NYCWriter]

As I'm in the planning stages of renovating (restoring) the kitchen of my 1922 Manhattan apartment, I'm trying to remain as close as possible to the original pre-Deco/Arts and Crafts period.

I've already decided on linoleum floor tile (white and pale yellow checkerboard), with floor-to-ceiling white subway tile (with black tile trim) for the walls and backsplashes. I don't have the original wood cabinets; I have "traditional" white cabinets that were newly-installed seven years ago when the apartment was gut renovated, which I really like and intend to keep, since they're virtually brand-new (I can't bear to throw away anything that's still new!) and besides I like how they look anyway.

The countertop, however, is dark green marble-look laminate. It looks quite sharp with the white cabinets, but for my taste, very impractical; I don't like dark countertops to begin with, and patterned/marbled dark countertops in particular, since they hide crumbs and spills (and the random creepy-crawly thing, which is always a hazard in New York City apartments). I like to be able to see *everything* on my food prep areas, down to the last micron.

I'd like the countertops to be a pale yellow. After looking at the exhaustive array of countertop options available today (and I don't mind paying a pretty penny for something I like), I've actually come to the conclusion that I really like laminate for its virtually zero-maintenance.

However, I've been seeing a lot of people online extolling the virtues of LINOLEUM countertops, which were pretty much standard until laminate was developed in the '50s.

Does anyone have linoleum countertops, or experience with them? What do you think?

 

[jeffg]

Kitchen countertops should be cut and burn proof, I think it's one of the main reasons why porcelain tile and granite are more popular than laminate and linoleum. BTW I'm the world's biggest linoleum fan, at least for flooring. We learned two lessons from our last experience with it. First, forget what Armstrong is marketing as linoleum. It's thinner and has artificial finishes that don't look or last like the traditional product. And second, for the real stuff, and a vastly greater choice of colors to boot, look to linoleum manufacturers in England and the UK not the US.

 

[NYCWriter]

Thank you, Jeff!

Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that virtually NO linoleum is manufactured anymore in the U.S. (gee, you'd think that with all the green freaks in this country, they'd be tripping over themselves to bring back one of the healthiest and most environmentally-friendly floor coverings ever made!)

I HATE porcelain and ceramic tile for a countertop; they're extremely impractical with crumbs and stains in the grout, and forget about ever rolling out pastry dough.

And yes, I'm also aware of the obsession with cut-and-burn-proof countertops. But as a responsible person (coming from a long line of responsible people), this is really not an issue for me.

My grandmothers, great aunt, and my mother -- among the four of them -- have a combined 200 years of experience with laminate countertops. The three elder women still having their original countertops when they died (2000 - 2006, installed in the late '50s and early '60s), and my mom still having her original countertop installed in 1968. All four countertops in flawless, like-new condition, each after a half-century servicing kitchens in large households, hosting hundreds of holiday dinners, annual cannings, thousands of batches of Christmas cookies, etc., and enduring dozens of young budding chefs taking their first tentative steps into the culinary arts.

Never ONCE did anyone ever have the need to *not* use a cutting board or a trivet for a hot pot. It's something you simply did not do. It's how generations of Americans functioned in their kitchens.

Why, though, in the 21st Century, we suddenly have a need for slicing food directly on our countertops and dropping red-hot pots and pans everywhere is beyond me.

To each their own, I suppose. But for responsible chefs like myself, these "disadvantages" of laminate are a non-issue.

I will point out one serious disadvantage to stone countertops: they are extremely unforgiving to glass. It's not often, but there are times when you're rummaging around in the overhead cabinet and accidentally knock down a glass or glass jar, or even just knock a glass over or knock it into the countertop. It WILL shatter against the stone countertop, but the laminate is much more accommodating.

 

[retromania]

Jeff

I am a fan of linoleum also. I too think a lot of the present floor coverings are a too thin. I am glad to know about floor coverings from Europe. Will have to Google that. My brother and his wife had a little stand off when it came to the decision about their kitchen floor a few years back when they did their redo. Sister-in-law wanted a tile floor. Brother wanted linoleum again. They compromised a put in real hard wood that matches the den flooring. It looks nice, but I miss the linoleum. Not my house tho. I will say that with their dark cabinets, granite and upper end appliances that the hard wood flooring looks good.

 

[danemodsandy]

Don't Do It!

Lino is much softer than laminate, which leaves it prone to being dented by dropped objects.

It also can be stained or softened by spills containing oil, such as cooking oil or salad dressing.

It also has a tendency to deteriorate around sinks; lino will rot if left wet too much.

Good care will minimize all of this, but there were good reasons that laminate became the standard.

 

[retromania]

So what I called linoleum was really laminate?! Wen my mother remodeled her kitchen in the 1990's she replaced the flooring. It was Congoleum and the contractor wanted to put the new floor covering down on top of the old wanted stating that the old floor covering was backed with asbestos and it would cost too much to remove it properly. Me being a purist I could stand the thought of two layers of flooring. Seemed sloppy to me. I found a man that was willing to come in on the weekend and take up the old floor. Then the contractor came back the next week and put down the new flooring. The new floor covering although not inexpensive just wasn't the quality of the old covering.

 

[norgeway]

FINALLY!! SOMEONE WHO THINKS LIKE ME!!!

When I can, linoleum is exactly what im going to use, yes you have to be careful with it, but it doesent break up your dishes and its quiet, you must also use chrome edges on it too!!if you will notice...all the checkout stations at Aldi stores are covered in linoleum!!I wouldnt give you 50 cents for all these new countertops made today, hard as a brick, noisy and to me ugly, yes you can set hot pots on them, but I wouldnt do that anyway!

 

[norgeway]

AND TOO!

Modern Formica is JUNK compared to the stuff made 40 or 50 years ago!

 

[NYCWriter]

Sandy ...

... "Good care will minimize all of this, but there were good reasons that laminate became the standard."

This is kind of what I was thinking. *EVERYBODY* couldn't have flocked away from linoleum to Formica just because it was *new*.

And yes, I'm aware that the linoleum countertops might be a bit more high-maintenance than the laminate, but I'm careful anyway.

But I do disagree with Hans' statement about modern Formica being "junk" compared to decades past. The Formica in my kitchen today (installed 7 years ago) is just as attractive and durable as my elder relatives'. The dark green marble pattern, though, is just not to my liking.

 

[countryguy]

I had a Corian seamless countertop installed a few years ago and I love it. I wanted something low to no maintenance and wanted a light colour so as not to show ever spec of dust, crumbs, etc. that would show on a dark colour. I always use a cutting board and trivets. It can get scratched but the good thing is that the scratches can be buffed out.

Gary

 

[countryguy]

Another pic

 

[NYCWriter]

Gary ...

... that is pretty!

I *do* love the satiny feel of Corian. I haven't ruled it out.

 

[william637]

Finally - Something I can really chime in on

I actually used to be co-owner of a countertop company. We fabricated and installed everything...postform laminate, custom laminate, DuPont Corian, granite, quartz, butcher block, you name it.

I can tell you that I had DuPont Corian in my last house, and couldn't wait to get it installed again in my new house. If you want solid surface, do not get anything other than DuPont. There is a HUGE difference in performance (so much so that we took everything our of our showroom except DuPont because of warranty issues). Because Corian is soft, it is very forgiving to glassware, unlike hard stone surfaces.

As to your original question about laminate and linoleum, you have identified how you work in a kitchen, and your practices will allow either of those surfaces to work well for you. I will point out that since laminate has a hard plastic layer on top, it is non-porous. Linoleum will not be able to make that claim. Staining will be the one thing you would need to be concerned about with linoleum vs. laminate.

 

[NYCWriter]

Thanks Mark!

OK ... I think I can safely eliminate linoleum countertops from consideration.

It'll now be either DUPONT Corian or Formica.

 

[davetranter]

Linoleum work surfaces

Not a kitchen environment of course, but ALL British G.P.O. workbenches were 'linoleum' topped. Yes, they can be (and were!!) damaged by sharp edges, but are generally forgiving of quite a lot of use and abuse, and don't damage 'dropped' items (Vacuum tubes included). Oil and grease spills (Telephone Selectors used lots) wipe up well. I bought a couple of benches as 'scrap' 20-odd years ago, two of which are behind me as I type. They must be at least 30-40 years old now, but are still in good condition. Constant local pressure will cause indentations, but nothing so deep or sharp-edged as to retain dirt and not be easily wiped clean.

I cannot be sure that this is 'real' linoleum, it may be a hard rubber compound, but it wears well.

Wooden benches had the 'linoleum' inset, so as to be flush with the edge frame of the bench top, metal benches (such as I have) had alumin(i)um trim...

All best

Dave T

P.S. If anyone in the U.K. is interested, I have a brand new, unopened 'old stock' roll of 'real' patterned linoleum up for grabs. No idea what length is there, or whether it's a 'square', and also no idea how long it would take to unroll without damage. Since it is still wrapped, I am unable to examine it closely. IIRC looking down the core of the roll, it's largely pale blue. I 'guesstimate' it to be late '50s or early'60s vintage, judging by the age of the postage stamps on the packaging.

 

[davey7]

I've considered lino for my countertop work surface when my vintage Formica (or equal) finally hits the dust. I spec'ed it on a project about ten years ago for writing surfaces in an airport lounge. I think it's on the forbo site somewhere (the usage, not the project...) - just found the link. I notice that they are using rounded corners and edges, but I'd use metal like older Formica counters did. The furniture we did had wood edges with the linoleum inset flush as the top surface.

As a tidbit, some 20's buildings in Chicago still have the old metal countertops in place - sort of enameled metal sheets.

http://www.forboflooringna.com/Surface-Solutions/

 

[48bencix]

Cleaner Choice

For all linoleum installations please use non-alkaline cleaners. Most cleaners are alkaline and will help disolve the linoleum, although not immediately. You may want to wax the surface.

 

[xraytech]

This has been a fascinating thread.
I'm in process of buying a home that needs a kitchen installed. Prior to buying new I'm heading to construction junction in hopes of finding a nice large vintage maple kitchen.

I've also been thinking about what to do for counters, and I was thinking Formica in a light color with a slight pattern to it, or if they reproduce it now I'd like the vintage cracked gray ice pattern.

I hadn't thought of corian but after Marks great reviews of it I'll also look at it assuming I can afford it

 

[danemodsandy]

Sam:

" if they reproduce it now I'd like the vintage cracked gray ice pattern."

They do. There's a link below; a version of "Boomerang" (original pattern name "Skylark") is also offered, though it's not the exact 1954 Raymond Loewy-designed pattern created for the Formica Corporation.

Cracked ice laminate is offered in yellow, red and gray. A 4' X 10' sheet is around $350.00. Plus, of course, shipping.

Retro Laminates | Cracked Ice Laminates | Boomerang