Linoleum countertops?

[stan]

Hi Matt

You might want to look at Joe's thread 710240 on the imperial side titled "my vintage kitchen laundry room" he used a counter top paint on his, and until asked, everyone thought it was original vintage material! He did use a metal trim, and looks really good! Don't know if it's the look you want, but defiantly worth checking out.

 

[NYCWriter]

Thanks Stan ...

... but I'll be needing new countertops altogether, since I'm installing a new (bigger) sink and cutting into the cabinets.

And when I say *I*, I mean the contractor.

 

[norgeway]

The problem..

I have with new formica is that most of it is in a dreadful matte finish and believe me, it stains as bad as anything, the old fashioned gloss finish is not available on many patterns, and it is no where near as durable as what was made in the 50s and 60s.

 

[NYCWriter]

EVERYTHING stains ...

... including granite, concrete (ESPECIALLY concrete), marble (ESPECIALLY marble!) ... and on and on and on.

You need to wipe up spills promptly, regardless of what your countertop is made of.

 

[danemodsandy]

Hans:

A lot of Formica laminates are available in the gloss finish by special order. When I say "Formica," I mean that specific brand; I'm not using it as a generic term for laminate. Going to a company dealing in laminate makes many more options available than you will find at a DIY store or kitchen remodeler.

The problem with the gloss laminate was that it dulled in high-use areas if not very well cared-for. Everything has a drawback of some sort. Matte laminates conceal minor wear better than gloss ones, but they stain more easily than gloss ones. So, it's all in what you want and whether you can live with the inherent disadvantages of it.

 

[westie2]

Look at some Wilsonart laminate. We used it 5 years ago for our kitchen redo and we are very happy with it. It is made here in the USA in Temple, Texas.

http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-7-custom-laminate.aspx

 

[william637]

Laminates

Most every laminate is available in every finish (the last two digits usually specify the finish). For instance 1741-01 and 1741-60 are the same color - one is gloss (01) and the other matte (60). Formica corporation has a few speciality finishes that are really cool - a corrugated finish available with some cardboard colors, and a grass-cloth type woven finish available with limited patterns. If you go to Lowe's or Home Depot, you will have to find someone who is seasoned to actually get your order correct.

What I always told customers is the higher the gloss and the darker the color, the more wear and tear your countertop shows. I have black Corian in a satin finish in my kitchen. And I abuse the hell out of it. All of my surfaces scratches show. The upside is, if you just leave it alone (like I am) over time it becomes its on patina. Kind of like an antique butcher block or hardwood floor. Or, for those who hate imperfections, it can always be buffed back to its original luster.

 

[sudsmaster]

Formica is great but it can be permanently stained by a number of things. It's in the patio kitchen here; looks great and wears very well. However I found out the hard way that the sodium bisulfate I use as a chlorine neutralizer will bleach out the color (yellow) of the formica, and there is nothing to be done about that (unless I find a yellow stain to match it... mustard?).

One advantage of linoleum for a kitchen countertop is that traditional linoleum, made with linseed oil, has a degree of antibacterial activity. As I understand it, the oil outgasses throughout the lifetime of the lineoleum, and that thin gas layer clings to the top of the surface and tends to kill bacteria.

Me, if I were to used linoleum on a kitchen counter, I'd probably want it installed in such a way as to be easily replaced on a regular basis, and I'd keep a big roll of the same stuff in storage for such a purpose. By easily replaced, I mean perhaps a stainless steel frame holding down the linoleum, held in place by easily accessed stainless steel trim screws.