Laminate cabinets introduce a wide choice of color to the kitchen and bathroom areas. Additionally, they present an array of interesting options when combined with wood cabinetry. While wood cabinets introduce value, character and warmth in the kitchen, laminates bring along that elegant, sleek and modern look. On top of this, advances in manufacturing technology is continuously providing consumers with a lot more options, textures, finishes and styles to choose from. For example, white laminate kitchen cabinets bring along an open and clean look. Black colored ones, on the other hand, introduce an upscale and sophisticated look.
Gone are the days when laminates were restricted to the boring flat finishes. Nowadays, you are able to choose a laminate décor that fits in perfectly with your personality and existing furniture. In essence, these are basically cabinets with exterior surfaces bonded with a thin layer of decorative laminate. Laminates are available in a wide range of styles, colors and materials such as costly exotic woods and low-cost plastics. These cabinets are slightly cheaper than solid wooden cabinets.
Common Installation Areas In Homes And Offices
In homes the kitchen and the bathroom are the main areas where these cabinets are commonly found. In doctors’ offices, there are areas such as the examination rooms that mainly consist of plastic laminates. This is principally because the plastic laminates are nonabsorbent. That said, there are freestanding and built-in cabinets that have laminated surfaces.
Types Of Laminate Cabinets
It is possible to laminate any type of cabinet that you may have in your home or office so that it can fit into a particular décor and color scheme. There are five main types of laminate kitchen cabinets. They include:
Hard plastic
Hard plastic laminates are available in a variety of textures and colors. Cabinets that are adorned with hard plastic laminates are stain resistant, waterproof, durable and very easy to clean.
Wood
Cabinets with wood laminates on the other hand resemble solid wood cabinets. The laminate is pressed onto the cabinet using low pressure or high pressure. Cabinets that have low-pressure wooden laminates are a tad cheaper than those that have high-pressure wooden laminates. The laminates are made of high-quality wood which creates the illusion of real wood.
Stock
Stock laminate cabinets can be found in most kitchen furniture stores or home improvement stores. They are quite cheap and do not require you to orders beforehand. Once you make the purchase, all that remains is for you to take the cabinet home. It is important to note that stock cabinets may also be wood or hard-plastic laminate cabinets. They are ideal for the homeowner who is in search of a cabinet with standard size and design.
Semi-custom
These cabinets are assembled in a factory and are available in custom sizes. They offer a great selection of designs and styles when compared to stock cabinets.
Custom
These cabinets are built to certain specifications so that they can be a perfect fit for a particular bathroom or kitchen. They are made by specialized cabinetmakers and offer the greatest selection in terms of design, size and style. They can fit in an odd-sized kitchen space and usually have special materials that are generally not available on the cabinet market.
White laminate cabinets can easily be achieved through the re-facing of an already existing cabinet. Cheap or poorly done laminate cabinets usually peel with time, especially when they are exposed to humidity or water for long periods. An exquisitely done laminate kitchen cabinet will set you back anything between $10,000 and $15,000 while an inferior quality one would cost about $4,000.
