Laminate worktops - advice!

[rosybell]

So we are having a beautiful new kitchen installed and due to unexpected costs I just dont think we can afford the quartz white worktops we wanted. Does anyone have any advice about laminate worktops? We are looking for white ones - will it look awful or are there some good ones these days??

We have a laminate one from worktops direct in our utility. Not the cheapest but it's good quality- hard to mark even with a knife. Looks fab.

Personally I prefer real wood, despite the slight hassle of looking after it.

Thanks for your reply. I also like real wood but I know I am not thorough enough to maintain it.

Any other experiences of laminate? or recommendations of make - I have seen Durapal mentioned a lot.

not white (far too much cleaning!) but have laminate and have had it before. With basic common sense it is fine, we checked that it would pass the 'keys chucked down' test and it does.

the old ones coped quite happily with hot pans. Haven't dared with the new ones but they are fine with hot lids etc.
just use a pan rest and a chopping board - have found that the new worktop means you need a non slip board. There's only one that works, finish is called neoflam and Sainsburys sell it.

If you're looking for something a bit nicer than laminate but the budget won't stretch to quartz, consider Duropal or Formica Aria compact laminate.

12-20mm solid surface; more expensive than laminate but cheaper than quartz, and you can still have an undermount sink / drainer grooves etc.

It's also very hardwearing.

We have Duropal. It's fine.

we did this and I'm so glad I did.....it seems indestructible so far (2years later not a mark) easy to cleann. I was looking for Arcopal? or maybe duropal I think - I went to a local shop who were listed as a supplier and they also had a cheaper range which looked nigh on teh same and even cheaper! was handy as builder just popped rouond to pick it up..
slightly more sparkly than initial but actually I love it now as they give a slight reflection/rainbow effect.. not sure I would spend the few thousand to replace as planned now,...