Laminate Bench Tops

16/04/2020

For Sophisticated Benchtops, Have You Considered Laminate?

Laminate products today come in a spectacular array of designs and colours, they are high-tech, durable, easy to clean AND very affordable. When customers ask us why laminate benchtops? We say, why wouldn’t you?

Let’s take a look at the following:

Why Laminate Benchtops?
What Makes Laminex a Top Tier Product?
Which Laminate is Right for You?

Why Laminate Benchtops?

Laminate has had to work pretty hard to shake off its tacky 60’s image; but we think it’s fair to say it’s more than succeeded. When you consider that laminate products were originally developed for insulation purposes, their evolution in recent years is all that more surprising. So what are laminate benchtops like now? Think sophistication, elegance and photo-realistic, think the marble look without the marble price tag!

Let’s take a closer look at why so many people are choosing laminate for their benchtops:

Built to last

Quality laminate products manufactured to exacting Australian standards, can last 20 years and even more, if properly cared for. The laminate products of today come with fire resistant and anti-microbial properties. They are also 100% water resistant and the latest products, from trend-leaders like Laminex, even have scratch resistant properties!

The attractive price tag

A typical laminate benchtop is made from a combination of engineered wood and melamine. While the designs look very classy, the materials used are eminently more affordable than stone or timber. When you appreciate that you can pay anything up to $2000 per square meter for a natural stone benchtop, laminate benchtops start to make a lot of financial sense!

Speedy install

If you’re concerned about getting your kitchen back quickly, then laminate benchtops are your friend. Unlike say stone or timber, laminate can simply be cut onsite and installed with minimal delay. At Express Kitchens we can install your laminate benchtops, plus the rest of your kitchen, in a single day as part of our signature all-inclusive one day kitchen install.

What Makes Laminex a Top-Tier Product?

At Express Kitchens we choose to source Laminex products for our customers’ laminate benchtops for a host of reasons including:

Laminex is renowned for producing high-tech, laminate products with exceptional durability properties, including scratch resistance and even fingerprint resistance in some lines
Laminex has pushed the boundaries in terms of creating an extensive range of contemporary designs with a photo-realistic edge
Laminex prides itself as the first business of its kind to achieve Global GreentagCertTM Certification – Global Greentag works to certify products which meet its stringent eco-friendly criteria
Laminex was established in Melbourne more than 80 years ago and its products are designed to withstand Australian conditions and to appeal to Australian aesthetics

Which Laminate is Right for You?

When it comes to choosing a laminate for your kitchen benchtops it can feel a little overwhelming! It can help to consult a kitchen designer and to break your decision making process down into a couple of key criteria:

Finish

Laminate benchtops come in a range of finishes including matte, gloss and metallic. Matte finishes tend to be popular in traditional kitchens and are best for concealing scratch marks, while gloss and high gloss finishes are designed to reflect light, creating a more luxurious and brighter feel. The downside to gloss finishes is that they do need more regular cleaning and scratches can be more apparent. Metallic finishes are proving popular for those wanting to make a statement.

Mimicry

As we discussed above, laminate benchtops come in a wide range of photo-realistic designs, effectively mimicking stone and timber. To the untrained eye it can be hard to spot the original from the mimic! Whether you’re after a warm timber, a classic marble or industrial concrete look, brands like Laminex have you covered.

Colour

Your choice of colour will likely be heavily influenced by the colour palette in the rest of your kitchen as well as the colour scheme across your entire house. Don’t be afraid to consider a bold splash of colour. Laminex has a range of flat colours in eye catching shades which can add energy to your kitchen. Whether you’re after something soft and unobtrusive or vibrant and cheeky, there’s a laminate out there for you!

Want New Laminate Benchtops in One Day?

FREECALL 1800 675 605 OR CONTACT US ONLINE

REQUEST AN IN-HOME DESIGN

19/12/2019

How New Benchtops Can Revamp your Kitchen | Which Material Should You Choose?

How New Benchtops Can Revamp your Kitchen |

Which Material Should You Choose?

If you want to change one thing about your kitchen and you’re after the biggest bang for your buck, you might want to consider upgrading your kitchen benchtops Brisbane.

But how do you decide which type of benchtop surface is right for your kitchen? Below we’ll compare two of the most popular benchtop surfaces: laminate and engineered stone.

We’ll explore:

Why these two materials are so popular in Australian kitchens
The features and maintenance requirements of laminate; and
The features and maintenance requirements of engineered stone

What Makes Laminate & Engineered Stone Benchtops so Popular?

Let’s start with laminate. It’s an extremely affordable product that comes in a HUGE range of designs and colours. Laminate can effectively mimic timber and stone – in fact the quality is so high, that it can be hard to tell the difference. Laminate is easy to install and, if you decide to completely revamp your kitchen in 5 years time, you can simply remove the laminate and change designs.

Engineered stone also comes in a range of designs and colours. It has a significant advantage over natural stone in that various pigments can be added to it to produce different colours, including blues and greens. Stone benchtops add value to your home and engineered stone represents an environmentally low impact option, because the stone used is quartz, which is abundant globally.

Laminated Benchtops: Features and Maintenance

If you’re looking for new kitchen benchtops in Brisbane, and you’re on a budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get a quality product. Laminate has a lot of advantages. Let’s take a closer look.

DURABILITY

In Australia, laminate benchtops manufacturers must adhere to the strict standards prescribed in AS/NZS 2924.1. These standards specify that laminates must be durable, fire resistant and possess antimicrobial properties. A quality Australian-made laminated benchtop can last 10 to 20 years, and beyond, if it’s well taken care of. When choosing laminate surfacing for kitchen benchtops in Brisbane, make sure the laminate is sourced from Australia to ensure durability.

INSTALL TIME

Laminate benchtops are relatively quick and easy to install as they can be cut onsite. At Express Kitchens we can install new laminate kitchen benchtops in Brisbane in a single day, along with the rest of your new kitchen too.

VULNERABILITIES

Now you wouldn’t normally use a sharp knife without a cutting board on any benchtop, and this is particularly important if you have laminate. Be warned, the surface can and will get scratched if you go about stabbing it with a butcher’s knife. Similarly, while laminate is heat-resistant, if you plonk a saucepan straight from the stove on it, laminate can scorch, leaving ugly burn marks. Your laminate benchtop can also swell if it’s left soaked in water, the area around the sink edge is particularly prone to this problem. Interestingly, it’s not the laminate itself that’s swelling, but the soaked wood product underneath.

MAINTENANCE & CLEANING

Laminate is very low-maintenance, as long as you factor in the above-mentioned vulnerabilities. The only thing you really need to do is keep it clean. See Express Kitchen’s information page for advice on cleaning products for laminate and melamine. Our main recommendation is to avoid harsh, abrasive, cleaners, otherwise laminate is very user friendly. It’s an option well worth considering if you are looking for new kitchen benchtops. You’re always welcome to visit our North Brisbane showroom in Narangba for inspiration in this area.

Stone Benchtops: Features and Maintenance

Stone benchtops look absolutely beautiful and add style and charm to any home, but they are also a very practical product too. Let’s take a look at the material’s features.

DURABILITY

Engineered stone is a durable, tough product and can last for decades.

INSTALL TIME

Unlike laminate, stone obviously needs specialised cutting equipment, and therefore can’t be cut onsite. For this reason, cabinetry must be installed first, and measured precisely, before the stone can be cut, and the process therefore takes longer. If you are looking for stone kitchen cabinets in Brisbane, contact Express Kitchens to discuss timeframes.

VULNERABILITIES

Engineered stone is about as hard as granite; which is one of the hardest natural stones used on benchtops. Stone is scratch and cut resistant, and, although it’s not recommended, you can even get away with putting down the odd hot saucepan or baking tray fresh from the oven. The one real vulnerability of stone is the possibility of cracking or chipping. This problem is mostly pretty easy to avoid so long as your benchtops are properly installed. And, avoiding designs which feature narrow strips of stone, like the spacing between your double sinks, as these sites are more prone to cracking.

MAINTENANCE & CLEANING

Stone is a low maintenance product. It is non-porous, meaning stains and water won’t soak in, and, unlike some natural stone surfaces, you don’t need to seal it to retain its stain-resistant properties, the factory seal should last the product’s lifetime.

When you select your stone product, it’s a good idea to find out what cleaning products will best suit the surface, but gentle soapy water is always an easy option.

If you’re looking for kitchen benchtops in Brisbane we recommend you consider laminate or stone because of the many benefits they offer.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF KITCHEN BENCHTOP WILL SUIT YOUR BRISBANE HOME

FREECALL: 1800 675 605 OR CONTACT US ONLINE

REQUEST AN IN-HOME DESIGN

23/12/2018

Kitchens St Lucia

Kitchens St Lucia are Designed Uniquely

At Express Kitchens, our experienced designers come to your home and work with you to bring together just what you, your property and your kitchen and laundry spaces want and need. Kitchens St Lucia through Express Kitchens means functionality and practicality achieved by our extensive experience in the industry. Using 3D design technology, we create a digital model of your kitchen and design exactly what you imagined!

A 1-Day Installation Service That Works

For those whose lifestyle means that being without a kitchens translates to excessive inconvenience, Express Kitchens has the ideal solution for you! We specialise in an all-inclusive instalment that takes just one day to complete. That’s right! Our skilled team of professionals combining efficiency and expertise, ensures that your kitchen is ready to cook in when you arrive home that evening.

Based in the Brisbane region and surrounds, our service area spans from Marsden to the Sunshine Coast and everywhere in between. So, if you’re ready to turn your dream kitchen into reality, contact Express Kitchens today.

Our Kitchens St Lucia makeover features:

Finish: Matte

Supplier: Flexipanel

Colour: Designer White

Kitchen Benchtop

Finish: Velour

Supplier: Formica

Colour: Snowdrift

27/10/2018

Kitchens Brisbane Northside

Kitchen Doors

Finish: Laminate
Supplier: Flexipanel
Colour: Parchment Sheen

Kitchen Benchtop

Finish: Laminate
Supplier: Laminex
Colour: Rural Oak Natural Finish

Kitchen Panels & Accessories

Type: Sink
Colour: Modern matt black sink with chrome mixer tap

Type: Splashback tiles
Supplier: Client – installed by Express Kitchens

Express Kitchens Brisbane Northside for Superior Quality

Choose Express Kitchens Brisbane northside if you’re looking to build your dream kitchen, but haven’t found the perfect design to suite what you need. Often, finding the kitchen you want that fits within your budget, design and time specifications can seem to be an impossible dream. At Express Kitchens, we understand how important it is to have a kitchen with a design that fits seamlessly into your home space – without the hassle of a drawn-out installation.

We think everybody should be able to have a kitchen they love! That’s why we created our business to deliver three key values:

Superior Quality
Ultimate Convenience
Absolute Affordability

Guaranteed Quality for Your Kitchens Brisbane Northside

As part of our commitment to excellence, all of our kitchens and laundries include a 6 year workmanship guarantee, with full manufacturer’s warranties for all externally supplied parts. We value quality workmanship, so offer a standard of product that we’d feel confident about using in our own homes. It’s important that our customers can trust that their laundry and kitchens Brisbane northside are delivered with integrity and an experience you want to tell your friends about.

Whether it’s laundry or kitchens Brisbane northside you’re after, we take industry standards seriously. Express Kitchens are members of the Housing Industry Association of Australia and the business holds Queensland Building Construction Commission (QBCC) insurance covering the construction side of our work.

Servicing Kitchens Brisbane Northside for more than 2 decades, Express Kitchens are reputable and cost competitive when it comes to:

Whether you’ve got your heart set on stone benchtops, or stylish laminate to dress up your laundry and kitchen cabinets and fulfil the dream, Express Kitchens has got you covered.