Does Anyone Use Laminate Countertops Anymore? | Denver, CO
Yes, people still use laminate countertops. Laminate, sold under brand names such as Formica and Wilsonart, is often described as one of the most common countertop materials, chosen for its lower installed cost, simple installation and stone or wood looks. Its weak points are heat, scratches and moisture at seams and cut edges.
If you are standing in a Denver kitchen with a laminate countertop, you may be wondering whether it marks the space as dated, or whether plenty of people still pick the same surface today. The question tends to come up during a remodel, before a sale, or when a burn mark or a lifting seam makes you look at the counter with fresh eyes.
We are a natural stone supplier in Denver, so we fabricate and install stone rather than laminate, and we want to give you a straight answer about where laminate still fits. Laminate has real strengths for some kitchens and real limits for others, and this guide helps you see which side yours falls on.
In this guide, you’ll learn who still chooses laminate and why, how the material has changed since Formica first reached kitchens, where laminate falls short around heat, scratches and water, how its installed cost compares with granite and quartz, and when replacing it with stone makes sense. We close with how Granite and Marble Designs can help once you decide to move on from laminate.
Yes, People Still Choose Laminate: Who Buys It and Why
Laminate countertops are still sold and installed across the US, and the material is often described as one of the most popular kitchen countertop choices, even though it is less dominant than it once was. The reasons are practical ones: a lower installed cost than stone, a simpler installation, and a wide choice of patterns that includes stone and wood looks.
The word “anyone” in this question covers three main groups: homeowners on a tight remodel budget, landlords fitting out rental units, and builders or investors preparing a property for a quick sale. Each group tends to weigh up-front cost and speed above long-term wear, which is exactly where laminate is strongest. Interest in laminate has also seen a modest revival, often credited to more realistic printed designs and its continued budget appeal.
| Who still chooses laminate | Why laminate fits | What to weigh before choosing it |
|---|---|---|
| Landlords with rental units | A lower installed cost and a simple install keep a refit affordable | Heat and scratch damage from daily use can shorten its life |
| Investors preparing a quick sale | A fresh printed pattern updates the look for a modest outlay | Seams and cut edges near the sink are weak points for water |
| First-time buyers on a budget | Stone and wood looks at a lower installed cost than granite or quartz | Scratches and burns are the usual reasons laminate fails |
| Budget kitchen remodels | Wide pattern choice and a simpler installation | Limited heat tolerance means trivets must become a habit |
A laminate counter usually means someone chose cost and speed first, and that can be a sensible choice for a rental or a short stay.
How Laminate Has Changed Since Formica Reached the Kitchen
Laminate as a countertop surface traces back to Formica), a laminate developed at Westinghouse in 1912 by Daniel J. O’Conor and Herbert A. Faber. The material layers paper with melamine resin, and over the following decades it became a popular choice for kitchen counters.
Today the word laminate names the material itself, while Formica and Wilsonart are brand names for it, so a counter described as “Formica” is simply a laminate top from that maker. The biggest change for buyers is appearance, since printed designs now imitate stone and wood more realistically than earlier generations of laminate did, which is a large part of its renewed appeal.
Premium lines are part of the change too. Wilsonart Traceless, for example, is marketed with more heat, impact and scratch resistance than standard laminate, although those are the maker’s own claims rather than independent test results.
High-pressure laminate is generally denser and more moisture resistant than low-pressure laminate, which means the type of laminate matters as much as the pattern printed on it. If you like a granite look in laminate, keep in mind that the pattern is a printed image on the decorative layer rather than stone.
Where Laminate Falls Short in a Working Kitchen
Laminate falls short in three places: heat, scratches and water at seams and cut edges. Each limit comes from the way the material is built, with a thin decorative layer bonded over a core board that does not like heat, sharp edges or moisture.
Heat
Laminate tolerates about 275 F for a short time, according to published guidance, so a pan straight off the burner or a hot baking sheet can damage the surface. Trivets and hot pads are the simple answer, and they need to become a daily habit rather than an occasional precaution.
Scratches and burns
Scratches and burns are the usual reasons a laminate top fails, because the decorative layer that carries the pattern is thin. A cutting board for every knife task and a trivet for every hot pot are the simplest ways to protect that layer from day one.
Water at seams and cut edges
Moisture is the slower threat, and it often goes unnoticed until the surface changes shape. When water reaches the core board through a seam, a cut edge or the opening around a sink, the board can swell, warp or lift the laminate off its substrate. Sealing exposed edges and seams helps, and wiping standing water promptly matters most around the sink. Denver conditions can swing from bone dry to humid within days, according to a local flooring specialist, and that kind of dry air can make moisture lingering inside a material easy to miss.
| Laminate limit | What causes the damage | Everyday habit that helps |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | Pans or bakeware hotter than the limit published guidance puts at about 275 F, set on the surface | Set hot items on a trivet or hot pad |
| Scratches | Knives and gritty objects cutting into the thin decorative layer | Use a cutting board for every knife task |
| Burns | Hot cookware placed straight on the counter | Keep hot pads within reach of the stove |
| Moisture at seams | Water reaching the core board through joints | Wipe standing water and keep seams sealed |
| Cut edges and sink openings | Exposed core board absorbing water | Keep edges sealed and dry after each use |
Laminate Compared With Granite and Quartz on Cost and Daily Use
Laminate costs less to install than granite or quartz, and that gap is the main reason it stays in use. Market estimates checked in October 2026 put installed laminate at about $15 to $40 per square foot, or roughly $450 to $1,500 for 30 to 50 square feet of counter. Granite runs about $40 to $140 per square foot installed, and quartz about $50 to $150 per square foot, with most quartz projects landing between $70 and $100.
These are national market estimates, not prices from Granite and Marble Designs, and a quote for your own kitchen is the only reliable number. Even so, the ranges show why a landlord or a seller often reaches for laminate first, and why a homeowner planning a long stay may look further.
| Surface | Installed cost (market estimate, October 2026) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | About $15 to $40 per sq ft | A thin printed decorative layer bonded to a core board |
| Granite | About $40 to $140 per sq ft | Natural stone |
| Quartz | About $50 to $150 per sq ft, most $70 to $100 | Engineered quartz |
Cost is only half of the comparison, since laminate gives you a printed image over a core board and granite gives you a solid slab of natural stone. The right pick depends on how long you plan to stay and how much you want to spend now.
When Replacing Laminate With Stone Makes Sense
Replacing laminate with stone makes sense when the counter is already failing, or when your plans for the home have changed since the laminate went in. These signs point toward an upgrade:
- The surface is damaged. Burns, deep scratches or cuts through the decorative layer are the usual end point for a laminate top, because that thin layer carries the whole pattern.
- Seams or edges are swelling. A lifted seam or a raised edge near the sink usually means water has reached the core board underneath the laminate.
- You plan to stay for many years. Laminate lasts roughly 10 to 20 years with care, by published estimates, so a long stay may well outlast the counter you have now.
- You want natural stone rather than a printed look. If you want real granite, quartzite or marble, or the solid feel of an engineered quartz slab, no laminate pattern will give you that.
If the laminate is sound and the home is a rental or a short-term stay, keeping it is a reasonable and honest choice. Stone is worth the larger outlay when the counter has to serve you for a long time, and when the look and feel of a solid slab matter to you.
How Granite and Marble Designs Helps When You Move On From Laminate
Granite and Marble Designs does not sell, fabricate or install laminate. We work in stone, including granite, quartz, quartzite, marble and porcelain, and we help once you have decided that your laminate has done its job.
Demolition and removal. We take out the old laminate countertop as part of the project, before the new stone arrives.
Stone design consulting. We help you compare materials, finishes and colors for your space, with honest notes on what each stone can and cannot do in a working kitchen.
Stone fabrication. We cut and finish the stone in our own Denver shop rather than sending the work out to another fabricator.
Installation. Our team handles professional countertop installation once the stone is fabricated, setting the new top in place where the laminate used to be.
Before you choose, you can stop by the showroom to touch the stone at 5676 N Pecos St Unit A and compare slabs in person. When you are ready, book a design consultation about moving up from laminate and we will talk through materials and layout with you.
| Surface | Does Granite and Marble Designs work with it? | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | No | We remove the old laminate top before the stone goes in |
| Granite | Yes | Natural stone, fabricated in our Denver shop |
| Quartz | Yes | Engineered quartz, fabricated and installed by our team |
| Quartzite | Yes | Natural stone, fabricated and installed by our team |
| Marble | Yes | Natural stone, discussed during a design consultation |
| Porcelain | Yes | A further option to weigh during a design consultation |
Key Takeaways
- Laminate is still in use. Laminate countertops are still sold and installed, and the material is often described as one of the most common choices, though it is less dominant than it once was.
- Cost and speed drive the choice. Landlords, investors and budget remodelers pick laminate for its lower installed cost and simple installation. Printed stone and wood looks add to its appeal.
- Formica is a brand, not a material. Laminate is the material, and Formica and Wilsonart are brand names for it. Formica dates back to 1912 at Westinghouse.
- Heat, scratches and water are the limits. Published guidance puts laminate’s limit at about 275 F for a short time, and its thin decorative layer scratches and burns. Water at seams and cut edges can swell the core board.
- Stone costs more up front. Market estimates put laminate at about $15 to $40 per square foot installed, granite at about $40 to $140 and quartz at about $50 to $150. These are estimates, not Granite and Marble Designs prices.
- Damage and a long stay point to stone. Burns, swelling seams, a long planned stay or a wish for natural stone are the clearest signs it is time to replace laminate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are laminate countertops outdated?
Laminate is not outdated in the sense of being discontinued. It is still sold and installed, and newer printed designs look more realistic than older ones. Whether it feels dated in your kitchen depends mostly on the pattern and its condition.
Is laminate a good choice for a rental or a quick sale?
Often, yes. Laminate’s lower installed cost and simple install suit a rental refit or a pre-sale update. The trade-off is wear: heat, scratches and water at seams can shorten its life, so it fits best where long-term durability matters less.
How long do laminate countertops last?
Published estimates put laminate at roughly 10 to 20 years with care, though sources differ. Heat, scratches and water at seams usually decide how long a particular top lasts, so daily habits matter more than the label.
How hot can a laminate countertop get?
Published guidance puts the limit at about 275 F for a short time. A pan straight off the burner can be hotter than that, so always set hot cookware on a trivet or hot pad.
Can laminate countertops look like granite?
Yes. Laminate is printed with stone patterns, including granite looks, and newer designs are more realistic than older ones. The pattern is still a printed image on a thin layer rather than natural stone.
What is the difference between laminate and Formica?
Laminate is the material, and Formica is a brand name for it, as is Wilsonart. Formica laminate was developed at Westinghouse in 1912 and is made by layering paper with melamine resin.
Does laminate hold up around a kitchen sink?
The sink area is a weak point. Water that reaches the core board through a seam, a cut edge or the sink opening can swell or lift the laminate, so sealed edges and prompt wiping help.
Do laminate countertops add resale value?
No independent figure answers this. Stone makers argue that laminate adds no resale value, but that view comes from an interested side, so treat it as an opinion and weigh it against your own plans for the home.
What is high-pressure laminate?
High-pressure laminate is a denser type of laminate that is generally more moisture resistant than low-pressure laminate. Sealing its edges and seams still matters, because water that reaches the core board can make it swell.
Can Granite and Marble Designs remove my old laminate countertop?
Yes. Demolition and removal of the old countertop is one of our services, and it comes before we install your new stone. We do not supply laminate, so the replacement is always a stone surface.
Conclusion
People do still use laminate countertops, mostly for budget remodels, rentals and quick sales, where a lower installed cost and a simple install matter more than long-term wear. The trade-off is a thin decorative layer that dislikes heat, knives and water at its seams and edges.
If your laminate is burned, scratched or lifting, or you plan to stay in your home for years, stone is the next step to look at. Give our Denver team a call to talk through granite, quartz and quartzite for your kitchen.
Call 303-536-8808 about replacing your laminate countertop.
See granite and quartz slabs at our showroom.