Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Aug 13, 2014 9:51 pm Hi Everyone, Pre-start in 5 days and counting!! Quick question - has anyone used Formica AR Plus (gloss) for their benchtops? The building company doesn't recommend Diamond Gloss or Gloss for benchtops and are going to charge a fee, but with the limited standard colour palette available (and limited budget for upgrades) I'm thinking the gloss will look really nice (and I can kinda pretend it's stone!!). I'm a bit worried now that it's not such a good idea? What's been your experiences with it? Would love to see your piccies too Thanks HEAPS!!! Bex Re: Has anyone used Formica AR Plus (Gloss) for their Kitche 2Aug 17, 2014 9:16 am Gloss laminates have improved over the last ten years. But keep in mind, if hubby or your children accidently forget to use a chopping board once, you've pretty much written off the laminate top. I would upgrade to a quartz stone, ie caesarstone, quantum quart, smartstone etc. They are much more durable and will be more forgiving if you forget to use a chopping board. Save the laminate tops for the vanities, spend the extra on the kitchen even if it means borrowing a little extra if you cant afford it. You wont regret it in the future. Ask your cabinetmaker for the cheapest alternative brand. Re: Has anyone used Formica AR Plus (Gloss) for their Kitche 3Aug 17, 2014 9:30 am No problems with gloss bench top laminates. As Sonny said I would also upgrade to stone, it is just so much better than laminate! Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Has anyone used Formica AR Plus (Gloss) for their Kitche 5Aug 23, 2014 12:38 am I wouldn't use a solid colour laminate as a kitchen bench, either in a gloss or matte finish. I'd be surprised if you got through prestart without them trying to talk you out of the plain white top. Formica AR Plus is pretty much the same thing as Laminex Diamond Gloss so you can expect the same durability. They are pretty tough for gloss finishes but at the end of the day a laminate can scratch and a scratch on a gloss surface will be obvious due to the reflection. A patterned gloss at least gives your eye something else to focus on rather than the scratch. Maybe have a look at Fresh Snow in the Laminex Squareform range. It is quite white, matte but has a tiny bit of a pattern on it which will help with wear. It might be an upgrade though but nowhere near the price of stone. Pure Mineral Stone (Laminex) or White Finestone (Formica) are both also pretty good engineered light coloured stone look-a-like laminates and both also come in matte and gloss, they have quite a bit more pattern in them though. Alternatively, you can sign a contract with pre-defined known amount you pay to the builder for management and warranties and then you just pay the invoices their provide… 2 5256 1000000% definitely add insulation. I have in my home and it makes a big difference minimising sound transfer. Insulation is pretty cheap and definitely worth it 2 3665 As title suggests, looking at using the interlocking Pentablock stacked stone products to replace failing timber retaining… 0 11170 |