Cambria Quartz Curve

One of the biggest ways to make a “Splash”(and we’re not talking about a backsplash here) with your remodel project is by customizing your countertop shape.

Custom shapes can make your kitchen or bathroom a real reflection of your distinct style.  Custom shapes are unique, make a bold statement, and add a very personal touch. 

Sink Slopes: Crescent Sink

There is often an additional cost for such a design, but through curves and angles, your project is guaranteed to deliver that WOW factor!The styles pictured within this post make an impact and leave a lasting impression. 

Cambria Quartz, Wilsonart®HD® Laminate, and Meganite Solid Surface can all be customized to maximize the wow factor with curves, slopes, narrow, wide, and custom angles.

Wilsonart HD High Definition Laminate has not only received GREENGUARD® Certification for Indoor Air Quality and Children & Schools, but it is also composed of a minimum 20% post-consumer recycled content (that’s all those cardboard boxes we recycle). While we don’t have a solution for recycling a laminate countertop today, we’re working on it. Meanwhile, you can count on your Wilsonart HD countertop to keep its good looks and high performance for years to come.

Dos: Laminate countertops are more affordable than stone and are relatively durable.  Damage is usually caused by misuse or inadequate maintenance.  Cleaning a laminate countertop is as simple as wiping it down with a wet cloth, spraying a little disinfectant, and wiping it off with a dry cloth.  The cloth you use should be made of a nonabrasive material to keep from scratching the countertop.  Scratches can ruin the countertop’s finish and allow moisture to penetrate, opening it to mold, mildew growth, bacteria, and discoloration.  The cleanser you use should be free of harsh chemicals such as alkalines or acids.  Choose one with a pH of 7, or close.  This is the basic pH of water, and is completely neutral.  Laminate countertops come in a wide variety of finishes and coating designs, each with specific needs and maintenance requirements.  Laminate countertops with sulpted or irregular surfaces should be cleaned with a brush to remote bits of dirt and small particles from the depressed or elongated areas.  Laminate countertops finished with extra gloss require a regular wipe with a mild glass cleaner to keep their finish intact.

Don’ts: Never use your laminate countertop as a work table or cutting board.  While laminate is water and shock resistant, it is not scratchproof.  Use a separate chopping board, and avoid pounding or hammering too hard on a laminate surface.  Never place hot objects, such as hot pans, sizzling dishes, hair dryers, and curling irons, directly on your laminate countertop.  Place hot pans and dishes on trivets or insulated heating pads to protect your countertop’s finish.  Never use abrasive cleaning tools, such as a pumice stone or steel wool to scrub off stains on your laminate countertop.  These will scrape off your countertop’s finish and leave marks.  Don’t use harsh chemicals.  Don’t use products that contain bleach.  If your laminate countertops are a light color, cleaners containing bleach may cause yellowing.

1. Why does Wilsonart® HD® cost more than other laminates? Wilsonart® HD® is the result of the latest technological innovations that offer vastly improved looks combined with 3 times the wear resistance of the industry standard. It is truly a unique product, and it is still much less expensive than solid surfacing, engineered stone or granite.
2. What does “Premium” mean for a laminate? Most simply, “premium” means that there may be an additional charge for the laminate due to a special design or finish. Some premium designs, such as the Wilsonart® HD® designs, also have enhanced features like durability. For more information, visit Wilsonart HD.
3. What finishes are available for my pattern? Generally there is only one standard finish for any pattern. By “finish”, we mean the textural surface of the laminate sheet. We select the best finish for each pattern and list that as the “standard.” While other finishes may be available, they are usually for special needs applications in commercial areas like hospitals, stores, offices, etc.
4. Where can I find dealers for Wilsonart Laminate? You should be able to find dealers, fabricators and installers by looking in your yellow pages under “Kitchens”, “Countertops” or “Remodelers”. You can also visit the Wilsonart Locator on our website and type in your zip code for a list of showrooms where you can see our Wilsonart® HD® and other laminates.
5. How can I tell what colors are in a particular pattern? The best way to see what a particular pattern looks like is to order a sample and look at it in the same light as it will be used in (lighting is very important).  You can search for designs by color family by visiting our View Samples page. This will help you identify the main color in a pattern, and may help you narrow down the number of samples you’ll want to look at.
6. How do I see all your current colors? Visit our View Samples page and click on The Standards. The Standards is our complete line of readily available laminate. Our newest designs are listed by Series; you can also view designs by selecting a specific series on this page.
7. I don’t like the brown line that you see on the edge of a laminate countertop. Is there a way to avoid it? Yes. The seam you are referring to created by a traditional “self-edge” or square edge fabrication (the core edge of the top surface is exposed). There are many edge treatments that hide or eliminate the brown line. A beveled edge is created with a molding that attaches to the front of the counter, hiding the seam and the brown line. Wood edges in a variety of profiles can be stained to match cabinetry.
8. What are Wilsonart® HD® sinks? Wilsonart® HD® sinks are a solid surface composite made from 100% acrylic resin. They have no fillers or mineral additives.
9. Can Wilsonart® HD® sinks be under-mounted in a High Pressure decorative Laminate countertop? Yes, they can be under-mounted to any type of countertop, laminate, solid surface, quartz, natural stone or any other countertop material is perfect for the beauty and performance of Wilsonart® HD® sinks.
10. What is thermal shock and how does it relate to Wilsonart® HD® sinks? Thermal shock occurs when a product is exposed to a dramatic change in temperature. Wilsonart® HD® sinks are extremely thermal resistant, due to the combination of the 100% acrylic surface material and fiberglass backing material.
11. Why do the Wilsonart® HD® sinks have a fiberglass backing? The fiberglass re-enforcement layer gives Wilsonart® HD® sinks superior strength and rigidity. It assists in sound absorption and insulation.
12. What colors are available in Wilsonart® HD® sinks? Wilsonart® HD sinks are available in True White and Ivory.
13. Will normal use of Wilsonart® HD® sinks with standard kitchen items such as sharp objects, pots, and pans cause damage to the laminate edge?  The seam between a Wilsonart® HD® sink or bowl and laminate are designed to be extremely high-bond strength seams. The adhesive is WA8230-LS and is specifically designed for laminate and acrylic seams. Small nicks and scratches may develop over time, but can be easily removed with slight sanding using standard sand-papers and finishing with a Scotch-brite pad.
14. Will the use of Wilsonart® HD® sinks/bowls in high moisture areas affect the exposed laminate edge created by under-mounting?  No, internal and independent thermal cycle water testing directed at the laminate edge has not revealed any laminate damage or change to the laminate.
15. Are seams between Wilsonart® HD® sinks/bowls and laminate durable enough to withstand moisture changes and extreme weight when filled with kitchen items and water?  Yes, the use of WA8230-LS enhances the strength of the seam area up to 10 times stronger than any other recommended adhesive for this area. WA8230 was specifically designed for laminate to acrylic bonding and performs at high levels when evaluated by water cycle testing and high strength bond testing in internal and independent testing facilities.

Wilsonart HD

Wilsonart

Wilsonart® HD® is the result of the latest technological innovations that offer vast improvements combined with 3 times the wear resistance of the industry standard.  It’s a unique product that is much less expensive than solid surfacing, engineered stone, or granite.

Cambria

Cambria

Cambria is a natural, quartz surfacing product that has a variety of uses in your home such as countertops, floor tile, vanities, fireplace surrounds, wet bars, showers, etc.  It has the natural look and feel of granite, but with superior performance because of its strength and durability.  It

 is nonporous and will not absorb food and liquids like granite does.  And, best of all, it is maintenance free!

Meganite

Meganite

MEGANITE is a high performance acrylic solid surface material consisting of minerals, resins, and pigment.  Its unique formulation provides non-porous characteristics contributing to healthy, sustainable, and safe environments; indoor air quality, food safety, fire, chemical, and it is resistant to water and bacteria.