One is the most affordable of the common countertop materials. The other is engineered stone with next to no maintenance. Here is how to choose.
Material Basics
Laminate is the most affordable of the common countertop materials, which leaves more of your budget for the rest of the project. It is built from layers of resin-saturated paper and a decorative print, sealed under high pressure with a protective wear layer over a sturdy core. Today's laminate has come a long way from what you might remember, with hundreds of colours, patterns, and textures that convincingly echo stone, wood, and more.
Quartz, also known as engineered stone, is a smart and stylish choice for countertops. It is highly durable, stain-resistant, and practically maintenance-free, offering all the beauty of natural stone with captivating colours and textures that feel at home in any space.
Quick Comparison
Common Questions
Budget-friendly, low-maintenance, and more stylish than ever, laminate is a practical choice that doesn't ask you to compromise on looks. Quartz is a smart, stylish choice for surfaces that get used.
Laminate is the most affordable of the common countertop materials, which leaves more of your budget for the rest of the project. Quartz counters are engineered from roughly 95 percent quartz, one of the hardest minerals on earth and even harder than granite, with the remainder made up of polymer resins.
Never. Laminate is non-porous, so it needs no sealing or special products. No. Quartz is non-porous and virtually maintenance-free, so it needs no sealing or polishing.
Naturally hard and scratch-resistant, quartz is as durable as it is good-looking. Laminate trades some durability for its price, so a little care goes a long way. It isn't heat resistant, and a hot pan set directly on the surface can scorch or bubble it. The edges can chip and the surface can scratch.
Laminate is an especially good fit for budget-conscious renovations, laundry rooms, and secondary spaces. Quartz is a smart, stylish choice for surfaces that get used.
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