Popular Countertop Material Misconceptions

Common Questions About Laminate and Other Surfaces

What is the primary material in laminate? Does granite need to be sealed routinely? How exactly is a quartz countertop made?

As home improvement projects continue to soar, Formica Corporation wanted to find out just how much the average consumer knows about their countertop surfaces. We surveyed 1,000 homeowners and 250 interior designers to understand knowledge gaps about popular countertop materials and to dispel common myths.

Porous vs. Nonporous Surfaces

When choosing a countertop, 56% of designers say ease of care is an important attribute their clients request. Eighty-five percent of homeowners say it would be useful to have a nonporous surface, yet porous granite and marble are top materials homeowners are considering (42% and 27%, respectively). 

In fact, 70% of homeowners do not realize that marble requires sealing to protect against everyday household issues such as staining, and 63% don’t realize granite requires regular sealing.

An alternative solution for a truly nonporous surface is Everform^® Solid Surface. This acrylic surface is made from natural mineral fibers and binding resins. It is seamless, nonporous, highly durable and repairable, as well as water- and fire-resistant.

Naturally Occurring vs. Man Made Materials

More than two-thirds of homeowners could not correctly identify the primary material used in quartz surfaces (man-made engineered stone), with many believing it’s a naturally occurring slab. While quartz countertops do contain crystals that are mined, they are ground into a dust or powder and then fused with resin binders. So while granite is mined from a quarry, quartz slabs are man-made.

Paper or Plastic

When asked, 95% of homeowners could not name the primary components of laminate, which are resin-treated layers of kraft paper and a decorative sheet pressed together under high heat. For years, laminate has been referred to as “plastic laminate,” but the primary component of laminate is biobased content, including sustainably sourced recycled paper.

Doing Your Homework

When starting a home renovation project, it’s important to research popular countertop materials and their performance attributes to ensure they match your lifestyle. Even if the high level of care marble and other stone materials requires isn’t ideal for you, there are many ways you can still achieve these looks with more durable, cost-effective options. You may just find a surface from the Formica^® Brand Collection that’s a perfect fit!

This study was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Formica Corporation among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adult homeowners, and 250 U.S. interior designers, both residential and commercial, between March 22 and March 30, 2021. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 6.2 percentage points for interior designers and 3.1 percentage points for homeowners from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.