New countertop: laminate or solid surface?

i would use laminate/Formica because I can easily do it myself. If the existing countertops are good you can go right over it.

Solid surface involves removing the existing countertops and starting from scratch.

1995brave wrote:
How about butcherblock. Does not have to be 1 1/2 inch thick 3/4 to 1 inch should work fine. You then have your choice to oil or varnish it and even stain it to a color of your choice.

My thoughts exactly!

How about butcherblock. Does not have to be 1 1/2 inch thick 3/4 to 1 inch should work fine. You then have your choice to oil or varnish it and even stain it to a color of your choice.

Corian should take stresses just fine; it's more or less just a chunk plastic, as I understand things. Granted, there are a very many materials that fall under the general term "plastic" with different mechanical properties.

donn0128 wrote:
It is no heavier than laminant and half inch particle board, so dont let that scare you.

.....HLP is about 3 lbs a sq ft and 1/2 in Corian is 4.4 lbs a sq ft. Not enough to scare someone.

I would go solid surface any day of the week.

Solid surfaces have some draw backs, namely it can be cut. On the plus side it can also be easily fixed by a compentent DIYer. I would swap to solid surface if you plan to keep the camper for a few more years. Otherwise keep the laminant. The solid surface in my fiver is 12 years old and still looks good. It is no heavier than laminant and half inch particle board, so dont let that scare you.

If you're handy, you can install solid surface yourself. Many companies that sell it have remnants and oddly cut pieces that they will sell cheap.

The important thing about laminate is what material is under the formica. Cheap pressboard/chipboard will disintegrate as soon as there is a small hole or crack in the laminate that allows water to get into the under laying material. Plywood will last a lot longer.

Plywood may mean that you have to DIY on the lamination. Which isn't difficult

I would stay with the laminate for just the reasons you said plus to keep the weight down. I was also thinking that some counter top material needs more support beneath it.