Comparison of Laminate Countertops and Pionite

Laminate Construction

• High-pressure laminate used for countertops and other surfaces is made from layers of paper and resin fused together under pressure and cured to produce a durable, attractive surface. A backing layer of paper saturated with polyester resin is overlaid with another layer of paper, which is printed with a color pattern that is visible on the finished surface. Finally, a layer of clear resin is applied over the printed layer, protecting it and creating the outer surface of the laminate.

Pionite Brand Laminate

• Pionite is a brand of high-pressure laminate manufactured by Parolam Industries. It is offered in a range of grades suitable for residential and commercial use, and some Pionite products are designed to provide exceptional wear, chemical- and fire-resistance. Pionite laminates are available in 240 colors and designs, including solid colors, abstract patterns and woodgrains; custom-printing is also available. Specialty products include leather-surface laminates and color-through laminates, which have the surface color even on their edges.

Other Major Brands

• Several other manufacturers make countertop laminates that are popular in the marketplace. Formica began making laminates in the 1920s and has since become nearly synonymous with decorative household laminates. Wilsonart manufactures a range of laminate products, as does VT Industries, Arborite and Abet Inc. Nevamar is a brand of laminate that, like Pionite, is manufactured by Parolam Industries.

Brand Comparison

• The materials used by the major manufacturers of laminates are similar, so the products offer common features, as well as durability. The primary distinction between the brands is in the aesthetic options each offers. Pionite's selection of colors is among the broadest on the marketplace; Formica, for example, offers only about half as many color and pattern choices as Pionite does. However, some other brands offer more innovative design options, including Arborite's metallic textures and Wilsonart's high-end edge profiles. Wilsonart, Arborite and Formica offer laminate with a three-dimensional surface texture that mimics stone while Pionite doesn't, and Pionite's GREENGARD low-emission certification is also held by Arborite.