Kitchen shutters live with steam, grease, heat from cooking, and constant wiping. Choose and fix the laminate with those in mind.
Surface and finish
Pick a finish you can wipe easily. Matte shows fewer fingerprints; gloss looks sharp but needs more cleaning. Light colours show stains; dark colours show grease and dust.
Where failures start
- Edges. Steam gets in at poorly sealed edges and lifts the laminate. Use proper edge banding and glue.
- Near the hob. Heat can soften adhesive and lift laminates. Keep heat shields or gaps behind the hob.
- Sink area. Water pooling at the bottom of shutters causes swelling. Seal the base edges.
Don't forget the inside
Laminating inside surfaces makes cleaning easier and gives balanced construction. A plain, inexpensive inside laminate is common.
The board underneath
The best laminate fails on a weak base. Use a moisture-suitable board, BWR for most units and marine near the sink.
What to ask
- Design code and finish for shutters and insides
- Edge banding type and thickness
- Adhesive used
- Base board grade