FAQs

Plastic laminate is made from layers of paper that are first impregnated with resin and then bonded together under pressure and high temperature—forming a thin, rigid sheet. Branded manufacturers of laminate such as Formica, Arborite, Wilsonart, Pionite, and Nevamar are glued to a wood substrate typically for countertops. At Floform, we carry an assortment of over 200 stock colours and textures. We are sure that you will find a colour best suited from our selection, but can custom order sheets as the assortment runs into the thousands.

There is no one "best" finish in regards to durability of laminate finishes. At Floform we can help you assess the differences from matté, gloss, and specialty textures. A particular finish may wear better depending on the level of usage. All laminates are vulnerable to chips, excessive heat, cracks, and scratches when not properly cared for.

Laminate is a thin material and requires proper maintenance. Unfortunately chips, burns, cracks, and scratches cannot be repaired and a replacement countertop is recommended. Please see our Care & Maintenance tips for preventative maintenance of laminate countertops.

Floform offers four collections of countertops, two of which are laminate-based. Our Post-Form Collection is a series that can be heated and bent to create integral backsplashes and wrapped front profiles. From this collection we have four varied profiles—from the simplicity of our 180° underwrap to the practicality of a K-nose.

The next collection is our Custom Collection, also known as Flat Lay. This process of lamination allows for custom shapes and sizes that cannot be achieved with our post-form process. Only attached backsplashes are possible with this process. With few limitations, we can apply wood accented edges in oak or maple, beveled to bullnosed, to the durability of solid surface edging.

Engineered stone is a quartz product. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals in the world. Pure quartz is combined with pigments and resins to create slabs that are non-porous, strong, and rival the beauty of quarry stones. At Floform our stock collection of thirty colours comes from some of the industries' foremost brands—such as Cambria, CaesarStone, Formica Stone, and Zodiaq.

The thickness of all our stocked stone and quartz materials is 3cm. This provides an edge that requires no sub-top buildup and no seamed edge lamination.

3cm is equivalent to almost 1 1/4 inches. It is about the thickness of a half dollar coin standing on edge.

Generally, stone and quartz are very heat resistant, but it depends on "how hot" of an object. A tea kettle or a hot dish out of the microwave is typically not a threat but a 450° pot from the oven can cause damage. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry, so we recommend the use of a hot pad.

Under normal use it is unlikely that your granite or quartz countertop will chip. Obviously, the edges are more susceptible to chipping than the middle of the surface, and if struck with enough force (e.g., a heavy pot) a chip can occur. Such occurrences are not covered by any manufacturing warranty but are usually repairable, depending on the size of the chip.

Quartz is manufactured and installed just like granite, so if a seam is required it will not be as seamless as solid surface countertops are. We do our best to avoid the use of seams whenever possible, but when necessary our seams are consistently the best in the industry.

There are no integrated sink options available for quartz in the market. For quartz countertops we recommend a Kohler cast iron or stainless sink.

Quartz countertops are composed of 93% natural quartz. Variation in the natural stone (quartz) color, pattern, size, shape, and shade are inherent and unique characteristics to be expected with quartz products.

Solid surface is an acrylic product consistently coloured all the way through and typically made in ½" thick sheets. At Floform we feature Corian by DuPont. Corian is non-porous. Stains can't penetrate the surface and neither can mold, mildew, or bacteria. Corian is also repairable and renewable. As a premier supplier and fabricator of Corian, let Floform help you customize your design with integral sinks, seamless backsplashes, and inlays from a collection of over 100 colours.

Floform supplies standard buildup support for solid surface materials. This is always evaluated at the time of template.

The material itself is 1/2 inch thick but the edge is laminated to 1 1/2 inches.

All acrylic or polyester solid surfaces are susceptible to damage from heat. Hot frying pans, dishes from the oven, warming trays, and the like can scorch or fracture the surface. We recommend the use of trivets or a hot pad when setting hot objects on your countertop.

Corian sinks are made from the same high quality acrylic material as the countertops. They are stain resistant and very durable but not 100% impervious to staining or cracking. Since Corian is non-porous, stains are usually surface stains and can be buffed out with a Scotch Brite pad. Cracks are rare but are can caused by repeated heat stresses (e.g., pouring a vat of boiling pasta into a colander) so we recommend tempering your sink by running hot water from the tap before pouring boiling water down the drain.

A template is a cardboard cutout of what your new countertops will look like. During this appointment, a template specialist will review all the details of your job and answer any final questions you may have before your countertops are produced.

There are many factors that go into choosing the correct placement of your countertop geometry and aesthetics are certainly one of them. We are always sensitive to aesthetic concerns and do a great job of avoiding the less pleasing areas of a slab but we do not layout templates on individual slabs of our stocked Classics series stones. If you are concerned about how your templates will work with the specific aesthetics of a slab, we recommend the stocked Exotics series stones. Each Exotics job receives a computer-generated layout for your approval before the countertop is fabricated.

Please have your countertops cleared prior to the template specialist's arrival and have all sinks, faucets, soap pumps, hot/cold water dispensers, cooktops, dishwashers, refrigerators, and any other appliances on site. Also, a decision-maker over the age of 18 must be present for the duration of the template, which lasts approximately two hours.

Depending on the type of countertop, production times will vary. For post-form and flat lay countertops, the average production time runs seven to twelve working days. If you have ordered laminate tops to be installed, the average lead time is three to four weeks. Solid surface and engineered stone countertops are an installed product only and the average lead time for production and installation runs four to six weeks. If you have ordered a custom colour in laminate, solid surface, or quartz, be advised that ordering in a non-stock colour will add to the normal stock lead time. Please speak to a showroom representative for lead times on specific materials.

Floform offers a full service expert installation team to ensure that your new countertop is installed correctly and on time. Please see our Pre-Installation Checklist in regards to expectations.

Installation times vary greatly depending on the type of material, layout of the job, and levelness of the cabinets. On average, a solid surface installation will last three to four hours and a stone or quartz job will last four to five hours.

Yes, yes, and yes. While we take the utmost care while installing your countertops, there are loud tools required to complete the job. We have dust collection systems but no installation process is 100% dust free. You may want to drape or cover areas to contain the dust to the construction area. We will leave the job-site in "broom swept" condition. Additionally, chemicals are often used in the installation process. Epoxies and other glues can have a strong odor but are not a health concern with an open window.