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PAGE 14, WH1TY FME PRESSI WENESDAY, OCTÃ"JBER 10, 199 -~P RS De? Whfsnew i ktcencou.ntertop P.. -~BRANDOM 3060so F AT BRANDOM KITCHENS'. FALL-- WAREHOUSE SALE a Oak and. contemporary cab inetry, e quality bathroom vanities 0* cultured marbie countertops *miscellaneous construction materials DASeNL MON. -T UES. WED. -- THURS'. FR1. SAT. > SUN. 9 am 5 Pm 9am 8 pm 9am - 5pm CLOSED Noon - 4pm 432-3300 -4ýýCil -& Ths art icl is provided by local Realtors andthe Ontario Recsl Estate 4Assocat ion (OREAý) for t/he benefit of consumera in the real estate mark et. Next to floors. and stairs, countertops -- particularly kçitchen céountertopa - get a lot of wear and tear i the average home. To last, these important surfaces have to -. be strong, durable and resistant toý just about everything from heat, to ink, to strong acid 'cleaning solutions. By far- the most common material used today for kçitchen and bathroom countgrtops is plastic laminate. Best known by the trade naâmes Arborite' and Formica, plastic laminate consista of many liayerso of paper founded together with plastic. -O The top layer cari be colored or patterned in a myriad of designs, including photogrphic repro- duction -cf actual wood veneer. A clear, protective layer of tough plastic is applied over this. After beng bonde under heat and- pressure, the standard laminate panel is about 1.15 mm thick. ltes characterized by a distnctive dark edge. Because plastic laminate is versatile , inexpenive,,reasonably easy ta work with, bendable and getting better looking -and more durable every year, it is still one of the best choices in -countertop, gaining in opularity, they have certain Cmi ttions. ,hl attractive and -extremnely ,,dul; tegrouting can-i be- a ra nuisance. They,,mustý be regrouted and resealed every- coupleý of years. Also, therp e' is alifited selection of'cerarnxc tilep tihaýt can be used to crte a couénWtè_topý surface. And keep in iid Ithat dishes and glasss wllshatteêr and break easily on a eranii surface. On the plus side, ceriié tiles are extremeély be-at res"istafl-ty9U can. cut directlyothsufc and theycaie installed over some eisting countertop surfaces. Butcher block - layers of bard maple or oak kciln-dried, and bonded together - is stifi a-good option for kçitchen countertops. It cornes in approximately fu centimetres-thick siabe wbich can be easily insta]led. Quaiity Cso Cabinets Fo>r 4 (Ierixerationrs have ee. nvl -din cabinet making. This traditional- craftmanship has flot lost the high quaityintoday's modern world. Ail cabinets aehandcrafted one at a time,,using. solid pine, oak and other fine hardwoods. Along with quality cabinets, kitchen design is our specialty. Each itchen is designed to suit pur specific requirements, with al the modemn convenienoes i p ind. Cornei to see the quality you once thought was a thing of the past. 'ý'< eipsig Kitchens and Cabinets Cor's Custom Cabinets 1333 'Boundary, Rd. Osh'awa - 725-1723, MELAMINE AN BASKETSYTM pace Age Shelving, Stheshelving spe- cialists, get you organized quickly,- >easily and economi ally with a H complete une 0 ctomized shel- ,ngthats exýquisitely desîgned to make the m'ost- out Of any space, We 2also proVida free n,-homne- design coansultinýg sËýervices, ýinstal-,,, lation if you n ed it, aànd a guaran,-., tee on ail our qtialityproducts anýd workmanship Whitby 80 ThickonRd,-S* (416) 430-1 636_ materials. - But. there are stil limitations. Plastic larninate -is"I easily marred, sùbject -ta wear, difilcult ta repair. and has poor heat resistance. Also, you cannot cut directly on its surface since, in most case, it cari be easily c'ut or nicked. A number -of new materials* for countertops are now surfacing that areýrong and remarkably resistant iýo abrasion and other' wear and tair." One new producet is color-through laminate which is similar ta plastic larninate except. that aIl thie layera are imprnted with color. Cuts and mcks are leas visible, than on, plastic laminate, it bas no dark edge, many decorative edge treatments are possible, it comes in many colora and it is fairly expensive. On the downside, color-through laminate is not yet available in patterns or. textures, can't be bent, stil bas poor heat resistance, and its surface should not be directly cut on. Thick, solid surface countertop materialýs are available that are extremely durable, resistant and cari last a lifetime. Some of the more popular trade names are. Avonite, .Coian.. and Fountainhead. These are moulded, materials comprised of natural mineraIs and resina. They have aficher appearance, are easily reparable, have a good heat resistance, come. in stone-like designs and cari be 'enhanced with a variety of decorative *edge "treatinents. The only problemr is that they are, difficult -ta hand! e for the do- it-yourselfer, corne in linited. colora and are fairl y expensive..- A." new product called FormS tone, is -n being introduced by Avomite as a thin... version of the, sofid sheet material.'The new proïduct i]*s ýlesa expensive, lighter .and .more versatile. Wbile. it- bas the samine appeatrance of depth and is easily reparable, this solid larninate is more like plastic laminate in its workabiity. - Although not generally available yet, producta like this,-nay soon, provide another- option ta' I standard countertop materials. Ceramic tules and wood aestil used occasionally as cutro materials. Becaus6 of their durability and decorative appeal, ceramic tules bave bec ome more popular in Canadian homes. But, as a countertop rnaterial, although While wood is more expen sive than plastic laminateslor ceramic, tiles, it can last .a liféeti i more durable,>,has god heat- r-, resistance and cari be directly cutT on. There are sone, disadvantagea:, wood countertaps reqireerodC seyngad extra care ' ta jkeep, en. Te can'alsodarken yan ' Bathroïom FROM PAGE 13 won't-- have ta remach as far'for you only bave room' foÉr a five-foot, tub, there- is no reason why you can't -take advantage of the benefitsocf whirlpool bathing.- Many -manufacturera now make five foot whirlpool tubs wbich can be dràÃ"ppedinta place. Both light; and ventilation a're important in a bathroom..Light;ý expandsthe space and przevents, shadows. Ventilation keeps air circulating. A combination 'fan forced -heater/venitilàtar/ceiling Iight allows ail tbree work" searteyor together.- This' elimiantes the need ta buy three different fxurei. Whatever your 'decorating, style, there are a host cf new- patteris colora and designa availablethat, will reflect your particular testeës'.ý and serve ta, make your bathroom more functional. A Fi