The Complete Guide to Laminam Kitchen Benchtops in Melbourne

Why Laminam Has Become Melbourne's Preferred Benchtop Material

Over the past five years, Laminam large-format porcelain has displaced engineered stone as the specification of choice for premium Melbourne kitchen renovations. The reasons are practical, aesthetic, and environmental.

Choosing the Right Thickness

Laminam is available in multiple thicknesses for kitchen applications:

12 mm — The standard kitchen benchtop thickness. Provides a refined, modern profile. Suitable for all edge treatments including waterfall, mitre, and bullnose.

20 mm — A thicker profile for a more traditional stone aesthetic. Preferred for island benchtops where the edge is a feature.

6 mm over substrate — Cost-effective approach for overlay installations on existing benchtops. The 6 mm panel is bonded directly to the substrate.

Edge Profiles

Laminam's hardness (Mohs 7) means edge fabrication requires diamond tooling — not all fabricators are equipped. We recommend working with Laminam-certified fabricators.

Common edge profiles for Laminam:

• —Square — Clean, contemporary. Most common.
• —Pencil — Slight softening of the arris. Classic.
• —Mitre — Two panels mitre-joined at 45° for a full-thickness illusion.
• —Waterfall — Vertical panel returns from benchtop to floor. Dramatic island statement.

Installation

Laminam kitchen benchtops are typically installed by specialist stone fabricators. Key points:

1. Substrate must be flat to within 2 mm over 2 m.

2. Silicone joints at walls — no rigid caulk.

3. Sinks can be undermount or flush — requires precision CNC routing.

4. Cooktop cutouts require careful measurement — no field trimming after installation.

Care and Maintenance

This is where Laminam truly shines. Daily care is simply warm water and a microfibre cloth.

• —Chemicals: pH-neutral cleaner for periodic deep clean. No acidic cleaners required or necessary.
• —Heat: Hot pots directly on the surface are fine. No trivets required.
• —Scratches: Virtually impossible under normal kitchen use. Metal utensils, keys, and knives will not scratch Laminam at Mohs 7.
• —Stains: Laminam is non-porous. Wipe spills and they're gone — no oil, wine, or dye penetration.

Where to See It

FORMA Living's Brooklyn showroom stocks the full Laminam kitchen benchtop range — including the Calacatta, Statuario, Pietra di Savoia, and Noir Désir series. Book a showroom visit to view full slabs and speak with our team about your project.