Ericglo my searches weren't initially for laminate, they were for Sintra, Celtec, and substrates like that. I did check Wilsonart out when you recommended it, and no I didn't start searching for cabinet companies looking for laminate. Laminate is a totally new direction I just started checking on.
To answer why I didn't call the corporate office... there is a local distributor and dealer here so I contacted them. Maybe the main office can help, but when their local distributor told me to go through a local dealer because they don't sell direct to private individuals, then the dealer says they don't carry anything in that size and sends you to a company that hangs up on you that doesn't leave a positive impression about the company... at least not dealing direct with them. Every local Wilsonart dealer listed from the Wilsonart website refered me to Connecticuit Plywood Corp, who are the ones that hung up on me... So I decided to wait until I can make it to Saratoga before calling more places.
I still have to check Lowes and HD in Saratoga, it's an hour drive to get there but both places have been helpful in the past so they probably will take the extra step to special order something. The stores close to me say they won't make special orders. I will definitely ask them about Wilsonart. The Wilsonart dealer was helpful enough to answer some questions and said their Decorative Metal series in chrome is basically a laminate mirror... that in of itself makes this worth pursuing. Talking to Saratoga HD on the phone they are saying the Wilsonart laminate is around $3 a square foot, that seems a bit high from what you are seeing in your area. Saratogo Lowes said on the phone they can't get the Decorative Metal laminate... I'll be out that way soon so I'll stop and talk to them in person.
There is still that company in MA that sells the Celtric and he did say he could check on a 5x10 sheet of it, but he wasn't sure if he could get it, but he said he'd try. His best guess on a price was $150-175.
Ericglo I really do appreciate your input and never intended anyone to have bad feelings over this thread, not that you do, but I can see how it can be frustrating trying to help someone when you can locate the same material quickly. If anything, maybe this can bring laminate back into play as a viable substrate for those of us in the north east that are finding it hard to get Sintra, Celtric, Do-able or any of the other substrates other people are using. I do have a possible lead on some 1/8th inch plexi down in PA that I may pick up when I go there next month. Like I said though that doesn't help others in this area so laminate may be a solution up in this area.
To answer why I didn't call the corporate office... there is a local distributor and dealer here so I contacted them. Maybe the main office can help, but when their local distributor told me to go through a local dealer because they don't sell direct to private individuals, then the dealer says they don't carry anything in that size and sends you to a company that hangs up on you that doesn't leave a positive impression about the company... at least not dealing direct with them. Every local Wilsonart dealer listed from the Wilsonart website refered me to Connecticuit Plywood Corp, who are the ones that hung up on me... So I decided to wait until I can make it to Saratoga before calling more places.
I still have to check Lowes and HD in Saratoga, it's an hour drive to get there but both places have been helpful in the past so they probably will take the extra step to special order something. The stores close to me say they won't make special orders. I will definitely ask them about Wilsonart. The Wilsonart dealer was helpful enough to answer some questions and said their Decorative Metal series in chrome is basically a laminate mirror... that in of itself makes this worth pursuing. Talking to Saratoga HD on the phone they are saying the Wilsonart laminate is around $3 a square foot, that seems a bit high from what you are seeing in your area. Saratogo Lowes said on the phone they can't get the Decorative Metal laminate... I'll be out that way soon so I'll stop and talk to them in person.
There is still that company in MA that sells the Celtric and he did say he could check on a 5x10 sheet of it, but he wasn't sure if he could get it, but he said he'd try. His best guess on a price was $150-175.
Ericglo I really do appreciate your input and never intended anyone to have bad feelings over this thread, not that you do, but I can see how it can be frustrating trying to help someone when you can locate the same material quickly. If anything, maybe this can bring laminate back into play as a viable substrate for those of us in the north east that are finding it hard to get Sintra, Celtric, Do-able or any of the other substrates other people are using. I do have a possible lead on some 1/8th inch plexi down in PA that I may pick up when I go there next month. Like I said though that doesn't help others in this area so laminate may be a solution up in this area.
Yes it's more expensive than Parkland and some of the other substrates out there but this is looking like an excellent one step with an ultra smooth surface. Just think... a person can go out and buy their trim wood and material while they wait for the laminate to arrive, and it sounded like it shipped pretty fast didn't it? Once the laminate arrives they literally can put it up and frame it all on a Saturday afternoon, and be watching movies that night! Painted screens can be phenomenal too but the time it takes to wait between coats there is no way a painted screen can be an afternoon project and used that night.
