Laminate Counter Smell Post Installation

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Ordered and installed a very handsome Wilsonart Laminate counter top three weeks ago that had the sink hole cutout once installed. The counters smelled once initially introduced to the house during the install and during the cut, the smell multiplied by 100 and dissipated shortly after. Since then, seemingly depending on weather, the kitchen has varying degrees of this same smell which makes me point the finger at the countertop. Sometimes it's faint, sometimes it's stronger, but everybody (contractor, manufacturer, etc.) have all suggested they never heard of a lingering smell post installation. Colder days smell different than warmer, sunnier days. It doesn't smell like a "fresh" new smell (like a painted room, new car, etc.) but rather is on the stinkier/noxious side. If anybody has ever whiffed stinky antibiotics from the jar of a fresh script, it smells like that. I know the installer has a long history of custom woodwork and laminate production so I doubt it's resulting as some kind of error but puzzled why it seems like EVERYBODY is surprised we have an odor lingering for 3 weeks. Has anybody dealt with this before from laminate counters?

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HU-304074843

4 years ago

I have a Wilsonart laminate kitchen countertop installed two days ago. It smells so bad that I get headaches from it. Kept windows open all day in spite of cold temperatures and now have a drop cloth covering kitchen doorway trying to block the odor from the rest of the house. I hope the strong smell goes away soon as I can't live with this and will be out a couple thousand dollars

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Comments (6)

functionthenlook
7 years ago
I've had 3 new laminate counters installed over the years and none ever had an odor. That is odd.
Nick Moore thanked functionthenlook
jhmarie
7 years ago
Did you have any plumbing done at the same time? I am not a plumbing expert but if some things are not done correctly sewage gases can back up into the home - bad P-Trap or insufficient / broken plumbing vents or clogged plumbing vents.
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twit7380
6 years ago
We are in the same boat as you With our counters! It’s been like this since we moved in 4 years ago. I’ve looked it up and it might be VOCs that are outgassing. The cheap material is breaking down literally and releasing that strange, odd, perfume-like, horrible smell. I thought it might be the cabinets but not so sure now. We are ripping up our countertop today and I’m doing a trial and error to see what it is. I have to separate the counter from the cabinets and go from there. I hate the smell! It’s our kids bathroom too and from what I read it can be harmful. So tired of cheap materials and people selling them as if they are great...I think not!
Liz Schultz
3 years ago
@HU-304074843 hi are you still experiencing smell? I am trying to decide if I want to go with pure white Wilsonart laminate or spend money on quartz are you happy with your decision?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
The laminate itself is primarily phenolic and inert. If you've smelling anything, it's the offgassing of the MDF underlayment.