Countertop Materials: An alternative countertop material

Reviewed by:
Rosemary Thornton

What does this countertop have in common with a skateboard ramp? They're both made of Richlite, a natural wood fiber composite laminate. As a countertop material, Richlite is stain, scratch and heat resistant. It's offered in seven colors, in thicknesses ranging from 3/4" to 1-1/2".

Considered environmentally friendly, the product's raw material (paper) comes from renewable sources (trees in managed forests), and a small amount of recycled material (used paper).

To make Richlite, layers of paper are compressed and treated with resin and then baked to form solid sheets. Richlite counters have been used in commercial kitchens since the 1960s. Installed price starts at $75 - $80 (depending on fabrication and edging). November 2004.