-- Countertop Replacement an Easy Way to Spruce up Kitchens for the Holidays and Can Cost under $1,000 with Wilsonart Laminate --

TEMPLE, Texas, August XX, 2003 - Despite the faltering economy, home renovation expenditures reached record numbers last year and show no sign of abating during the approaching pre-holiday remodeling season. According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), an industry organization based in Des Plaines, Ill., Americans spent more than $163 billion on home improvements, maintenance and repairs in 2002, compared with $157.5 billion in 2001 and $150 billion in 2000.

Homeowners traditionally favor spring and fall to undertake renovation projects, utilizing the early fall as the time to spruce up the house for the approaching holiday season. The most popular areas to remodel are the kitchen and bath, reports NARI. Simply applying a fresh coat of paint and seasonal décor no longer satisfies today's homeowners.

“Installing a new laminate countertop remains one of the easiest, fastest and most economical ways to upgrade the look of any kitchen, leaving plenty of time to enjoy the holiday festivities,” explains Ron Gagnon, Director of Design and Marketing for leading laminate manufacturer Wilsonart International. “Since countertops remain the focal point of kitchens, replacing outdated ones give kitchens an instant facelift, vastly improving their overall appearance.”

Replacing countertops is easier than most people realize. According to The Home Depot, which retails Wilsonart laminate, the average countertop can be fabricated and installed for under $1,000. Once the countertop is created, contractors remove the old one and install the new one within the same day. There is no construction zone to work around or mess to live with, as appliances and personal affects quickly find a home on the new countertop later that very day.

To create a high-style look for laminate countertops, popular collections from Wilsonart feature a special premium finish that offer the expensive look and slick feel of luxury stone. And, the Beveled Edge, another Wilsonart specialty, completes the upscale appearance while covering the brown seam normally associated with laminate countertops.

Says Ron Gagnon, Director of Design and Marketing for Wilsonart International, “In the world of home improvements, laminate countertop replacements are a favorite pre-holiday spruce-up project - they offer instant gratification and a far more stylish look than most people expect. And, they are much less work than even painting.”

Wilsonart International, based in Temple, Texas, is a leading manufacturer of decorative surfacing products, including Wilsonart® Laminate, Wilsonart Gibraltar, Wilsonart® Decorative Metals, Wilsonart® Custom Edges and Wilsonart® Flooring.

For more information about the newest additions to Wilsonart Laminate or any other Wilsonart products, please call the Customer Service Hotline at 800-433-3222, or visit the Wilsonart Web site at www.wilsonart.com.

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	Smoky Topaz and Kalahari Topaz, featured above on the countertop and back splash, respectively, are part of Wilsonart's newly launched Topaz Collection.