Your Kitchen Countertop – Making the Best Choice

July 22, 2019   kitchen   Comment  

If you want to redesign you kitchen, then one of the most important things to do is to find a good kitchen countertop. However, the task is not as easy as it might appear from the first glance if you take into account the large variety of kitchen countertops that are offered on the contemporary market. In fact, there is no clear front runner when it comes to countertops. However, there are approximately ten popular types of countertops today: granite countertop, engineered stone, ceramic tile, solid surface, laminates, wood block, stainless steel counters, marble, soapstone counters and concrete counters. As indicated by the name of each type, they are all made from different materials and thus, their prices, endurance and quality also vary.

Granite for Your Kitchen Countertop

Granite counters hold up to heat and usually comes in a wide variety of colors (almost 3000 colors). Those counters will last a lifetime mainly because they have second highest hardness after diamonds. However, granite counters are also expensive and require some maintenance. Indeed, they are so hard that knives can often become dull if you continually cut on it without using a cutting board. Engineered stone counters are also very expensive; however; they are easy to take care of and they are stain and acid resistant. Solid surface countertops can also be expensive but are also durable counters. They are seamless, stain resistant and they also come in a large variety of colors. Ceramic tile counters are also very expensive. They are very easy to clean and can take hot pans without being damaged. The drawback is that surface can become uneven over time and tiles can easily crack. Not fun trying to repair a damaged tile.

Some people who are tight on their budgets and prefer more affordable counters which are of less quality and endurance but at the same time, look nice and reliable, also have options. Laminates is one of such kinds of countertops. They are easy to maintain and the prices are also affordable. However, the con is that scratches on the laminate counter cannot be repaired and the counter is also not very durable. Wood or butcher block is also a candidate for relatively inexpensive counters. Unlike laminates, scratches can be repaired i.e. oiled or sealed. The bad thing is that they can be easily damaged by water and stain.

The Beauty and Esthetics of Your Kitchen Countertop

If you do not care about the endurance or price of kitchen countertops and you are more focused on beauty and esthetics of the counter then marble could be one of the best available choices. Marble counters are luxurious and beautiful. People usually use it as a centerpiece of the kitchen, making a baking center or on an island. They mostly serve for decorative purposes and require care and constant maintenance. Soapstone counters is yet another choice of beautiful deep colored and rich counter. It also requires regular maintenance using the mineral oil. The final choice of counter type for esthetical and decorative purposes we will touch upon is a concrete counter. They can be made in unusual shapes and they are also heat and scratch resistant. Its finishes are decorative and in most cases, they look exotic. There are also other available choices on the market; however; the types of counters discussed above are the best proven ones. You really cannot go wrong with any of these choices when picking kitchen countertops.