A Guide to Kitchen Countertops. What Material is Right for your New Home.
Most homeowners have a tough time deciding which material is the perfect choice for their kitchen countertops, mostly because there’s a wide array of options to choose from. In order to make the right choice, there are certain things you need to put into consideration so you’d continue to be satisfied with your decision in the years to come.
The appearance, durability, style, as well as your preferences, lifestyle, and budget are some things you want to consider before deciding on the kitchen countertop material that suits your home. In this article, you’ll get a quick look into the different choices available for beautifying your kitchen so that you can make a better-informed decision for your home.
Concrete
Thinking of those hard and dull-looking slabs? While concrete countertops don’t disappoint in the strength area, they can be made to be surprisingly attractive, which makes them suitable for a sophisticated look in your kitchen.
Advantages
Hard and durable
Beautiful and trendy
Highly customizable to give the appearance of natural stone or other looks
Disadvantages
Expensive
Need to be properly and regularly sealed to prevent staining
Marble
If you’re looking for any touch from classic to modern for your kitchen, this stone can give you just what you need. Marble also has different hues that can complement your color scheme.
Advantages
Aesthetically pleasing
Heat resistant
Wide range of colors and veining
Disadvantages
Can be easily stained
Need proper and regular sealing to prevent staining
Scratches easily
Quartz
Whether you want a traditional or contemporary looking kitchen, quartz countertops are a very great choice. Engineered quartz such as Caesarstone comes in different finely polished colors.
Advantages
Long-lasting
Wide range of color options
Scratch-resistant
Can be cleaned easily, so sealants are not needed
Disadvantages
Can be slightly more expensive than granite
Extreme heat can damage it
Stainless steel
Countertops made of stainless steel can make your kitchen appear traditional, modern, or retro. If you will be preparing your food most of the time, you don’t have to worry about stains as stainless steel can be easily cleaned. Asides the fact that this material is an excellent choice for handrails, stainless steel countertops also have a way of making the kitchen look orderly and neat.
Advantages
Durable
Resists scratches
Can be cleaned easily
Beautiful
Complements other materials easily
Disadvantages
Costly
Butcher Block
Traditional looking kitchens, as well as contemporary ones, can make use of these pieces of wood to serve as countertops. You get that traditional rustic look in your kitchen if the butcher block pieces are small while you get a contemporary (albeit rustic) appearance if the wood pieces used are long.
Advantages
Feel, warmth, and beauty of nature
Cost-friendly
Can give off different appearances
Disadvantages
Oil and sealants need to be applied properly and regularly to avert possible water damage
Porcelain
This material can be made with a consistent color or pattern. It can also be infused with glazing pigments in the manufacturing process to provide a stunning and contemporary look.
Advantages
Many colors, patterns, and finishes are available
Highly durable
Can be easily cleaned
Heat resistant
Doesn’t need sealants
Very strong
Disadvantages
Expensive
Heavy wear can give it a dull appearance
Redeemed wood
Reclaimed or redeemed wood can serve as a fantastic countertop choice if you are looking for a warm and rustic visage for your traditional, old world, French provincial, contemporary, or country kitchen. As the name implies, they are simply previously used wooden slabs and planks that are redesigned into countertops.
Advantages
Beauty and organic warmth of nature
Durable
Eco Friendly
Disadvantages
Pricey
Limitation in choices
Requires constant and proper sealing
They can’t handle high levels of heat
Tiles
The kitchen looks that can be achieved using tile countertops are unlimited since they come in a vast array of style options. Tiles can serve as a backup option for a lot of individuals who are still trying to make up their minds about what material to use as a countertop.
Advantages
A wide array of color, size, shape, and style options
Resistant to heat
Disadvantages
Grout requires sealants; otherwise, it will stain
Tiles can be hard to replace once they get chipped
Jordan Swift is a contributor to the Innovative Materials blog. He is a content writer for the construction and home improvement industries with an interest in landscaping, outdoor remodeling, and interior design. Jordan is focused on educating homeowners, contractors, and architects on innovative materials and methods of construction that increase property value, improve sustainability, and create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
