A Guide to Kitchen Countertops. Which is the Right material for your New Home?

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.