Choosing a Countertop

Kitchen countertops come in a wide variety of materials, colors, and finishes, which can make the task of choosing one for your home rather daunting. To make the job easier, start by considering three things. First is durability. Countertop isn’t cheap, so you want to pick out a media that can be easily sustained considering your kitchen habits.

A second consideration is how easily it can be maintained. Some surfaces are easily scratched, and some can crack when exposed to high heat (like a pan fresh off the stove). So while the aesthetics of one surface might be visually appealing, practically if you’re going to have to refinish the surface every few years you’re adding a lot to the overall cost factors.

Kitchen counter selections

By far, the most popular countertops currently are laminate. These install easily and are very cost-effective, but they don’t hold up well vs. chips and stains. Synthetic (solid surface) countertops are also very popular. Compared to laminate these cost a lot more but withstand a lot of abuse.

A third option is ceramic. This media installs easily and offers medium durability. It’s recommended that homeowners choosing this option buy extra tiles in case any chip or crack in the future (that way you don’t have to search for a match).

A fourth media that’s gaining a foothold in many kitchens is stone. These are by far the most expensive option. On example is granite. It looks beautiful once installed, offers a lot of variety, and requires very little maintenance if properly sealed. There’s also soapstone, which can crack and needs on-going maintenance, and marble – which looks fantastic but stains readily. Buyer beware: natural stone countertops usually don’t come with good warranties compared to solid surface because of the natural fault lines stone can contain. For people wanting the look of stone but the security of a manufactured product, engineered stone surfaces fit the bill. The great part about engineered stone is that it offers more variety too.

Kitchen counters can make the kitchen

Lastly, there’s wood and stainless steel. There is a very homey, warm visual appeal in wooden countertops. Once sealed these clean easily, but they’re not overly durable when it comes to potential damage by water and scratches. If you don’t want to worry about scratching, however, think stainless steel. Where wood is “country” stainless is a little rock-n-roll. It’s very costly but great for homes where cleanliness counts.

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