What Is The Right Countertop For Your Style and Your Function?
Kitchen remodeling can be overwhelming – especially when each component has so many options! Choosing your kitchen countertops is particularly important. Not only do they complete the design in your kitchen, they must be able to stand up against the cooking, cleaning and general chaos of your kitchen! So, which material is right for you?
What Are Your Kitchen Needs?
The best way to choose the countertop replacement for you is to match the needs of your kitchen with the available materials. The needs in your kitchen can be anything from your cooking style to how much time you’re willing to put into maintaining your countertop. Some materials require re-sealing of the surface, some are vulnerable to stains and some might scratch or crack when your family drops a dish or uses a knife. The life in your home should ultimately help you decide how durable your countertops need to be. Once you recognize your particular requirements, it will be easier to eliminate some of the material options from the group.
What To Consider When Choosing A Countertop Material
There are 6 main factors you should take into account when evaluating your needs and choosing your countertop material – durability, sealing requirements, heat resistance, stain resistance, appearance and price.
Durability
Your countertops are going to be in your home for many years, and you want to be sure that they can hold up against accidents and damage. Specific materials like granite, marble, quartz and slate are well know for their durability. One of these options might be best if you have a lot of activity in your home and need insurance that your countertops will be protected from unexpected impact.
Sealing Requirements
Many countertop materials are sealed due to their porous nature. Porous materials can absorb liquids and promote bacteria growth, so they need the seal on the surface to prevent this from happening. Some materials must be re-sealed over time to ensure that the layer of protection is solid. If you are not interested in re-sealing your countertops over time, it may be good to avoid extra porous materials like limestone and quartzite.
Heat Resistance
Maybe one of the most important factors you should consider is if you expect to be able to place hot pots, pans and dishes directly onto your countertops. Some materials are specifically designed to resist high heats and will work better if you worry about heat damage to your counter material. Granite, slate and glass counters are known for their heat tolerance.
Stain Resistance
Kitchens can be messy places, and we all know that spills happen. Be sure to take into account how many unexpected spills occur in your home before choosing a countertop material. Some materials are highly vulnerable to stains and will cause you stress when the color doesn’t come out. Some lighter colors of marble are great examples of stain vulnerable materials.
Appearance
The most obvious factor you should consider is the appearance of the countertops you want. While it may be easy for you to decide what color or look you’d like, it is important to be aware that some materials come in limited colors while others have wide ranges. You should also note that some materials like onyx can be backlit to highlight its coloring while others like soapstone naturally darken as time passes.
Price
Your budget is probably a big factor in your countertop installation decision. Be aware that certain materials – or even certain colors of those materials – may be rare and cost more. Using price as a filter can also help you narrow down which material is the best choice for your countertop replacement.
Need Professional Kitchen Design Help?
Choosing the right material for your new countertops is important – and Legacy Bath and Kitchen will assist you with that process.
Our talented kitchen design team will help you pick the perfect material that fits in with your lifestyle and budget. Our experienced countertop installation team will take care of removing your old countertops, and installing your brand new countertops flawlessly. These costs are all conveniently factored into your kitchen remodel package with Legacy Bath and Kitchen. The first step is a free consultation!
