Your choice of Counter Top will have a significant impact on the look and feel of your kitchen. The first step is to understand what your options are. Then you can make the choice that best fits with your choice of style and your budget.
Counter Top Choices
Granite
Granite countertops are the most popular because of the variety of colors like blacks, and whites, and greens and corals… no two pieces are alike. (Check out this article on Better Homes & Gardens that looks at Granite Countertop Colors.)
You also have two choices of granite finishes: a polished (shiny) and shiny or a more matte finish that’s called honed. As far as the cost, that depends on a few things such as color, where the granite came from(origin) and the finish.
Natural Stones
Other natural stone materials include like marble, limestone and soapstone that are way much softer than granite and require much more care. These and those countertops need to be sealed periodically. Atlanta Home Magazine has some great natural stone examples.
Engineered Stones
Engineered stone is another option for your kitchen remodel project. Some of the benefits of engineered stone include a more uniform color, durability, ease of cleaning, resistance to staining, and just the range of options available. Sounds like a great idea if you have young children. The only issue is that it does not really save you any money, it costs about the same as granite.
Solid Surface Countertops
Solid surface countertops like Corian were created to look like stone but be non-porous. They come in a huge variety of colors, are seamless, resist stains and scratches and can be buffed out. However; if you are the kind to be a little forgetful and tend to rush, solid surfaces might not be for you! Hot pans will damage these solid surface countertops.
Concrete
Who would have thought concrete countertops would be popular? They can be customized as far as how light or dark and are available in several different finishes. Trowel is smooth, Ground is kind of sanded and Pressed makes it look like marble veining. Down falls of concrete are extreme temperature changes that may cause it to warp or curl, wet sponges can leave discoloration and if any thing acidic spills on it, may get etched. These concrete countertops need to be sealed up to 4 times a year and waxed every 2 to 3 months.
Butcher Block
Butcher block countertops are a great option and are easily cleaned. It’s even easy to sand out scratches. Water can damage them but if you oil them it’s easy to maintain. Find out more.
Laminate
Last, but not least there are laminate countertops. They are the most affordable and come in many colors and designs. You have to be careful not to put hot pots on these though! Give laminate a second chance?
Don’t forget you can always mix and match these countertops! Show off your own personal style!
We suggest you go and look at all these surfaces in person so you can touch, feel and see what would fit best in your kitchen. Bring some samples home and play around with colors! Good luck on your kitchen remodel and thanks to HGTV for this handy information!
