Choosing a countertop material
REPLACING YOUR COUNTERTOP IS ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS TO REJUVENATE AN OUT-DATED KITCHEN. A NEW COUNTERTOP CAN TRANSFORM THE ENTIRE ROOM, AND IT STARTS WITH CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR THE LOOK YOU’RE GOING FOR. IN THIS ARTICLE WE’RE GOING TO GO OVER THE OPTIONS, THE PROS AND CONS OF THOSE OPTIONS AND THE LOOKS THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH EACH.
Wood
Wood countertops can come in the form of one solid block, or a slab made up of dozens of small blocks called butcher’s block. Wood countertops have been around for centuries and, and with good reason: they’re attractive and durable.
Wood countertops give warmth to the room and give your kitchen a homey, welcoming feel. They can be made from a variety of wood species (click here to learn more about different woods and their grains) and can be finished in a variety of stains to suit your style. One of the biggest advantages to a wood countertop is that they can be refinished. Over time, scratches, stains and nicks will develop in your wood countertop. Often this is seen as an advantage in itself as it lends personality and uniqueness to your kitchen, but if that’s not your thing, your wood counter can be sanded and resealed to give you a like-new surface!
Laminate
Laminate is the most customizable of the countertop options as it’s available in dozens of different colours and patterns! Laminate can be textured or smooth, glossy or matte, solid colour or patterned. It can mimic more expensive materials such as marble, stainless steel or granite.
Laminate is made of particle board that has been layered with plastic. This allows for it’s diversity in appearance, but leaves it vulnerable to some forms of damage. There is potential for water damage at the seams (bubbling), edges can chip, and the top coat can melt if hot pots and pans are set directly onto it. Of course, all of these can be avoided with proper care! It’s scratch resistant, stain resistant, and (with the exception of the seams), it’s water resistant!
Stainless steel
Stainless steel has been used in restaurants for years, and it’s gaining popularity in residential homes. There are lots of advantages to stainless steel, such as it’s durability, bacteria-resistant properties, and the fact that it’s easy to clean. Stainless steel counters create a very sleek, modern kitchen and are often paired with minimalist cupboards and backsplash to complete the look.
The biggest drawback to stainless steel: the noise. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant (or visited one and been seated near the kitchen), then you know how loud it can be working on a stainless steel counter. The sound can be mitigated by laying down kitchen towels over your work surface and using rubber-footed cutting boards. One of my favourite things about stainless steel is that, if it ever needs to be replaced, these countertops are 100% recyclable!
Engineered Quartz
Don’t let the name fool you: engineered quartz doesn’t mean imitation quartz. What it means it that, instead of these countertops being made from one solid slab of stone, they are made of ground quartz that is mixed resin and pigment to create a product that is nearly indestructible. The quartz content ranges from 90-94% and varies in coarseness, with coarser grinds producing a flecked appearance and finer grinds resulting in a smoother look. You’ll often find ‘veins’ running through them, creating a look closer to that of natural stone. It’s coloured using pigments that most often replicate natural stone, but you can find them in more vibrant colours like red and blue as well.
Not only is quartz a great choice for it’s aesthetic appeal, it’s a practical choice as well. Unlike natural stone, engineered quartz doesn’t have to be sealed. Thanks to the 6-10% resin that’s added to the crushed quartz, these countertops are chip, crack, scratch and stain resistant, and totally waterproof. Our supplier is so confident in their product that they offer a lifetimewarranty. This warranty has prompted many of our clients to install quartz in their rental properties in order to avoid having their laminate counters replaced every few years. If you’re looking for a product that can hold up against heavy wear, quartz is the answer!
Concrete
When considering countertop materials, concrete probably isn’t one of the first to come to mind. But, thanks to it’s durability and limitless colour options, it is becoming more popular. Since the concrete is mixed on-site, you can add whatever pigments you like to achieve virtually any colour. The concrete is heat resistant, so there’s no need to worry about hot pots and pans. Concrete counters will age, giving it a very unique look that some find appealing, but if you’re looking for uniformity concrete probably isn’t for you. Concrete is porous, which means it’s very susceptible to stains, but this can be mitigated by sealing it every two years or so. The best part about concrete is it’s price tag- the materials are very inexpensive when compared to other countertops!
Granite
Unlike quartz (which, if you’ll remember, is a mixture of crushed stone and resin), granite countertops are one solid slab of stone. It’s the most popular choice for a natural stone, and for good reason. Granite is heat-resistant and very difficult to scratch thanks to the hardness of the stone. As we mentioned, it’s one solid stone slab (which means no funky blues, reds or purples) and you can find it in any naturally occurring colour. Like the concrete, it’s naturally porous and needs to be sealed (and resealed every few years), and this sealing will create a stain-resistant surface. Granite is a more expensive material than those listed above, but if it fits your budget you won’t be disappointed!
Marble
We’ve left the most expensive material for last. Marble has a reputation for beauty, elegance and uniqueness. Like granite, it’s one solid stone slab and you can find it in all naturally occurring colours. It also has excellent heat-resistance. The downside to marble (aside from the high cost) is that it doesn’t boast the durability that other materials do. Marble is vulnerable to scratches, chips and etching, so it may not be a good choice if you have children. It also must be sealed and resealed regularly. Whereas you might be able to go several years before resealing granite or concrete, marble should be sealed yearly, or even every six months if it’s under heavy use.
Many people turn away from marble due to its high maintenance. It’s tempting to opt for something like engineered quartz, which can also create a beautiful stone look while being virtually indestructible. But if you love the smooth lines that appear in marble countertops and don’t mind forming a few good care habits, you can build an enviable kitchen!
CHANGING YOUR COUNTERTOP CAN DRASTICALLY CHANGE THE LOOK OF YOUR KITCHEN. IT CAN PERK UP OLD CABINETS AND BRIGHTEN OR ENRICH THE OVERALL APPEARANCE OF THE ROOM. THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER WHEN DETERMINING YOUR COUNTERTOP MATERIAL, YOU NEED TO BALANCE YOUR PRACTICAL NEEDS (HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE ARE YOU WILLING TO DO?) WITH YOUR DESIRED LOOK. IF YOU’VE MADE YOUR DECISION OR NEED A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE, SEND US AN EMAIL AT JULIA@BUILDINGUNLIMITED.CA!