Visit this page can be challenging - even confusing - to find the right material for your countertops which are the hardest-working surfaces in your kitchen. Also, there are considerations you need to address before selecting a countertop predicated on looks alone. A countertop ought to be durable, scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, water-resistant, stain-resistant, easy to clean, in addition to attractive. This brief guide reviews five material categories selected for their perfect combination of practicality and beauty. There are many material options - natural, manufactured or engineered - to go on counters and this can be installed as a good surface or put on a backing like a veneer. Your material of choice can impact the kind of sink you want, whether it's integrated, drop-in or under-mount, A built-in sink will only use stainless steel or solid-surface materials, like Corian. A drop-in sink may be the most versatile and can be used with any type of countertop material, and an under-mount sink also works together with any material aside from wood. Also consider textures and edges as your material choice will impact these as well. You will need to investigate all of the edge styles for the choice and check the sharpness and thickness of the profile. A combination of two materials can be a solution if you are considering tasks that'll be performed on that countertop. While you may choose granite or ceramic for the majority of countertops, you may want a section of wood for chopping, cutting and slicing, or marble for rolling out pastry and candy making. The combination of two materials could be worked in to the design and provide the best solution, where one type of material is for a workshop, and another for clean-up or eating. Actually, countertops affect the look and feel of the whole kitchen and can make a dramatic design statement. 1. Stone: Granite, Marble and Limestone Granite, marble and limestone could be the most expensive choice but they are the top choice for beauty and practicality. They will last forever with proper care. Granite may be the leading choice within this category. The stone could be installed as a solid surface but a more reasonable installation can be made as granite or limestone tiles with tight grout lines. Granite exudes elegance in a kitchen so when the usage of it becomes more widespread, prices attended down. Stone upgrades even the most modest kitchen. It stands up to heat and comes in a variety of colors. It is substantial and can last a lifetime. It can have a mat finish as honed or perhaps a shiny polished finish. New sealers are almost maintenance-free but granite can require some periodic sealing and some stones, particularly marble, can absorb stains despite being properly sealed. Granite gets the second highest hardness rating after diamonds but any stone can crack if it is stressed in transport or installed improperly. Stone offers a high value to home buyers and, particularly, granite kitchen countertops are elegant and timeless. 2. Quartz- and Acrylic-Based: Engineered Stone and Solid Surface Countertops made of engineered stone are composed of 93% quartz particles. Engineered stone offers a wider selection of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches. Engineered stone isn't as popular as granite and is often confused for granite but the regular consistency of the patterning gives it away to be man-made. In fact, engineered stone has all the benefits of granite but is easier to maintain, minus the annual sealing required by natural stone. It really is more costly than granite or stone. Engineered stone brands include Silestone, DuPont Zodiaq, LG Viatera and Cambria Quartz. Like the quartz-based engineered stone countertops will be the seamless, manufactured acrylic-based ones that are called Solid Surface counters. While in addition they offer a wide assortment of colors, patterns and finishes, they don't have the natural look of stone. They do resist stains, moisture, sunlight and heat, and inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. However, they are vulnerable to hot pans and stains which can damage the surface. Solid Surface countertops are custom-made and their acrylic material can be formed to include a sink with seamless installation. Brands of Solid Surface countertops include Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone. The word Solid Surface because of this acrylic-based material category is confusing, These countertops are so-named because they are just what they're called, solid. However, they're solid and custom-made, manufactured, seamless countertops as are the quartz-based engineered stone countertops. In addition, the word is doubly confusing since stone countertops (granite, marble, limestone) and wood (butcherblock) may also be seamless, solid countertops, as opposed to veneer-like countertops as laminate or tile. 3. Tile: Ceramic, Aluminum and Copper While ceramic tile seems old-fashioned as a countertop material, it has many pluses. It really is durable, inexpensive and an easy task to clean. Ceramic tile counters are usually installed one section at a time and most people can simply work with the materials. Ceramic finishes are great since they take hot pans, are easy to clean and are available in a variety of textures. The only downsides are that the grout in between the tiles can be difficult to clean, tiles can chip and crack, and the top can end up uneven. Besides ceramic tile, tiles also come in aluminum and copper for some great new looks, whether in brushed or smooth textures. Also, tiles can be set in various sizes and patterns, as squares, subway block and angled as diamonds. Back splashes can have unique designs and capping tiles. 4. Stainless Steel To provide your kitchen the appearance of a serious chef at work, or perhaps a contemporary industrial design, then stainless steel countertops is wonderful for you. This material is incredibly heat-resistant and durable, in fact it is an easy task to construct the countertops precisely to your specifications as a seamless surface. While they are an easy task to clean, on the down side, they can dent and they can be extremely expensive. 5. Concrete Contemporary and industrial, concrete countertops offer another option that blends function and chic modern design. These can be constructed and cast right in your kitchen and they can be color-tinted. New treatments reduce the porous character and eliminate cracking. Concrete is heat and scratch resistant, and the look is exotic and unusual, a nice variant on the present day design theme. In sum, these are kitchen countertop choices for every style and every budget. Any of the five material choices for your new or remodeled kitchen gives character and beauty to your hardest-working kitchen surface. Your choice will define your kitchen because the countertop may be the focus of each kitchen. These choices have a proven record of durability along with beauty. While there are other choices, like laminates which scratch, lift up at their edges and appearance cheap, or butcher block wood surfaces that may be porous, scratched and require much maintenance, only these five categorical choices will increase your home value while they survive scratches, water and food spills to keep a clean, stylish, decorative appearance.
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