Whether you're expanding your kitchen, adding an island or building a new house, the right kitchen countertops are an essential element to your cooking pleasure. Countertops can make a big difference in the home, and the perfect countertop can also find the chef in you. You need to consider style, beauty, durability and price. The DIYers may also consider the ease of installation. Here are a few options to consider.
Laminate is the most common material for countertops.
Advantages:It is cost-effective and low-maintenance. It resists grease and stains, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. It can also be completed with your own seamless tile backsplash. It is ideal for the DIYers who love to update the kitchen frequently. (NB: If you have allergies or asthma, the materials and adhesives in laminate could cause a serious attack.)
Disadvantages:Laminate has its disadvantages. Since it is in layers, the dark layer (usually pressed wood) may be visible. The top is also susceptible to damage from sharp knives and hot pans. It melts easily upon touching a dropped cigarette, and once damaged cannot be easily repaired.
Installation Tips:To keep the laminate looking newer for longer, use it on less used areas in the kitchen. It is one of the simplest countertops to install easily.
Beautiful and durable, ceramic tiles are a dream come true for the experienced DIYer. This is where you can celebrate your creative side. You can do everything. How about a mural? Or how about using your children's drawings as a pattern? Or simply mixed with your favorite colors? It can be as simple or as complex as the artist in you desires.
Advantages:Ceramic tiles endure heat, scratches and dirt. Damaged tiles are easy to replace.
Disadvantages:Grout lines can collect stains or food particles, giving way to bacterial infestation. Tiles can chip or break, and cutting them can dull your knives. Scrubbing with abrasives can ruin the high-gloss finish.
Installation Tips:To reduce costs, use colored tiles and create your own patterns. Use epoxy and acrylicGrout, which are more dirt-repellent. You can remove stains with normal bleach.
This solid worktop is a step above plastic laminate. It comes in a wider variety of colors and patterns that are consistent throughout the piece. It can resemble glass, granite and other stones.
Advantages:Since the paint goes through the entire counter, scratches and marks can be easily polished. It is strong and cantilevered, so it does not need any support. It is non-porous. It resists mold and stains. It can be ordered custom formed to hide seams, and it can be designed to your taste.
Disadvantages:It can be easily cut by sharp knives. Hot pots and pans can cause permanent discoloration. Installation is difficult for the DIYer.
Nothing ensures beauty and durability better than stone. This choice is for the serious cook. Marble and granite are the most popular options.
Advantages:Granite is impervious (when properly sealed) to cuts, scratches, burns and stains. Marble often needs to be sealed with mineral oil (which is not particularly food friendly since it is made from petroleum). Its beauty is undeniable, and both surfaces are perfect for the serious cook. Pastries and homemade chocolate love these areas.
Disadvantages:Both stones are expensive, difficult, and often difficult to cut. They are brittle so they must come in thick sheets. Marble requires frequent resealing. Both are expensive to repair. Both require regular maintenance and polishing to maintain shine.
Buying tip:You can find suitable pieces at an antique junkyard.
This robust surface is very popular for the high-tech look in the kitchen. It is the choice in most fine dining restaurants.
Advantages:It is robust and resistant to stains and hot pans. It gives your kitchen a contemporary look.
Disadvantages:It scratches easily. Avoid abrasive cleaners, never clean with steel wool. It needs a solid, firm base, otherwise it will dent. Besides being beautiful, stainless steel is very cold to the touch.
True butcher block uses end grain for counters, but many counters are rare. Make sure you have a real hardwood.
Advantages:The warm natural look of hardwood is an attractive choice for homeowners. It is ideal for cutting and chopping. It is relatively easy to install for the DIYer, and it is easy to repair. Scratches on the surface are slightly sanded out.
Disadvantages:It must be sealed or frequently treated with mineral oil. It must be cleaned immediately after preparation and exposure to moisture. Protective seals are not always food safe. It is sensitive to moisture, so it is not recommended for areas with high humidity. It burns quickly. If it becomes contaminated with meat juice or vegetables, it must be disinfected.
Buying tip: Many cooks use olive oil on the wood after each use, but this can also stain the wood darker.
These are just a few of the kitchen countertop choices in front of you. Each must be weighed by evidence of one's own cuisine. Any material will work in the right environment, but the final decision is up to you.
