subject: Kitchen Area Improvement Jobs And Finding The Right Counter [print this page] Kitchen countertops get a lot of use and abuse over the years. They usually end up with the brunt of some knife marks, soils stains and perhaps some chippings. Although they do last for years, they do have a time when they need to be replaced and updated. So when it is time to replace or update your kitchen countertop, what is the best choice?
What are the latest countertop choices in the market?
Actually the choices are immense and the pricing is as well. There are inexpensive options and there are extremely pricy options also. It will all depend on your taste and your budget and of course, how well the countertop will fit into your kitchen.
One of the popular choices is the ceramic tile countertop.
Ceramic tiles are manufactured by subjecting them to intense heat inside an oven and they come in an assortment of designs and colors for you to choose from. They can act as the statement piece of your kitchen as they really allow you to be creative with your designs. You are guaranteed with a countertop that will last a lifetime if you choose ceramic as it is virtually scratch, water and fire-proof. A word of caution though, you have to be very careful when placing your glasses or plates on a ceramic countertop as it is very hard. You could end up with a lot of chipped plates and broken glassware. The grout may be the only real drawback as food substances and cleaners may not react well with the grout.
The more practical choice:
If your budget is in jeopardy then the plastic laminate countertop is a good choice. It is available in many options with different colors and textures to choose from. You may also purchase them in preformed models which makes installing them very easy. The negative aspect in using this kind of countertop is that they easily get stained and they are just not as durable as their more expensive counterparts.
What other choices are there?
Well, there are the stainless steel countertops which are very durable and heat resistant but they can be damaged by denting or scratching. Another very popular choice is the butcher block countertop made of wood strips either in oak or maple. This countertop is less likely to break your kitchenware and looks very pretty in your kitchen, but they are more likely to get burns, stains or dents, as already mentioned. If you like baking, stone tops may be the most compatible for you, but they come with a high purchase price and installation cost. Another option is the solid surface countertop made from acrylic or polyurethane. They are impervious to water, stains or molds, and any dings or knife cuts can be fixed immediately by sanding. This makes them a very long-lasting countertop but they are very pricy. The granite countertop is probably the best among all the available choices. It has durability, beauty, longevity, and is resistant to stains, water, mold, scratches, and burns and chipping. Although it is perhaps the most expensive choice among the lot, you can take comfort in the fact that at least your countertop will definitely last for as long as your kitchen.
Kitchen Area Improvement Jobs And Finding The Right Counter
