subject: So You Think You Know About Countertops [print this page] You have those old discolored countertops that came with the house. You want something practical, priced right, and a surface that fits your needs. So if youre like me, you want to make an educated decision on something you dont think about every day. Sorting my needs out, I came to a simple conclusion. The needs for a countertop with the ability to avoid getting damage from heat or cutting, as well as beautifying, were most important. So, I ventured out into the unknown world of countertops to get some ideas. Right away, I realized this was going to come with a price. Not just a few bucks, either. But weighing the pros and cons, I realized, was going to be how I made the final decision. Installation price was going to play a big role as well. Granite is the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about - like money! It holds up to heat, resistant to cutting, and is elegant. Then there was engineered stone. Resistant to staining, scratches, and acid, I found that it was also very expensive. The solid countertops (much cheaper) were not scratch resistant, and didnt hold up to heat quite the way I would have liked. Then there was marble, ceramic, laminates, wood, stainless steel, soapstone and concrete? Do they actually pour this stuff in my kitchen? I found myself in over my head in the countertop world. Finally, I gave up on my male tendency to appear to know what I was doing, and just asked for help. In the end, I realized there was much more to consider. What value would I like added to my home? That alone made up my mind! I went with black granite. The value it added to my home, despite the price, was enormous. Whats more, years of use wouldnt really depreciate the value. Whew! Glad this was over! Oh, one more piece of advice if you sound like the person I am. Just make sure you listen to your life partner on this purchase. As we all know, black countertops are really functional but show too many streaks!
