Kitchen Counters
There are many styles of kitchen counter to consider when fitting a new or upgraded kitchen. First and foremost you need to figure out what your budget will allow for and then what materials you can incorporate into your design without breaking the bank. When choosing a countertop material the general rule is that the more expensive it gets, the more durable and easier to use your finished product becomes. This is not always the case as some materials fetch a high price for no reason other than aesthetics. The following is a breakdown of the more popular countertop materials you will come across:
- Natural Stone
- Granite
- Limestone
- Marble
- Soapstone
- Wood
- Stainless Steel
- Glass
- Synthetics
- Concrete
- Laminate
- Quartz/Engineered stone
- Solid Surface
- Tile
Granite
Polished granite is popular for its durability and the sheik finished it can achieve for your kitchen. It is becoming increasingly popular for its reputation as the most resilient material to use in your kitchen. Granite is nearly impossible to scratch and amazingly heat resistant the only problem it runs into is with acid and oily substances which sometimes stain the surface. Moving on to the aesthetics of granite, you can find a wide array of colours of this natural rock due its varying origins in the world. Different quarries in different continents can differ dramatically in appearance offering many choices in pattern and color.
Limestone
Limestone can offer some more exotic appearance qualities that are not found in other stones due it its origins. This is because it contains high amounts of calcium in its composition which is a result of the coral and other marine organisms from ancient oceans that have over time been compressed into rock. There is however a downside. Because of its calcium rich makeup, it has been found to be highly reactive with acids. For this reason you have to be extra careful with a limestone surface as it can discolour and even corrode if not kept properly.
Marble
When it comes to kitchen countertops, marble is considered the premier choice for material. While similar in finish to granite, marble has finer details and stunning crystals embedded in the design which is the reason why some people will go to further lengths to own a marble kitchen countertop and make it a main feature of their kitchen. The cost of marble is high because of its weight and the difficulty it takes to mine and then refine it. But for some there is no expense too much in order to get that unique look in your kitchen.
Soapstone
The unusually named soapstone doesn't actually have any relationship to soap, but rather a familiar texture because its surface is so soft. This chalky texture is a result of the main component of soapstone being talc. Using a softer stone for a countertop may seem like an invitation to unwelcome marks but there is an actual upside to this. In cases where the counter maybe have scratches or stains, a soapstone surface can easily be scrubbed smooth again and it does not suffer from the same acidic reactions as marble and limestone. Soapstone is typically priced in a similar ranged as granite.
Wood
Wood countertops are popular because they are cost effective and give off a warm "country house" atmosphere to your kitchen. When selecting the type of wood to use it is important to remember what kind of use you are putting it to. You will want to make sure you use a hardwood like maple or oak so as to maintain the integrity of your surface. Softwoods are not suitable for this kind of job as they have an easy tendency to scar. There is a bonus upside to a wood counter in that its surface contains natural chemicals which make it difficult for bacteria to live off of.
Stainless Steel
The preferred choice for commercial eating establishments is the stainless steel countertop. Stainless steel has a sleek look to it, it's easy to clean, and most importantly it is highly durable. So much so that it does not have some of the major hang-ups associated with the above countertop types. There is no worry of staining (hence the name), it is amazingly heat resistant, and the surface should last you a life time. Lately there has been a trend of adopting stainless steel in home kitchens. These tend to go over well in the ultra modern kitchen setups where a home owner is looking for that sheik feel to go along with the popularity of stainless steel appliances. The downside however is that a steel countertop will show finger prints and smudges a lot easier due to its reflective surface, that and because it is so hard it will likely blunt your utensils a lot quicker on contact.
Glass
For those desiring a stylish look for their kitchen should consider looking into glass countertops. Glass is a non-porous material which is highly heat resistant and easy to clean. It also offers lots of potential diversity in your design. Because it is a translucent material you are able to combine aspects of other designs into your finish like decorative sub layers or lighting embedded beneath the surface. Another selling point for the environmentally conscious customer is that you can also purchase recycled glass countertops.
Concrete
Concrete isn't just for industrial applications now. More and more people are turning to concrete for their countertop material because if done properly it can mimic some of the high price stones like marble and granite. Of course the main selling points is the fact that you can make a concrete countertop yourself and then of course the price... its very cheap in comparison to the aforementioned stones. If you are thinking: I don't want a dull grey countertop in my kitchen, then fear not. By adding chemical stains and/or pigment to your mix, you can achieve the look of natural stones. It should be also noted that over time concrete will oxidize (a process called patina, the same process that causes copper roof tops to change green from weathering) causing a slight change in colour so do some research on how patina will affect the colours added to your mix.
Laminate
An affordable solution for your kitchen countertop is to install a laminate surface. Essentially laminates are comprised of paper or wood (which may or may not be patterned depending on the look you are going for) it is then encased in plastic. The result is a low cost stylish design. The main draw back for laminate is that the plastic over coating is too soft to be used as a cutting surface and will suffer damage from utensils all too easily.
Engineered Quartz
Although pure quartz countertops are available, they are unreasonably expensive. What most people opt for is engineered quartz. Engineered quartz is ground quartz mixed with approximately 5% coloured resin which is then baked in a kiln, pressed, then polished for the final touch. The result is an easier to maintain final product (than 100% mined quartz) with a shiny finish that will barely dull over time.
Solid Surface
Solid surface countertops are a great choice among synthetics. Among the most popular materials used in this genre is Corian. Corian is a mixture of acrylic polymer and aluminum which is trademarked by the DuPont Corporation. It is available in a wide variety of colours and is available in various thicknesses; ½ inch being the most commonly used in kitchen countertop surfaces. Although popular due to its inexpensiveness, it does lack durable properties of some of the other options. Any countertop which incorporates a high degree of acrylic will be prone to scratches and heat warping. The up side is that it is easily buffed out, but if you are to do this you must make sure you buff the entire surface so as to maintain consistency.
