One of the most important decisions in making a custom home is picking the right material for the counter tops. Along with the performance of the area, these countertops are important part of the kitchen theme. You need to think about the pros and cons of several materials before making this important decision so that you can pick the one that fits your lifestyle the best.
Understanding the Options
There are some important factors to ensure that when choosing the best counter top surface.
Here is the list of some of the materials that you may consider in order to make a decision:
1. Granite
Pros:
Durability: Granite is hard and lasts long; this makes it preferable for kitchens that is frequently used.
Heat Resistant: Does not react to heat easily; you can place hot pots and other cooking utensils directly on the surface without having to worry about the surface melting away.
Aesthetic Appearance: The granite comes as a slab, so each has distinct colour and pattern that can easily be matched to the layout of any contemporary or classic or the like.
Cons:
Sealing: In order to prevent discoloration from stains and bacterial growth, granite must occasionally be sealed.
Price: The price of granite varies depending on its type and market scarcity; however, it may be marginally more expensive than other materials.
2. Quartz
Pros:
Easy to Maintain: Quartz counters are made from natural quartz embedded in resins and therefore do not have to be sealed.
Durability: This non-scratch and stain-free surface makes quartz suitable for those families with an active lifestyle.
Appearance/finish: Comes in the variety of colours and textures to give the appearance of natural stone.
Cons:
Heat sensitivity: Avoid contact of quartz with heat by placing hot goods on heat pads.
Price: It has lower cost than granite but as with any premium quartz, it can be very pricey.
3. Marble
Pros:
Appearance: Marble gave a luxurious look due to its natural pattern of designs on the surface making it to look posh.
Heat resistant: Like granite, marble does not sustain any harm when exposed to heat such as when placing hot dish.
Cons:
Resistance: Marble also has limitations, which include being penetrable to moisture and easy staining.
Flexibility: This is not very hard and is easily scratched or chipped as compared to the other natural stones.
Cost: The price is higher because marble looks more beautiful and needs to be put in with a lot of care.
4. Laminate
Pros:
Less Expensive: It is cheaper than other types of countertops like granite or quartz.
Versatility: The variety of colours, patterns, and shapes makes it possible to make it look like expensive materials like stone and wood.
Cons:
Strength Defects: Laminate is not as hard as natural stones and therefore can scratch or chip easily.
Shortcoming: It has a limited lifespan since heat can cause the material’s edges to warp and degrade.
5. Solid Surface (e.g., Corian)
Pros:
Versatile: Solid surface materials can be refinished and altered in terms of colour and design.
Visibility of Seams: They don’t have a lot of seams, which is sometimes better for current styles.
Durability: Maintenance of solid countertops is easy and relatively inexpensive; even minor damages such as abrasions as well as burns can be sanded and polished out to prolong the life of the countertop.
Cons:
Heat Sensitivity: The solid surfaces can be affected by heat.
Moderate Durability: Despite being superior to laminate, they lack the strength of quartz or granite.
6. Wood
Pros:
Warmth and Aesthetics: Nothing brings in the aesthetic of warmth and natural feel like a wooden countertop, which can fit in well in rustic or country styles of kitchen.
Cons:
Maintenance: Wood needs to be oiled frequently to avoid cracking and splitting and does not have water or stain resistance.
Texture: It’s softer and more prone to dents and scratches.
Making the Right Choice
In choosing the countertop material it is important to have the following tips in mind:
1. Lifestyle and Usage: Consider your lifestyle and uses of kitchen or bathroom. However, if you are often engaged in cooking or hosting guests then, then a hard and non-porous surface such as quartz or granite should be chosen. For less rigorous, relaxed environment, one could opt for wood or marble would be ideal.
2. Budget: Customize your budget at the beginning of the design stages. Costly stone such as the marbles and granites used in making countertops provide an exquisite look while other non-costly material such as the laminates and engineered woods give the best looks also.
3. Maintenance: You have to determine how much effort and time you will devote to maintenance. Granite and marble are easy to stain, and hence they should be sealed frequently while quartz and solids surfaces are easier to maintain.
4. Design Aesthetic: Whereas natural stone gives a traditional or aesthetic look, more efficient artificial materials such as quartz can be integrated into modern designs.
5. Environment: If you care for the environment, there is also options such as recycled glass top and FSC wood.