Countertops

What is the best choice for a new countertop?

Honestly, countertops all come down to a personal preference – including how much money you would prefer to spend on a countertop! Each countertop offers it own pros and cons, and depending on the wants and needs for your kitchen, you can determine which countertop best suits you.

At KSI Kitchen & Bath, the four most popular countertops are laminate, solid surface (like Corian®), granite and quartz.

Laminate: Laminate continues to be the most popular choice for countertops today. With a price that fits any budget, laminate offers thousands of choices in colors and textured finishes. Laminate countertops are easy to install, and simple to maintain. They wear quite well, and resist most stains. The seams in laminate tops are quite noticeable, and any chips or scratches that occur are very rarely able to be repaired. Typically laminate countertops require a top-mounted sink.

Solid Surface: Corian® by DuPont is the most well known and popular of solid surface countertops. Solid surface countertops are made from acrylic and are extremely durable and adaptable. There are hundreds of colors choices as well as a variety of edge styles to select from. Solid surface countertops are virtually seamless, they can be fabricated with integrated sinks and backsplashes, and with their consistent color they create a smooth, uniform look. Any chips or scratches that happen to your solid surface top can be repaired without evidence there was ever a problem. Solid surface countertops can be quite prone to stains, and also darker colors often show wear.

Granite: Granite countertops are made from natural stone, and because each slab of granite is unique, you are almost guaranteed a countertop that no one else can replicate. Granite is an extremely hard stone, and because of this is extremely durable. Granite handles heat quite well and is difficult to scratch or chip. In fact, you can even use your granite countertops as a cutting board – just expect your knives to dull very quickly! Seams in granite countertops can be noticeable, and its hard quality can be tough on breakables. Because granite is a stone, it is a porous material and can be susceptible to stains. To prevent this, it is recommended you have your granite countertops sealed annually.

Quartz: By combining natural stone with synthetic materials, quartz countertops try to achieve the best of both worlds. Comprised of 93% natural quartz and 7% synthetic materials, quartz countertops give you the popular stone look of granite with the color consistency of a solid surface. Though they are partially synthetic material, integrated sinks are not available with quartz countertops. Unlike granite, quartz tops do not require any sealant and are virtually stain resistant.

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)