After your kitchen cabinets, countertops are the highlight of any kitchen remodel and as such deserve careful consideration when choosing countertops for your kitchen. You have many options in countertops, both in material and color.
Countertop Material Options
Traditionally, Formica or laminate countertops were your only choice for countertop material. Today you have many more options for countertop materials, both natural and man-made. Natural materials such as granite, quartz and hardwoods are very popular and add a touch of elegance to your kitchen.
Granite, especially, offers visual interest and style to your kitchen, and is one of the most popular countertop materials in use today. It is highly durable, easy to maintain, and will last a lifetime.
Quartz is extremely hard, non-porous, and very elegant. Hardwood countertops are very beautiful, require a little more maintenance, and are more forgiving of dishes if they fall on wood countertops than granite or quartz countertops.
Handmade materials include laminate, Corian, tile, and concrete. Laminates are inexpensive and durable, although they can be scratched or burned relatively easily.
Corian countertops are extremely durable, more expensive, and are an attempt to mimic a natural stone look at a more affordable price. Tile has been used for centuries and is a popular choice in European and South American kitchen designs. If a tile is damaged, it can be removed and replaced without having to replace the entire countertop.
Natural materials also come in tile form and are a great compromise on both style and price. Concrete countertops have been more popular recently, but are losing their appeal due to higher maintenance and changing consumer tastes.
For the environmentally conscious consumer, there are more options for recycled materials used in countertops. A popular choice is recycled colored glass bits set in a polyresin matrix that produces an Art Deco look that is colorful, durable, and environmentally friendly.
color options
Your options for colors or patterns for your countertops are virtually limitless. You can create the combination you want for your countertops and kitchen.
Natural materials, by their very nature, have a variety of patterns within the natural material. It is this randomness that makes them so attractive to many consumers. Granite, in particular, comes in a wide variety of colors, grains, and patterns that can vary greatly, even within the same slab. While this randomness is attractive, it can present a challenge for the installer to make large countertops look perfect. One solution to this is to use granite tiles to control or accentuate the randomness, depending on your preference.
Man-made materials can be created in any color or pattern the manufacturer can imagine, and then some. Mosaics come in a wide variety of colors and you can create any ant pattern he wants.
In addition to the cost of materials, you need to consider the installation cost of the material you choose for your kitchen countertops. Most countertop installations are best left to experts, as they require special tools or knowledge for proper installation. This is especially true for natural stone slab countertops and poured concrete countertops, due to the weight involved. For the DIYer, tile countertops can be relatively easy to install, if he or she has a basic understanding of tile installation.
For advice on the best countertop material, color, and patterns for your kitchen remodel, it might be worth consulting with a kitchen design expert. They help you achieve the exact look you want for your new kitchen, and you can get the best value for your money with both the purchase of your new countertops and professional installation.