There are endless options for you to choose from when considering a new countertop purchase. Color and pattern are important, however, every type of countertop has a wide array of colors and patterns to choose from so don’t get too caught up here until you have identified what type of countertop will best suite your needs. The first thing you need to do is determine what is most important to YOU. Your lifestyle (i.e. how you use your kitchen) should play a role in your decision-making process.
Consider these questions when researching countertop products:
1. How often do you use your kitchen? –Heavily used kitchens need heavy-duty countertops like Solid Surface (Corian), Granite, or Quartz
2. Do you have children? –Let’s face it, kids can be rough on a home. A countertop that is repairable like Solid Surface can save a lot of money when damage occurs to your countertop. Remember, NO COUNTERTOP IS BULLETPROOF, but some can be more easily repaired than others.
3. Are you meticulous about cleaning? –Granite countertops are the most beautiful product for sure, but do require more care than Quartz or Solid Surface to keep them looking nice.
4. Are you more of a “hard and shiny” or “soft and silky” kind of person? –Stone products like Granite and Quartz have a high-gloss finish but are also cold and hard. Solid Surface, like Corian, traditionally have a matte or satin finish and feel warm and soft to the touch.
5. Is a warranty important to you? –Product warranties are now an industry standard, even with Granite. All of the popular brands of Quartz and Solid Surface brands also carry warranties. Some companies also offer Lifetime Warranties on some products.
How do they choose the best countertops?
Experts administer a series of Lab tests to measure bench performance. To assess stain resistance, they rub stubborn ingredients like wine, mustard, and chocolate onto over-the-counter samples, let them dry, and then remove them with paper towels and an all-purpose cleaner.
Experts use an etching machine to determine each material’s ability to protect against scratches; The best products can withstand hundreds of passes with a fine-grained sandpaper without any signs of distress. An impact machine is used to determine a counter’s ability to withstand dents and potholes, such as those from a falling cast iron skillet. Over the decades, we have also installed a variety of benches in our laboratories and in the homes of our experts that allow us to evaluate performance, longevity and maintenance in real-world conditions.
In addition to extensive testing, experts keep a close eye on the bench market by attending trade shows and industry events. We also meet regularly with the design community as well as contractors, fabricators and installers to stay one step ahead of design trends and supply chain and labor market issues.
What should you consider when choosing countertops for your home?
It’s natural to focus on looks when choosing a new countertop, but there are other factors to consider. It talks about a three-legged stool of aesthetics, functionality and cost while zeroing in on the perfect countertop material. “You want to make sure the counter will fit within your budget before you fall in love with it,” she says. “How the material wears and how hard you have to work to keep it looking new is also key to the decision-making process.”
Here are more expert opinions on these three key factors:
✔️ Aesthetics: Our experts say it’s best to ignore trends and choose your favorite pattern and color. However, if you think you can sell your house soon, it is useful to stay close to current design trends. Light, neutral hues with minimal play of patterns continue to be acclaimed, helping to increase interest in quartz. “Many homeowners still want to keep it simple and clean” For those who want to make more statement with their countertops, materials with dramatic veins, including marble and other natural stones, are a popular choice.
If you go the dramatic route, it’s important to work closely with your installer on the placement and positioning of adjacent tiles to align the veins. “If you encounter a model mismatch, it will drive you crazy every day”.
Don’t forget the backsplash as it’s another strong visual element in the kitchen. While subway tile and other contrasting surfaces still hold their place, many homeowners now choose to use the same material from the counter to the backsplash, creating a sense of continuity and harmony.
✔️ Maintenance and repair: consider its porosity and finish. A non-porous material with a polished finish is unlikely to absorb anything, making it stain resistant. Honed surfaces, where the surface has been ground to give the countertop a softer, matte feel, require a little more care, but you may want to put up with it for a softer feel and less shine. A porous material such as marble with a sharpened finish will require almost obsessive maintenance (regular sealing throughout the year, lightning-fast cleaning of spills, treating wear marks with a special mush, etc.) to keep the surface looking new. Bottom line: Do you want to tinker with your countertops or keep the maintenance to wipe them daily?
✔️ Cost: most homeowners spend about $3,000 to install new countertops, home services market. But the price tag can go as high as $8,000 (and even higher for imported materials like calacatta marble from Italy or a Van Gogh granite from Brazil) and as low as $400 for an entry-level laminate. Of course, the actual cost depends on the size of the counter, so it’s good to look at square meter prices. You should expect to spend about $40 per square foot for affordable materials like entry-level laminate and butcher block, and $150 per square foot or more for a rare natural stone or top-quality quartz. This does not include edge treatments that add another $5 per linear foot for a standard square edge, up to $60 per linear foot for an S-shaped spike that adds decorative flair and also reduces the risk of chipping.
