Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010

Unlike kitchen cabinets, choosing the right counter top for your kitchen remodel can be difficult simply because there are so many materials to choose from on the market. Whether you decide to tile your own counter top, or install a solid stone (granite or other) counter top; its important to remember that the counter top needs to be functional and above all strongly made of durable materials.

So how do you know what type of counter top is the right counter top for your new kitchen? The first step in deciding which type of counter top to install in your new kitchen is to become aware of the products currently available on the market, some old and many new. When it comes to counter tops there are so many materials to choose from including: Plastic Laminate, Ceramic Tile, Solid-Surface Material, Natural Stone, Wood, Stainless Steel and even Concrete. To decide which material is right for you, you must weigh the pros and cons of each, factor these in with the cost of each and your personal taste and then you will surly know which counter top is right for your new kitchen, or at least narrow it down!

Laminate Kitchen Counter Tops

Plastic laminate is a thin and durable surface that comes in hundreds of colors, textures and patterns. Some of the patterns are even designed to resemble natural stone or tile. Plastic laminate is easy to install, affordable and washes easily. One downside to plastic laminate is that high temperatures from pots and pans that are placed on the surface can quickly discolor or even burn the counter top. Another weakness of laminate is its hardness. Hardness is a term derived from Mohs Scale of Hardness that is used to place a numerical value on the hardness of one material compared to another one a scale of 1 -10; 10 being the hardest and 1 being the softest. As an example, a diamond has a hardness of 10; and is the hardest naturally occurring material in the world, a fingernail has a hardness of around 2.5, while a stainless steel knife has a hardness of around 5.5 depending on it manufacturing methods. Laminate counter tops usually have a hardness of around 3-4 depending on the specific material. This means that in addition to being sensitive to heat laminate counter tops will also scratch very easily compared to a harder surface like granite.

Tile Kitchen Counter Tops

For many, tile is the next step up from a laminate counter top. Tile offers many distinct benefits that do not exist in other counter top materials. Tile comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, textures and materials, even natural stone like granite. Tile is more expensive than laminate, but a mere fraction of the cost of monolithic granite or marble. Another benefit to tile is that if a portion or piece of a counter top is damaged, it can be easily and affordable repaired without having to replace the entire counter top. Tile is smooth, easy to clean and will not burn easily. Depending on the product, ceramic tile usually has a hardness of 5-6, while porcelain tile, which contains quartz, will often have a hardness of 7 or more. This means that the tile will resist scratching very well. Marble tile will usually have a hardness of around 2.5-4, making it a less than ideal tile for your counter top. Granite tiles are also gaining popularity, although these may be a more affordable alternative to monolithic granite, it is hard to put a hardness number to them. This is because as a material, granite is composed of primarily three minerals, quartz, feldspar and Muscovite. Each of these minerals has a different hardness, depending on the stones composition and the conditions under which it formed in nature, they stone may be very hard around 7 or higher if it has very high levels of quartz, or lower than five if it contains high levels of Muscovite. You can learn more about the properties of granite and what to look for in our granite section below.

In addition to being versatile in shape, material, design and color-tile is also fairly easy to clean and keep up. The biggest downside to tile is not the tile itself, but the materials that hold it in place. Grout is used to fill in the spaces between tiles, and comes in many colors. Depending on how the tile is installed, there may be large or fine grout lines between your tiles. Grout is not a very hard material, and over time will begin to wear. This may leave small valleys and voids between you tiles, and you may have to re-grout your tiles from time to time. There are ways to minimize the degrading of grout in your tile – the finer the grout lines, the less grout there will be; this will minimize upkeep. Another important thing to remember when grouting is to make sure it is sealed with an appropriate sealer. Using a sealer on the grout will add longevity for years to come, especially if reapplied annually.

Solid Surface Kitchen Counter Tops

Solid surface material is made of acrylics, natural and composite materials. This man made material, also called synthetic stone is a premium material that resists moisture, heat, stains and cracks. Solid surface materials come in almost every color and texture, some mimicking natural stone like granite and marble. Solid surfaces vary in hardness, some scratch easily while others have additives like quartz to make them hard and durable. When looking at solid surface as an option for your kitchen counter top; always research the hardness of the material. Solid surface materials can be custom ordered in almost any shape and size and because its man-made you will not be charged more if you need large pieces that match, as you would normally with natural monolithic stone. Solid surface counter tops can also be purchased in various pre-fabricated shapes and configurations that may meet your needs.

Natural Stone Kitchen Counter Tops

Marble, slate and granite can be formed into very beautiful and vibrant counter tops but can also be very costly. Of the three, granite is usually the most popular choice because of its resistance to moisture, heat and staining if properly finished. Granite can be polished to a very bright and shiny finish, or as needed to suite your decor and preference. Granite comes in a variety of grades and colors. In general, granite that has a high percentage of quartz will have a higher grade, as well as those that have rare colors or patterns as a result of their forming process, particularly when unusual minerals make their way into the granite composition and cause it to form in a rare color or pattern. In addition to the grade of the granite, the size and uniformity of the granite will also play a factor. If you have a kitchen with large amounts of counter space and wish to use uniform monolithic high grade granite, expect to pay a high price. In short, the following equation can be used to determine the value and cost of granite: grade and quartz content + rarity of color or pattern + size = price. The higher or lower any of these values are the higher or lower the price will be. Granite is a very heavy material, and should only be installed by professionals. Many times granite installation will require reinforcing of counters to support the weight, as well as special tools and hardware to install, seem and finish the granite.

Wood – Butcher Block Counter Tops

Wood counter tops have made a huge comeback in the last ten years. As a new generation of homeowners yearn for the warmth and nostalgia of an antique country style kitchen; wood is becoming the counter top material of choice for many as they plan to remodel their kitchen. Wood as a material for counter tops is very versatile. It comes in many different species, each with its own unique properties and characteristics. Regardless of the type of wood that will be used, in general all wood counter tops will be built using the same method, by laminating strips of wood together and treating them to be resistant to moisture and warping. Different types of wood and finishes will produce counter tops with varying harnesses. In general wood counter tops are soft, and have properties similar to laminate in terms of hardness, ability to burn, scratch etc. One of the many benefits of wood counter tops is that they can be made to fit any space and one can easily use them to create unique shapes and textures.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Counter Tops

Stainless steel counter tops are finding their way out of commercial kitchens and restaurants into residential kitchens more and more frequently these days and for many good reasons. Stainless steel counter tops are extremely durable, they are impervious to heat and moisture and can be highly scratch resistant. In addition to these tremendous physical properties, stainless steel counter tops also are very sanitary. Steel comes and many different grades, much like granite. The higher the quality of the steel, the more durable and resistant it will be as well as expensive. Stainless steel counter tops can add a lot of sophistication to a remodeled kitchen. Be sure to do your homework and insist on a quality steel product accompanied by expert installation.

Concrete Kitchen Counter Tops

You may be wondering why you would ever want a large surface of dull gray concrete appearing in your kitchen, or for that matter why you would want to eat on such a surface. The truth is that concrete is a very durable and versatile material and has been used for all types of products including siding and backer board. Recently concrete has made its way into the modern American kitchen, and is becoming a popular and affordable choice for kitchen remodels. New techniques have enabled skilled craftsmen to transform high quality concrete into a work of art, displaying a variety of patterns, textures, colors, finishes and more. Some concrete counter tops look so amazing that its hard to believe they are actually concrete. Skilled concrete counter top fabricators are able to add a variety of colors, patterns and reinforcement to transform concrete into a beautiful surface. Acid washing and color additives can camouflage concrete in ways one cannot imagine. Concrete can also be polished to a bright shine and treated with various sealants and finishes. More than any other material, concrete counter tops must be installed by a professional. Concrete counter tops must undergo special reinforcing, curing and finishing processes to be made into a durable counter top.

We hope that this information will help you take the first steps on your path to choosing counter tops when you are planning your kitchen remodel. As always, we are here to assist you in every step of the kitchen remodeling process including your new counter tops.

Sincerely,

Paul Adrianse
Owner