Finding The Perfect Kitchen Countertop Material

By Claire Howard

A wide array of materials can be chosen from to create your kitchen counter top. When choosing which material you want to use, remember only two things. First is the strength of the material. You will want it to last for several years, without being scratched, broken or stained too quickly before you can replace it. The second is beauty, which, as we know, is in the eye of the beholder. Since you will have to live with it for these many years, you want to make sure that what you like now will be what you still like then. Zinc countertops are really popular in kitchen decorations these days. They are similar to the colour of bullet alloys. Other favorite counter top materials are granite, ceramic tile, laminates, wood, stainless steel, marble, engineered stone, solid surface, soapstone, and concrete. Let’s talk about a few of them here.

Zinc – It is a favorite material now, as mentioned. Zinc can be purchased in flat sheets. They can be cut to size and molded to fit the space to create the backsplash & front curled edging. It can give your kitchen the look of a professional or restaurant kitchen because of the shiny metal surface. Some people love professional-looking kitchens with matching ranges & refrigerators.

Granite – Yet another countertop that has become standard for the last few years. The natural stone look of a granite countertop is something many people love. It has the advantages of being hard and durable. It is heat resistant, thus overcoming the main problem of several other countertop materials. The material can almost become maintenance free if you apply a sealer to it. The only probable downside of granite is its dull color, and of course its price.

Ceramic Tiles – Another favorite choice. Many say ceramic tiles give a kitchen that old-fashioned, retro look. They come in an almost infinite range of colours & textures. With some training, you can design & install your own counter top ’cause the tiles are small & installed individually. Ceramic tile is hard, scratch resistant, and heat resistant. The main turn offs are that a tile can be broken if a heavy object is dropped on it. Also, the grout can become stained over time, necessitating a session of cleaning grout.

Formica – A good, old-fashioned laminate choice is Formica. This counter top material has been available for approximately fifty years. Laminate is a good choice ’cause it is inexpensive & comes in many colours. It is just another area where you can express yourself using colors. Sadly, the surface can be scratched fairly easily, and it can be tricky to finish the front edge.

Wood or Butcher Block – It lends a rustic look to the kitchen, which makes it yet another beautiful choice. This type of counter top is available in a range of natural earthy colorings. Even though it can be damaged by water or heat, it can be sanded & resealed as needed.

Find a huge selection of table top and counter tops leaving your kitchen a fresher look.

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Topics: Home Improvement | Comments Off

Tags: bay window, counter tops, granite top, Home Improvement, kitchen improvement, kitchen supplies, table top

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