Just like your kitchen cabinets, your countertops take up a lot of real estate in your kitchen. This means they need to look good! And they need to complement the look of your cabinet doors. So, choosing the right countertop material is essential both for your budget and for the style of the room. Here are some of the best and most popular kitchen countertop materials to choose from.
Laminate
Laminate countertops consist of a plastic sheet attached to an engineered wood particleboard. Laminate is a popular choice because it is so inexpensive compared to most other countertop materials. However, the lower price also reflects its lower quality compared to natural stone, for example. Surfaces can easily become scratched, but it is easy to clean and comes in a variety of styles.
Natural stone
Natural stone is another popular choice, but it can come with a hefty price tag. Natural stone is literally quarried from the earth and processed into countertop slabs or tiles. It is extremely durable, easy to clean, and has a great, unique aesthetic. Many types of stone are porous, though, so they will need sealing to avoid stains. Here are some of the most popular types of natural stone countertops:
- Granite
- Marble
- Travertine
- Soapstone
Engineered stone
Similar to natural stone countertops are those engineered from natural stone, such as quartz. Quartz countertops combine particles of quartz with resin to bind them, plus pigments to achieve different colors and patterns. They are a convincing alternative to natural stone and just as durable, but they come at a similar price, so won’t offer you much cost savings. However, man-made quartz countertops are not porous like natural stone, so they won’t need sealing.
Wood
Wood countertops can add a nice warm and rustic appeal to your kitchen. They provide a pretty durable surface and, if damage does occur, they can be sanded down and refinished to restore their appearance. Wood is a fairly porous material, though, so they can become damaged by absorbing water and can retain bacteria. You can avoid this by sealing them regularly and cleaning them properly.
Ceramic
Ceramic tile is a classic look for kitchen countertops and backsplashes and can bear a wide variety of colors and designs. It’s a smooth and non-porous material, making it easy to clean and maintain. Tile is also a more affordable option compared to large slabs of wood or stone. However, some people dislike the appearance of the grout lines between tiles, which can be more difficult to keep clean.
Which countertop material will suit your choice of kitchen cabinets? Contact The Kitchen Center if you need help designing your custom kitchen and for kitchen remodeling contractors in Winston Salem, NC.