This is a guest post by Ethan from One Project Closer.
Buying a house is the biggest single purchase many people will ever make, and home appraisals have indicated that the kitchen has the most impact on the value of a home. It should come as no surprise that there is a significant number of kitchen countertop choices available, but how do you pick one? This article will explore four popular countertop options to help identify what’s important to you.
Function First
Many homeowners focus on a countertop that will meet their functional needs before they even begin to look at styles and colors. They want something that will resist scratches and heat, requires minimal maintenance and will stand the test of time. If that sounds like you, consider a quartz-based solid surface countertop. These countertops are non-porous and that means no worries about stains or bacteria. You don’t even need to seal them like granite countertops. It’s not recommended that you cut directly on the surface, and that’s because you’ll actually dull your knives! Manufacturers pack so many great features into Quartz-based solid surface countertops by combining crushed Quartz stone and resin to create a super-hard material. The only drawbacks include a higher price tag, and no natural variation like granite or limestone alternatives.
Cost Conscience
Just because you don’t have a huge budget for your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice good countertops. Many homeowners feel trapped into buying the bare-bones laminate countertop without ever considering stone, ceramic or porcelain tile. A lot of the cost associated with expensive countertops is mining and processing large slabs. If you utilize smaller pieces and tile your countertop, you can still have all the perks at a fraction of the cost. If you can embrace (and maintain) grout lines, this option is for you.
Make a Statement
Gone are the days when people oohed and awed over how much storage or counter space your kitchen provided. Today, people want their kitchens to say something about the people who use them. To achieve that custom shape and color, consider having a poured concrete countertop in your home. Nothing is more versatile as concrete because you get to pick the shape, color, any embedments and custom molds. Unfortunately, concrete isn’t the most durable material, and it requires some upkeep. Even so, nothing is more customizable and they often incorporate recycled material like fly ash for improved strength.
Its Gotta Be Green
If caring for the earth is your number one priority, then you’ll want a countertop with 100% recycled materials, and that’s what you’ll get with (some) recycled glass countertops. Even better, these countertops are a beautiful mosaic, and often you can specify what color glass you’d like to see incorporated. The glass is suspended in a matrix of concrete, and just like solid concrete countertops, you can incorporate recycled fly ash. You’ll also see the same drawbacks as concrete like the need for periodic sealing and susceptibility to scratching.
Hopefully, this overview offers some insights on countertop options that will help you make an informed decision. If you have other considerations, please add your thoughts in the comments section below.
Ethan is the VP and co-founder of One Project Closer, a website where you’ll find informative articles about tools, how-to projects, and crafts. Check One Project Closer as they follow contractors on the job site and provide coupons for popular home improvement stores like this Lowe’s coupon page.
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