Whether you’re a professional chef, a passionate home cook, a first-time homeowner, or a renovator, you’ll know that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home. And to make your chores in the kitchen easier, you need a good surface to work on, in other words—a good countertop.
There are several things to consider when choosing a material for your kitchen countertops, such as its use and aesthetics. With the variety of different countertop materials to choose from, all offering different qualities and benefits, you may find yourself having difficulty deciding which material would be the best choice for your kitchen. So, what are some of the different options you have to choose from, and how should you go about choosing the best one for your kitchen needs?
Here’s a brief guide on how to select the best kitchen countertop material:
Set Your Criteria Of Preferred Qualities
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Firstly, you’ll need to create a requirements list of the different qualities your kitchen countertop will need. Your list should depend on factors depending on the type of usage this countertop will experience and the type of kitchen it will be placed in (home, restaurant, etc.) Some of the different qualities to consider include:
- Hardness
- Durability
- Heat resistance
- Scratch resistance
- Maintenance
- Easy to clean
- Cost
- Aesthetics
Whether you’re remodeling or simply refacing your kitchen, the best countertop material for you will be one that fits your list of requirements!
Choose The Ideal Material
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Here are some of the most popular kitchen countertop materials:
- Wood
Wood is a common and popular choice and is a wonderful way to add some warmth to the design of a kitchen. These countertops are relatively easy to clean and offer convenience as you can prepare food right on its surface without needing to lay down an additional working surface.
However, it’s a softer material and will be less durable than other options. Wood is susceptible to heat, cuts, chips, stains, and will require occasional treatment to prevent it from drying out.
But if you don’t mind all that and the convenience and aesthetic it offers sound good to you, then you might want to consider going with a wooden countertop.
- Natural Stones
Granite, marble, and soapstone are natural stones. They’re all popular materials used for kitchen countertops. Stone countertops are generally hard, durable, and heat-resistant. Cleaning a stone countertop is also mostly quick and easy.
Granite is essentially the crystallization of liquid magma. This is the hardest, most durable, and most affordable stone. Granite is stain and scratch-resistant, and aside from an occasional lacquer treatment every few years, it won’t require much maintenance. It’s an ideal choice for a regular home kitchen countertop that will see a lot of use!
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On the other hand, one reason why some might choose marble or soapstone over granite lay largely in aesthetics as these stones are softer, less durable, and are more prone to picking up stains and scratches.
Marble is known to be more prone to staining, can be quite expensive, and therefore might not be the best choice for a kitchen countertop. The aesthetic benefit of marble is that every marble countertop is unique, but unless you value this quality, marble is probably not the best kitchen countertop material for you.
Soapstone is known for aging well over time and developing a beautiful patina as time goes on and as it accumulates use. For those who are truly searching for a countertop material that will be unique to their kitchen, this might be the ideal choice!
- Quartz
Quartz is an engineered stone but it can deliver a natural feel to your kitchen. It’s hard and durable, heat resistant, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. It is one of the easiest materials to clean and maintain and requires no lacquer or treatment.
If you can afford the hefty price tag and remember to rest it on a foundation that can support its weight, a quartz countertop could be the perfect choice for you!
- Stainless Steel
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Often regarded as premium, modern, and sleek, stainless steel is another excellent kitchen countertop material. It’s durable, heat resistant, long-lasting, and is one of the easiest countertops to maintain and keep clean. Stainless steel is more prone to scratching though, but that may not be a problem for you.
Furthermore, stainless steel countertops can be made to fit your specifications. If you don’t mind its high price tag, a stainless-steel kitchen countertop can bring a premium feel to your kitchen.
- Laminate
One of the most affordable materials available! Laminate countertops are easy to keep clean, easy to work on, and there’s a wide variety of styles and designs to choose from. They’re also inexpensive to replace once they’ve worn out. A great choice if you’re thinking about adding colors to your kitchen.
If you find yourself having to adhere to a strict budget, or you’re looking to match a specific style, using laminate for your kitchen countertops might be exactly what you need.
Find A Good Supplier
It’s important to source your materials from a reliable supplier. A good supplier should be able to offer you good materials at a reasonable price and provide you with information on the quality of the material you choose. You might find it beneficial to find a supplier that you can physically visit so you can see the materials in person before buying them. This will help you make sure that your kitchen countertop will be of good, long-lasting quality.
Conclusion
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Choosing the best kitchen countertop may be challenging, especially with all of the different options out there. Depending on your purpose, your list of countertop requirements may differ. Consider these options listed, compare them to your needs and preferences, and you should be well on your way to finding the best countertop for your kitchen!
