How to Select the Best Kitchen Countertops

Granite kitchen countertops are often bought as whole blocks and trimmed to fit. They are extremely heavy and are best installed by professional contractors. Price-wise, granite costs as much per foot as some of the best hardwood for kitchen countertops are a bit more expensive than engineered stone, and cost much less than stainless steel countertops. When properly sanded and sealed, granite countertops can last a lifetime. In addition, they are treasured by homeowners because each granite block is an artwork in itself. Unlike engineered stone countertops which are man-made and therefore have pre-set patterns, granite is natural stone and thus have patterns, textures, and colors unique to them. Nobody can have exactly the same granite kitchen countertop as you, and if only for this, then this material can be considered the best you can find. Kitchen tiles are good old reliable countertop materials. They take some time to install, but can easily be a DIY project. They also exude warmth to a kitchen and shops offer a wide array of colors and designs to choose from. However, tiles can easily break and are difficult to clean. You have to see to it that the grout is always firmly scrubbed, and a special solution is needed when molds and mildew start to build up between the tiles. Stainless steel is an excellent kitchen countertop choice, but they cost double the price of granite and other materials. This is most preferred by chefs whose kitchens always have high traffic and whose countertops take a lot of pounding. Wood is a good material for adding warmth to a kitchen. It comes in different colors and patterns and is versatile enough to match a modern kitchen or a country-themed one. A few examples of hardwood used for kitchen countertops are oak, walnut, cherry, teak, mahogany, pecan, hard maple, and many others. The downside to wood countertops is that they need to be buffed and maintained with oil from time to time to give them that handsome sheen and to keep them from fading due to spills and exposure to extreme heat. One of the newest countertop materials to be introduced to the kitchen design market is the glass countertops. Thick, tempered glass is used for this purpose, and there are a lot of designs and textures to choose from. They are non-porous and are extremely easy to maintain. These are perfect for modern kitchens, and their textures are ideal for camouflaging small scratches and fingerprints. When selecting the best kitchen countertop for your home, always keep both durability and beauty in mind. Essentially, these two should be your primary concerns before price, because these various materials are nearly priced within the same range. For the least expensive stainless steel kitchen countertop material, there are the laminates. Laminates are very thin panels which are placed on top of existing countertops. If you're on a budget, they can give your kitchen an instant facelift for the least cost. However, they don't last too long, cannot withstand high temperatures, and are not resistant to scratches.