Kitchen Countertops that Count
Anyone who appreciates cooking recognizes the value of uncluttered kitchen space. This space is cherished by way of clean kitchen counters that wait to be filled with the ingredients of your favorite family recipes and meal traditions. Good comfort food deserves a good counter. But what makes a kitchen counter count? The cook decides!
Do you have a kitchen guru who succumbs to involved daily recipes from the latest gourmet cookbook? Do you have a practical kitchen helper who whips up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone’s lunch box? The counters that work best for the chef depend on their use, and you can consider these options while you choose from your bungalow house plans or even an extravagant luxury home design.
Granite:
•This is a top choice in a lot of new homes but it’s quite expensive.
•No two pieces are the same and it comes in a variety of colors with two types of finish.
•Handles hot stuff well but will flake and chip with prolonged contact.
•Has visible seams.
•Scratch resistant but not scratch proof and repeated cutting on the surface will cause permanent scratches.
•It stains, so spills should be cleaned right away.
•With regular resealing and maintenance, unnecessary scratching and staining can be prevented.
Quartz:
•Costs about the same as granite.
•Very colorful with unique choices such as electric blue or lime green.
•Consistent color throughout in every direction with no visible pattern or grain.
•Handles heat nicely.
•Has visible seams.
•Resistant to scratching.
•Non-porous surface won’t suffer staining.
•No sealing required and minimal maintenance.
Engineered Stone:
•Costs about the same as quartz or granite.
•Offers a greater variety of colors than granite.
•Extremely heat resistant.
•Scratch resistant.
•Stain resistant.
•Simple to maintain.
Concrete:
•Costs about the same as granite, engineered stone and quartz.
•Three finishes with customizable colors.
•Handles heat well but quick temperature changes can cause warping or damage to the sealer.
•Visible seams.
•Scratch resistant but not scratch proof and repeated cutting in the surface causes permanent scratches and may damage your cutlery.
•Acidic spills damage surface and damp sponges left on the surface can cause discoloration.
•Must be sealed 4 times a year and waxed every 2 or 3 months.
Concrete counters are great for imbedded porcelain or ceramic tiles used as permanent heat pads, and for adding kitchen trivets and wooden butchering blocks.
Solid Surface:
•Appealing and moderately priced.
•Good variety of colors.
•Moderate resistance to heat and hot pans can easily damage the surface.
•Does not have visible seams.
•Should not be cut directly on but small scratches can usually be buffed.
•Stain resistant.
•Adaptable and durable with minimal maintenance.
Wood Butcher Block
•Invitingly homey and moderately priced.
•Low resistance to heat.
•Easy to clean but susceptible to water damage.
•Needs to be frequently oiled to prevent damage from water and staining.
•Scratches have to be sanded, sealed or oiled frequently to avoid unsanitary conditions.
Laminate
•Very popular and most affordable option.
•Many designs and colors to choose from.
•Scorches when touched by heat.
•Visible seams.
•Easily scratched.
•No sealing required.
•Wears well over time with no direct heat or cutting.
•No way to repair, so take care.
There is now a push for using sustainable materials for interior design when planning the construction of your new home plan. There are affordable kitchen countertops that will also let you “go green.”
For example, a green option is the use of 100 percent post-use porcelain or glass bonded with epoxy resin. These countertops are featured in a variety of colors and each consumer’s counter is unique. The countertops are heat and scratch resistant but trivets and cutting boards should be used to promote the design and beauty. They clean easily and are resistant to stains without sealing. Virtually seamless, recycled glass countertops are an eco-friendly and functional way to beautify your kitchen.
Another green option is synthetic concrete, a cement-based composite that weighs half as much as standard concrete with twice the strength. It has similar workability as wood and is resistant to scratching and chipping. Some waxing and sealing is required to prevent staining.
After considering your favorite recipes and the conveniences you want your kitchen counters to offer you, it should be simple to decide the material that will best suit your needs while you finalize your luxury or bungalow style house plan. A professional consultation and installation is recommended for any material you choose. Discuss warranties and quality guarantees before installation because a counter’s integrity can be compromised by poor installation, which may leave you less than pleased with the results.
With careful thought and planning, it will be no time before your home’s favorite chef and helpers are putting the kitchen counters go to work.
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