Kitchen countertops are an important element of kitchen decoration. There are different materials to be used as a countertop but only six of them are widely popular.
Natural Stone
Granite, slate and soapstone are the most commonly used natural stones as a countertop in the kitchen. Once upon a time, granite was thought to be a highly expensive but still a high-end kitchen countertop solution. It is durable and available in a variety of designs and colors. Price depends on color and complexities involved in the process of fabrication. Check out Arch City Granite to take a pick from amazing varieties of granite and other countertop materials.
Slate is available in five main colors – red, purple, green, gray and black. Less popular varieties are mottled purple and variegated purple. These two feature visible veins. Shades of contrasting colors are clearly visible as well.
Soapstone usually comes in dark greenish-black color though lighter green shade is also common. Soapstone is relatively harder than slate.
Concrete
Concrete countertops resemble natural stone slabs and are spiking in popularity. Unlike the concrete countertop in the 80’s, the new-age version is precast. The precast countertops are smooth and flat if compared to traditional hand-troweled finishing.
Wood
Wood, as a kitchen countertop, is becoming more increasingly popular. It is a traditional material but lost its dominance over time owing to rising popularity of solid surfaces and granites. The wrong perception that wood is a safe nest for bacteria and germs has also contributed to declining use of wood as kitchen countertop. However, studies have unveiled that wood cutting boards don’t harbor bacteria and are extremely safe for use.
Maintenance is a serious issue. Polyurethane seal is used to protect the countertop for several years though many homeowners are in favour of mineral oil finish in order to maintain the natural look of wood.
Wood counters are made of a blonde, dense hardwood such as rock maple, walnut, cherry and even teak.
Solid Surfaces
There is a plethora of solid surface materials. These are made of pure acrylic and polyester or sometimes a mix of two. The best part of using solid surface as countertop is they are not prone to scratches and stains. Furthermore, they can be renewed and repaired. Deep gouges are easy to fill whereas burns and scratches can be sanded. Seams are used so that fused joints are impossible to detect. This material comes in several colors and designs. Sinks can fit into solid surfaces.
Ceramic Tiles
Seamless and low-maintenance counters have been a trend over the last decade. That reasons why ceramic tiles are not widely used for countertops. However, this makes a wonderful choice for your kitchen as either backsplashes or secondary surface. Make sure not to use wall tile for your countertop. Ceramic tiles are directly applied over existing plastic laminate countertops or a plywood substrate.
Plastic Laminate
Plastic laminate is a hard and long-lasting material. It can withstand the worms of time for many years. It literally comes in an exciting range of colors, patterns and textures. There are two basic kinds of laminates – 1/16-in and 1/32-in in thickness. The first type is for general purpose and serves as a solution for your countertop. The second type is used for cabinet doors.
