Countertops – Giving Your HomeSome Color

While kitchens come in many shapes and sizes, almost all homeowners rely on their countertops for reliable surfaces to cook, work, and store. Coming in different colors and textures, countertopsmade up of natural stones are relatively pricier than other materials such as tile, wood, or laminate. 

When it comes to a countertop surface that is reliable, resilient, and beautiful, the first choice is natural stone. They are relatively easy to clean, tough and virtually fireproof. Natural stone provides 4 varieties, namely marble, granite, slate and travertine. Marble, though beautiful and available in various colors and designs, may raise the cost considerably. Granite, on the other hand, is a good mix of quality and functionality and is available in various forms. It offers a good value for money, though it does require maintenance such as a yearly sealing. Since marble and granite are naturally porous materials, they require sealing in order to prevent bacteria from hiding inside the surface. Using slates gives the option of going for multipurpose options. For people having a taste for natural and neutral color, travertine may be the best option. Coming from the limestone family, it may however stain more easily than others.

The modern day kitchen is increasingly using countertops made of wood that are long-lasting when properly cared for. These are made using modern adhesives that strongly bond the wood staves and may withstand high pressure. Aesthetically speaking, a wooden countertop goes well with wooden floorings, moldings, cornices and mantels. Though somewhat costlier, these are usually less expensive than natural stone and granite.

A countertop made of engineered stone consists of 93% crushed quartz and 3-7% of binders and resins. The use of quartz makes these durable and easy to maintain. The durability of the stone makes them resistant to scratch and heat. However, that doesn’t mean a person gets careless and is suggested not to directly place hot items on the countertops. It also offers various choices in colors and should be used specifically in a place like as countertop in kitchen and as vanity in bathroom. 

The last of the options, Formica, is an inexpensive and uses a high-pressure laminated countertops. In the general parlance, these are known as either plastic laminate countertops or Formica countertops. These are not long-lasting like others and may get scratched with cleaning.

Countertops -- On the Surface

People often take kitchen surfaces for granted. They just want to make sure that their countertops are durable, clean, and functional. But if you need new ones, this is often when people start researching more about countertop materials. There are a lot of options out there, and the one that's right for you may depend on what you plan to use it for. This is why it's important not only to do your research, but also to make a list of the things you want to be able to do on this surface. Taking these steps can help you to get the right product for the job.

Tile is a popular choice for countertops in both kitchens and bathrooms. It's pretty inexpensive to install, and you can choose from a wide variety of colors and tile types. You can even add some style with decorative tiles or patterned tiles. It's relatively durable and, even if you do chip a tile, it's easier to replace one tile than to have to replace an entire countertop. The only drawback for a lot of people is that tile comes with grout, and grout can be rather difficult to clean. Fortunately, there are other options.

Natural stone is also a popular material for countertops. This material is beautiful, natural, and very hardy. The most popular stone types for this application are usually granite or marble. You can get a variety of different styles or stone types. A granite countertop in particular can handle a lot of abuse. You can put hot pots directly on the countertop. Because stones retain coolness, it's also an ideal surface for rolling out pie dough or pasta. And because there are no grout lines to contend with, just a single solid surface, clean-up on granite or marble is a snap.

But one thing about natural stone countertops is that they're prone to scratching. You may not need to replace the entire countertop, but you may need to buff out scratches on a regular basis. The alternative to natural stone is engineered stone. These engineered surfaces combine quartz with polyresin in order to make a beautiful surface with a natural look that's much more scratch-resistant than granite or marble. These materials can range in price but are typically considered top-of-the-line materials. If you want beauty that will last a lifetime in your kitchen, then it is an investment worth making.

What is the Typical Cost of Caesarstone?

Caesarstone is a lovely & highly desired stone surfacing material created with current technology to resemble quartz in every capacity. Durable and available in a wide range of colors & textures, you can furnish your home with this beautiful surface everywhere from the bathroom to kitchen countertops to an accent wall. Even floors can be done with this product.

Caesarstone is ninety three percent quartz combined with pigments and polymers to strengthen the product and provide a variety of different color options for every type of style. Caesarstone also comes in honed, polished, and textured surfaces. For about $40.00 per square foot in some locations, it is an investment worth every penny.

Some of the rich colors to add character to your home include Deep Ocean, Black Rocks, Espresso, Smoky Ash, Pebble, Ruby Reflections, Mocha, Nougat, Rosemary, Eggshell, Cinder, Desert Limestone, & Organic White among many other choices. Caesarstone also comes in many recycled options with fleck filled color choices such as Starry Night, Carbone and Spring Blossom.

Determining the cost of your Caesarstone requires some research. You can calculate the footage by using online calculators, or Caesarstone’s handy app for the iPhone and iPad. Various web sites which sell countertop or flooring materials offer approximate pricing based on the surface dimensions you want to cover by filling in the square feet of the area and the price per square foot.

Caesarstone may cost as much as $60 or even $90 a square foot for the material and installation depending on your location. Caesarstone is one of the only materials which offers a lifetime guarantee, so really it is quite cost effective than other materials which need regular maintenance or repairs.

When caring for Caesarstone be sure to avoid contact with paint thinners, prolonged heat, soaps with high alkaline balances, oils, oven cleaners and other harsh products. The Caesarstone will last but you don’t want to stain its surface or create dull places in it. Hot pots and other heat sources can leave hairline cracks that are difficult to mask.