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.
