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3 Things to Consider in Your Kitchen Countertop Renovationby H.L. StaplesRefacing Cabinet Columnist Just as clothes make the man, countertops make the kitchen. To choose the appropriate countertops for your kitchen renovation, you'll need to consider three basic features regarding countertop materials: color availability, seams or no seams, and tolerance. A renovation that includes new countertops can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen. But each surface offers you something different. Home Improvement through ColorIn some kitchens, adding a splash of color to your countertop can result in a quick and inexpensive improvement. For a good selection of colors, go for tile or plastic laminate. Your options are virtually endless. Quartz offers fewer choices, but does have particularly deep and consistent color.A Seamless RenovationFor home improvements that call for new countertops, many people these days are going for the seamless look. Besides the visual blip of a countertop that isn't installed perfectly, seams can collect crumbs, sand, and other sorts of unsightly and germ-carrying detritus. Stone, quartz, and laminate may all wind up with seams, though only laminate necessarily requires them. Tile doesn't actually have seams, but the grout lines are similar and may be hard to keep clean. A solid surface will give you a perfectly smooth look and feel.Renovation with a Bit of ToleranceYour least expensive renovation option for a countertop is a plastic laminate surface. But if happen to grab a hot pot and then quickly put the thing down on your countertop, all is lost. You'll wind up with a ring-sized burn and botched kitchen. You can install ceramic tile yourself and save some money, but if you spill red juice on your new countertop, you may learn the hard way that the grout doesn't always resist liquid particularly well. Natural quartz, stone, and a solid surface offer you the most durability for your home improvement buck.Having trouble prioritizing? If you want top durability around your stove and the greatest ease of cleanup around your sink, why not go for a combination countertop? A clever combination not only can save you money and be practical but help create a custom and stylish look. Source Lowes.com, "How To Choose a Countertop" About the Author H. L. Staples has renovated two older homes, as well as taught at the University of Georgia and Syracuse University. Her articles have appeared in the Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, the Georgia Review, and elsewhere. |
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A home improvement resource by Refacing Cabinet
© 2008 Refacing Cabinet. All rights reserved. |
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