What is the right countertop material for your kitchen?
When designing your dream kitchen, or remodeling your current one, there is no shortage of tough decisions to make and with one decision impacting another, it can all seem quite overwhelming. Many find it easiest to first focus on countertops. Unfortunately, that raises even more questions! Specifically, what material and design do you want? What’s the right countertop material for your lifestyle? Do you need an easy to maintain, stain resistant surface? Or is style most important to you? For most people, the primary question comes down to which material is going to strike the best balance between beauty, style, and maintenance.
Luckily, there’s a vast range of options available that address durability and maintenance, and all importantly, the style factor. However, with so many materials ranging from natural stone, quartz composites, stained concrete and even natural wood available, in practically any color, pattern or texture you could want, making the right choice can be tricky. And you might want to incorporate two materials into that space. Here’s the basic 101 on deciphering what’s what in surfaces.
Here’s a quick look at some of the top countertop materials available today to help you choose the right options for your kitchen.
GRANITE
While it now has more competition than in the past, granite still remains a top countertop surface choice among homeowners. Granite countertops offer both a high-end look and durability. With granite being a natural stone material, it has variation in color and pattern which adds to its appeal due to the uniqueness of every slab. Although Granite is porous and requires more care and a regular sealing routine, it is still a great option for families who are looking for a strong, heat-resistant kitchen countertop.
MARBLE
Marble has a timeless appeal, providing an elegant and sophisticated feel. Available in a polished or honed finish, it is many people’s choice for a high-end look. Although its biggest appeal is its luxurious look, you need to take extra care of marble countertops, as it’s a highly porous material so staining can be a problem without regular sealing and care.
Marble countertops are timeless, flexible, and have a premium texture that is hard to turn away from. Each marble slab is quite unique, which is another reason why it is such a popular choice for homeowners. You can choose from a broad range of veining and colors that best fit your home design.
QUARTZ
Quartz countertops are engineered surfaces that require little to no maintenance. This product is made to be more durable than natural stones like granite and marble, as it’s pre-sealed and non-porous. These characteristics make quartz stain, scratch, heat, and impact resistant. Quartz surfaces are also available in a wide range of colors and patterns that mimic natural stone designs, providing endless design opportunities and customizable looks.
Quartz gives you the ability to have the look of luxury without the maintenance, however, be careful with heat! Although quartz can resistant scratches, etches, stains and more, direct contact with hot pans may damage the surface of your gorgeous quartz countertops.
SOAPSTONE
Soapstone is a non-porous natural stone that doesn’t require regular sealing, making it highly stain and bacteria resistant. Soapstone is more specific in its color variations, available in a range of gray tones from light to dark with subtle veining. It is a soft, natural material and is more prone to a variation of light and dark spots, as well as scratching. With that being said, it remains to be a popular option to bring a bold, masculine look into a space and can often be found in modern farmhouse interior designs.
RECYCLED SURFACES
Recycled surface countertops are customizable and environmentally friendly. They consist of large shards and finely-ground recycled glass that is bound together with cement or resin. This makes it extremely durable and easy to maintain, plus it’s eco-friendly, so what isn’t there to like?!
Recycled surfaces bring a lot of color to the table and are a fun way to portray your unique personality into a room. Browse the fun color options that BC Stone has to offer here.
BC Stone is proud to provide countertop fabrication and installation services to Pennsylvania including Bedford County, Everett, Manns Choice, Akersville, Pittsburgh and other surrounding cities.
For more information on how to choose the countertop material that’s right for you, contact us or schedule an appointment to visit our countertop showroom in Everett, PA!
ULTRA-COMPACT
Ultra-compact surfaces are composed of raw materials that include marble, quartz, porcelain, and glass. This countertop option is extremely durable and can be used both indoors and outdoors without the risk of fading. Ultra-compact products are available in many colors and looks, including that of other materials such as marble, wood, and concrete.
What is the right countertop material for your kitchen?
When designing your dream kitchen, or remodeling your current one, there is no shortage of tough decisions to make and with one decision impacting another, it can all seem quite overwhelming. Many find it easiest to first focus on countertops. Unfortunately, that raises even more questions! Specifically, what material and design do you want? What’s the right countertop material for your lifestyle? Do you need an easy to maintain, stain resistant surface? Or is style most important to you? For most people, the primary question comes down to which material is going to strike the best balance between beauty, style, and maintenance.
Luckily, there’s a vast range of options available that address durability and maintenance, and all importantly, the style factor. However, with so many materials ranging from natural stone, quartz composites, stained concrete and even natural wood available, in practically any color, pattern or texture you could want, making the right choice can be tricky. And you might want to incorporate two materials into that space. Here’s the basic 101 on deciphering what’s what in surfaces.
Here’s a quick look at some of the top countertop materials available today to help you choose the right options for your kitchen.
GRANITE
While it now has more competition than in the past, granite is still a top choice among homeowners. Granite countertops offer both a high-end look and durability. With granite being a natural material, it has variation in color and pattern which adds to its appeal. Granite is comparable in cost to manufactured quartz but does require more care and a regular sealing routine.
QUARTZ
With quartz being a manmade product it is practically maintenance free and far tougher than natural marble or soapstone. It has a pre-sealed, non-porous surface, making it stain, scratch, heat, and impact resistant. It’s also available in a wide range of colors and patterns, giving perennial top choice granite a run for its money in recent years.
CONCRETE
A thick concrete countertop can be the focal point of a modern kitchen design. Concrete is highly customizable with many stain and texture options available. It can also stand high heat very well and is scratch and stain resistant if sealed properly. Concrete on its own can feel overly cold or architectural, so it’s often mixed with other materials and accents like glass, tile, and marble to create a soft, one of a kind look.
WOOD
A butcher block style countertop can create a warm, cottage style look and when properly sealed is highly heat resistant and ideal for food prep. While you may have one vision of this style countertop, there are many species of wood, including teak, acacia, cherry and American walnut, that can be used for this purpose. It is also common for wood countertops to be mixed with other surfaces like natural or engineered stone to bring in the cozy element of natural wood while still providing a variety of prep surfaces.
MARBLE
Marble has a timeless appeal, providing an elegant and sophisticated feel. Available in a polished or honed finish, it is many people’s choice for a high-end look. Marble is highly porous so staining can be a problem without regular sealing and care. If you go for marble, expect it to weather with time. It will also stain, but it lasts forever. Think of the great marble facades in Europe. If you love those, then you’ll love this as a countertop.
SOAPSTONE
Soapstone is a non-porous natural stone that doesn’t require regular sealing, making it highly stain and bacteria resistant. Soapstone is more specific in its color variations, available in a range of gray tones from light to dark with subtle veining. It is a soft, natural material and is more prone to a variation of light and dark spots, as well as scratching. That said, it’s often a farmhouse favorite.
STAINLESS STEEL
Stainless steel countertops are a popular choice for homeowners looking for that commercial kitchen look. Stainless steel provides a modern, industrial feel that coordinates with any color. It is also one of the easiest countertop materials to clean as well as the most hygienic being impervious to heat and bacteria.
ULTRA-COMPACT
Ultra-compact surfaces are composed of raw materials that include marble, quartz, porcelain, and glass. This countertop option is extremely durable and can be used both indoors and outdoors without the risk of fading. Ultra-compact products are available in many colors and looks, including that of other materials such as marble, wood, and concrete.
