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!
