Remodeling Consultants of Stamford Home Remodeling Tips
Marble Counter Tops
Marble is one of the highest priced counter tops. It is beautiful, luxurious, and can really tale a high end kitchen to the next level. It comes in thousands of colors and patterns. Most homeowners choose to use marble on kitchen islands and in areas where it can not be stained or scratched which is one of the biggest downside of this counter top choice.
Pros include:
- Unmatched beauty
- Water and heat proof
- High return on investment
Cons include:
- Price
- Can be damaged by cutting
- Susceptible to staining
Granite Counter Tops
Granite is the material of choice when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. It is the peak of elegance, comes in many colors and patterns that potentially fit into any kitchen design. While it is one of the more expensive choices, the pros, outweigh the cons in every category.
Pros include:
- Strong, and durable
- Highly resistant to heat
- Adds value to your home
- Almost maintenance free
- Many colors and patterns to choose from
Cons include:
- More expensive than other options
- Requires professional installation
Engineered Quartz
Engineered quartz is a manmade material made from 90% natural quartz particles and 10% resin binder and dye. While manmade may not sound as exotic, the slabs come in a wide rage of colors, and can have similar patterns as marble, granite and natural stone.
Another great aspect of this material is that it resists staining, and scratches. It also is super low maintenance and requires no sealing.
Pros include:
- Better performing than granite and marble
- Easy to maintain, no sealing required
- Impervious to staining
- Manufactured to perfection
Cons include:
- Can be damaged by high heat
- Can be expensive
- Manufactured so may not be viewed as unique
Concrete
Polished concrete counters are a great solution for very unique and custom applications where having a natural stone top or quartz may be too awkward or cumbersome to transport or cut. In most instances they are created in the home using forms. They can be colored, pattered, and look as unique as a natural stone surface. New techniques in pouring countertops have reduced the instances of cracking, staining, and the porous nature of this material by utilizing chemicals.
Pros include:
- Because it is created in a form, it is extremely versatile
- Color and pattern options
- Considered a premium material
- Heat and scratch resistant
- Unique and eye catching
Cons include:
- May crack or chip
- Requires regular sealing
- High costs
- May be too unique for resale
Solid Surface
There are various brands of this kind of countertop. It is a man made countertop which is composed of acrylic particles bonded with resins into sheets and pressed into a specific shape. While it is not as rich as the aforementioned materials, it is an excellent choice for a someone on a budget or in locations where a premium counter material is needed.
Pros include:
- Stain resistant
- Easy to repair
- Resists staining
- Many colors and patterns
Cons include:
- Not heat resistant
- Scratches
- Chemicals may cause damage
Tile Countertop
Tile can be very beautiful and rich looking. It is easy to clean, durable, and less expensive than stone, engineered quartz, and solid surface counter tops. There are so many options, mix and match, color variations, ceramic, porcelain, and slate to name a few.
Pros include:
- Cleaning is easy
- More affordable than a lot of other options
- Homeowners can tackle a tile project with relative ease
- Resistant to heat
- Many colors and styles
Cons include:
- Tile can break of crack
- Cleaning grout can be difficult
- Not as rich looking as granite and quartz
Wood or Butcher Block
Wood is warm, beautiful, contrasts nice with other materials and comes in many colors and finishes. There are many types of wood types commonly used for counter tops. They include hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry, birch, teak, and even bamboo which is a grass, but has a wood-like appearance. Wood can be stained and finished to your liking.
Pros include:
- Goes well with all styles of kitchen
- Easy to maintain
- Has. A warm and welcoming appearance
Cons include:
- Requires frequent maintenance (oil and sealant such as bees wax)
- Water and heat will damage wood
- Will scratch and dent easy
Stainless Steel
Homeowners looking for a more industrial looking router material may choose stainless steel. It is super durable and easy to maintain. Steel comes in a few different finishes such as polished, satin, brushed metal, and antique matte. The edges can be treated much like stone and there does not have to be seams because they are built to order.
Pros include:
- Resists heat and rust
- Impervious to stains
- Easy to clean
- Basically maintenance free
Cons include:
- Expensive
- Not easy to fabricate
- Loud
- Lower guage steel may scratch and dent
To learn more about countertops and which material would be best for your kitchen, bath or bar project contact the experts at Remodeling Consultants for a free in home design consultation and estimate or visit our showroom to see these different materials in person.
