3 Questions You Should Know The Answer To Before Buying Countertops For Your Kitchen

Posted on: 7 November 2016

Of all of the changes and upgrades you could make to your kitchen, simply swapping out your countertops for new ones could be the one change that makes all the difference in the room's overall appearance. However, choosing countertops can also be a daunting task because there are so many options to choose from--each with their own advantages and special considerations. From quartz to natural stone to ceramic tile—make sure you don't get lost in all the options by arming yourself with knowledge about what countertops will work best for you. Asking yourself these three questions before making a final decision on the type of countertops you want installed in your kitchen will help. 

How comfortable are you with ongoing countertop maintenance?

Some countertop materials naturally require a little more attention than others to maintain their quality appearance for the years to come. For example, granite is an excellent countertop material choice, but does also have to be resealed on occasion to keep porosity levels to a minimum. Likewise, concrete countertops can become discolored if they are not sealed on occasion. Even though material choices like laminate and tile may not have as long of a lifespan as natural stone, these materials usually don't require a lot of maintenance for the long haul. 

How much heavy-duty cooking do you do in your kitchen?

This sounds like an odd question, but the fact is, not all countertops will withstand things like constant spills, heavier-than-usual-pans, or excessive heat from a scorching pan accidentally placed without a trivet beneath. If you do a lot of cooking in your kitchen, it may be better to go with countertops that are a little more resilient to things like hot and or spilled ingredients. Quartz countertops, for example, will stain easy and can even crack if exposed to high heat levels. On the other hand, formica is more resilient, and so are concrete countertops or those crafted from stainless steel. 

How much counter space do you have to work with compared to your budget?

Price is almost always going to be a determining factor in home upgrade projects, but especially so when it comes to countertops because the prices can range greatly from one material to the next. Consider how much counter space you have in your kitchen that needs to be covered. If you have a massive amount of counter space and not a lot of money to work with, it will be best to track down a material that is less costly, like ceramic tile or laminate. Because most companies charged by the installed foot for countertop materials, large counterspaces can get pretty costly to cover with higher-end materials like natural stone.

For more information, contact companies like Plastic Line Mfg Inc.

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