The Counters Blog

In this article we list the best kitchen countertop materials you should review before starting your new kitchen. Granite prices will run the gamut, with more exotic stones coming at a higher price. One downside to granite is that it’s porous, so it must be sealed once a year to maintain its appearance and durability. It’s non-porous, so it’s resistant to cracking, scratching and staining. Because the material is engineered, it comes in uniform slabs.Engineered quartz is one of the more expensive countertop options. Wood must be sealed about once a month to prevent damage from heat and moisture, and regular wax and oil treatments will keep it looking like one of the best kitchen countertop materials. Concrete is a good option for both modern and traditional interior kitchen countertops. The downside to laminate is that it’s not heat or scratch resistant. And, its price point makes it much easier to replaceable than other countertop materials. You may also consider options like soapstone, tile and stainless steel, for example, which all come with their own pros and cons.
Prodim Proliner Software Offset A Kitchen Countertop Cad Design | Duration 1 Minutes 36 Seconds Important to note, granite is cut from veins of naturally occurring stone, which makes each slab entirely unique. And it doesn’t require the maintenance and sealing that come with natural stone. Typically, you’ll spend as much or more for engineered quartz countertops as you will for granite. The downside to wooden butcher block countertops is that they require frequent maintenance. The good news is that minor damages such as scratches and small burns can typically be sanded out. Concrete countertops used to crack and chip easily, but material innovations have addressed these issues. Generally made with paper pressed between plastic resins and bonded to particle board or plywood, laminate is durable but easily damaged. The upside is that it comes in a wide range of colors and textures that mimic higher-end materials at a much lower cost.

Common Remodeling Countertop Installation Mistakes by cadpro.com

Experts say some common remodeling countertop installation mistakes stand to tank your investment and cost you thousands of dollars to repair. When saving your old backsplash this forces your pros to work around old tile, which can cause problems with measurements and fit and usually causes serious cosmetic issues. Number two, many times the cabinets aren’t level, so the installer must shim the countertop up to the highest point. Using clear or not color-matched epoxy will call attention to your seams. These epoxies are pre-matched to your countertops which leads to no guesswork. Always talk to a professional to get a real idea of what your job is going to cost. It’s crucial to know the type of maintenance your countertops will need to retain their beauty and luster over time and to choose a material that realistically suits budget, tastes and lifestyle. You will also want to clean the surface with soap and water, and do not use any kind of acidic cleaner, because acid will eat up the finish and cause a dull finish. While your countertop installer may be able to tackle minor plumbing tasks, it’s best to hire a licensed professional. If you’re taking off laminate and installing a heavy stone like granite or quartz, you will be adding an extra 300 or 400 pounds to that three-quarter-inch support. So here is a suggestion to avoid these common remodeling countertop installation mistakes; cut off the raised bar and open-up your counter space. Failing to do this puts your counters — especially natural stone like granite — under a ton of pressure. There should never be more than 10 inches of unsupported countertop overhang, especially with granite or other stone materials. If you’re planning on having a longer overhang, support it with a piece of flat steel that goes under the countertop. Number one, leaving your old backsplash compromises the ability to create a proper template, and that results in a poorly fitting countertop altogether. That means your new countertops won’t fit under the old backsplash, leaving an uneven line along the back. In fact, using the wrong kind of epoxy can make your countertop seams obvious and ugly. A good contractor will use a space-age, computer-matched epoxy that works within different color ranges. If you install granite, you will want to use a cutting board when prepping food. It’s important to always have a licensed master plumber working on any type of remodeling projects that requires any plumbing to be moved or replaced, this will save you money in the long run. There’s normally a three-quarter-inch piece of plywood that is attached to most bar tops. If someone sits or jumps on it, it could all come down and possibly cause injury to someone. It’s stronger and safer while adding a feeling of a larger space. Always make sure your countertops are level with the highest point of your cabinets. This can cause the entire slab to break and crack resulting in additional cost. Never allow your material, especially natural stone, to hang out too far without the proper support. Overhangs on islands or peninsulas are common places where this happens.