If you’re in the market for countertops, make this your mantra: Countertops are more than just looks. When shopping around, the first thing you should do is think about how you use your kitchen—and then choose the counter that best fits your lifestyle. A high traffic area with heavy use, for example, requires a surface that’s resistant to stain and durable. If you’re set on a certain aesthetic that doesn’t fit with your family’s functional needs, the good news is that there’s probably a similar countertop style out there that will work. Learn the ins and outs of the seven most popular countertop materials on the market today.
Cava International in Philadelphia, PA is a great place if you're looking for counter tops - anything they dont have they will bring in for you.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cava-International-Design-Studios/1152904...
What about copper counter tops?
I put in Granite due to cost, then my friend put in Soapstone. I screwed up. What a gorgeous countertop.
Add a comment What is easiest to maintain granite or soapstone?
would you recomend to use a buthcher blok as a countertop ? thx
We have concrete countertops and I've been disappointed with the durability. For example, we made coffee in our French press and when we lifted it up, there was a white looking stain. A rough, dull texture occurs around the sink faucet where water sometimes gets on the counter. Also, underneath the counter where one sits to eat on barstools, it looks completely unfinished underneath. I mean rough, unsmoothed, discolored concrete. It makes it seem cheap or unfinished. It's been sealed but we must be doing something wrong. Is it supposed to be so temperamental?
A local fabricator told me that he could "stain" granite to add a splash of color to it (I was looking for just a hint of turquoise). What do you know about this process and what do you think of it??
Is Quartz more or less expensive (on average) than granite?
Quartz can be about 30% to 50% more expensive than granite, but it's because it has way more to offer. You can learn more about its larger range of color choices from granite, its reputation of being maintinence free and its versitility in our article, " The Benefits of Quartz Counters in Your Kitchen"
Thanks, I needed that!
Better kitchen than any of the others. The colours, while not warm & inviting at least aren't jarring. The marble, is it a cleaning nightmare?
Actually, this section is not entirely accurate. There is no such thing as 'engineered concrete' that is impervious to staining. But I'll start at the beginning. Concrete can be poured, sprayed, or hand-packed into a mold. It can be embellished with virtually anything, either in a specific pattern or throughout the whole piece. Color can be part of the mix itself (integral) or it can be acid stained brown or green after it's cured. For kitchens, no contractor worth his salt will try to sell an unsealed concrete countertop. Sealers are essential, but there are a dozen or more on the market, most aren't very reliable. It's important to get a fabricator who knows what they're doing and who will tell you specifically the exact strengths and weaknesses of the particular sealer they're going to use. If you get the right stuff, and take care of it the way you're supposed to, your countertops will look brand-new indefinitely. Costs are comparable to high-end granite (anyone selling it for less than $60/sq ft doesn't know what they're doing).
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