Changing Your Kitchen Counters
Extensive remodeling and redecorating of the kitchen can be
an expensive proposition. However, there is one thing you
can do to give your kitchen a bright new look without breaking
your budget. Replacing your old counters with new ones will
help you bring new life to the room, and it won't cost you
a fortune. After all, studies show that after the cabinets,
the counters are the thing that people notice and remember
most in your kitchen. Therefore, if the counters are ugly
or outdated, it will leave a less-than-stellar impression
on guests. However, contemporary counters in an attractive
style and color will dazzle your visitors and your family
as well.
As
you're preparing to re-do the counters, keep in mind that
your counters are used almost every day. Thus, it's important
that they are made from strong materials that will last
through a lot of beatings. There are several materials that
you might choose for your counter tops:
1)
Quartz is a material that is quite durable and has a pleasant,
smooth finish to it. It also has the advantage of requiring
very little maintenance to keep its great appearance. Plus
it does a stellar job of resisting heat and scratches. The
one down side to quartz is the expense: It generally costs
more than any of the other materials. Still, those who opt
for quartz counters rarely regret the investment.
2)
Ceramic tile is growing in popularity as a counter top material.
Home owners like it because it is heat resistant and durable.
it's also quick and easy to install. There are many different
colors available for ceramic tile, and it can easily be
managed with any kitchen's color. On the other hand, keep
in mind that ceramic tile is easily cracked if you drop
something heavy on it or slam something hard down on it.
Also, when installing it, it's not uncommon to find that
the counter winds up not perfectly even.
3)
Stone counter tops are extremely attractive, and provide
a nice, smooth finish. They are durable and are very good
at resisting hot, cold and water. There are many stone styles
available in a great variety of textures. The disadvantages
of stone are that they are a bit hard to remove when scratched,
plus a stone counter top can be somewhat expensive.
4)
Plastic laminate counters are what most homes have in their
kitchens. The reason is probably cost: Plastic laminate
is the least expensive counter available. They also have
the advantages of being simple to clean and install, plus
there is a huge variety available: all manner of patterns
and colors. The disadvantages: Excessive heat can damage
the counter top, and when laid, usually the seams will be
visible on the counter surface.
5)
Solid surface counters, in contrast to plastic laminate,
leave a seamless appearance after installed. They are resistant
to water and heat, plus if you ever scratch it, you can
easily sand out the scratch. The down side is that they
can be fairly expensive. Plus there aren't as many color
options available as with plastic laminate.
Feel
like getting really creative? Some people have effectively
combined surface types in their kitchen. For instance, someone
could put in a quartz or stone surface around the stove
area, but put a plastic laminate around the sink. This gives
a touch of the class that the stone or quartz would provide,
but helps you keep within your budget by incorporating the
plastic laminate. There are many creative ways you can improve
the look of your countertops--and if you plan it well, it
won't break you, either!