Counter
Tops
There are some great choices in counter
top material to chose from. This section will cover the most
common choices.
Most people are already familiar with formica, and
ceramic tile. Most home kitchen remodel projects will involve
replacing those counter tops with the more modern materials such as
Corian, engineered stone and granite. For those of you more
daring, you might even consider a cement counter top. Modern
choices including engineered stone and granite require reinforcing the
supporting cabinets.
Older materials such as formica or ceramic tile have
disadvantages which is why they are typically replaced with some of the
other choices in a remodel project. Formica is subject to heat
damage and easily scratched. Ceramic tile can chip and keeping the
grout clean can be a chore. If you have a ceramic tile counter
top, chances are the grout has become quite soiled and undesirable.
Below are some of the more popular alternatives.
Corian
Corian is a countertop material made by the DuPont
company. It is a very popular countertop choice. It is
available in over 130 colors.
It is a non-porous material which means that stains will
not seep into the counter top. While it is scratch resistant, it
is not recommended to cut right on the surface because you need to avoid
scratching it. You can repair minor scratches yourself.
You must not place hot pots and pans directly on the
surface. Any damage to the counter top can usually be repaired by
a professional.
Following the manufacturer's care instructions can make
your counter top look great for a long time.
Engineered Stone
Engineered stone is made up of a composite of quartz
stone and other material. It has many advantages over natural
stone such as granite, at roughly the same price range. It is a
non-porous material so it does not need to be sealed. It will not
crack and you should be able to get a lifetime warranty.
You will also get an even, consistent look in the color
of the stone over the entire countertop. With all these great
advantages, why would you chose granite?
Granite
The answer to the above question is clear. The
reason you go with granite is because you love the natural look of
granite.
We love the natural variations in color, the swirls, and
the splotches. If you don't like all the variations and want a
consistent look, then you should go with one of the other choices.
Having to re-seal the granite in my opinion is a totally
over-sold issue by people trying to sell you engineered stone. I
have had our granite for over two years now and have only re-sealed it
twice and I didn't think the second time was really necessary. The
process is as simple as just wiping on the sealant.
Get a good quality sealant and re-sealing will be rare.
It is true that granite can crack. They will not
place a warranty on it. If the granite cracks in half while they
are installing it, it's your problem. But I asked granite guys
about that and they said while possible they have never heard of it
happening.
The other issue is that the surface of granite is not
completely smooth even after they have polished it. If you run
your fingernail over it, you will catch all the tiny imperfections.
There was a small divit in one area that we needed filled
in, on the island. They used black epoxy to fill it in, and thanks
to the kind of granite we chose, you would never be able to find it. |
