Choosing New Countertops

Redoing your kitchen countertops can bring some exciting change to your home, but the choices can be overwhelming. These days, you have countless options at your fingertips with hundreds of unique patterns, textures, and colors for a finished look. You can even choose from a variety of materials that have great benefits for cooking, cleaning, and aesthetic appeal. Take a look at the most popular countertop materials to help you choose what's best for your home.

Natural Stone Countertops

Natural stone is a beautiful and strong look for your kitchen, and is usually made from granite, slate, or soapstone. Granite used to be a material only found in kitchens of the elite, high-end homes can bring that gorgeous sense of luxury to most homes today at a more affordable price. Granite offers a wide range of natural colors, from vivid blues, deep greens, to midnight black. If treated properly, natural stone countertops will last a lifetime and make cleaning a much easier process.

Solid Surfaces

Countertops done in solid surfacing materials are made from acrylic and polyester. This is a popular choice because of its resistance to scratches and stains. Also, solid-surface countertops are a breeze to repair. Another benefit of solid surfaces is that you can essentially have it done in any color and pattern, even imitating natural stone! Although some prefer the authenticity of real stone, solid surfaces are incredibly flexible and versatile in terms of design and style, and offer a much more affordable alternative.

Concrete

Concrete countertops have been growing in popularity and can bring a modern look to your kitchen. Customers with concrete counters like them for their smooth, flat, and customized looks. They are even available in custom colors that can be mixed into the cement before it is set.

Ceramic Tile

Although most people prefer a solid surface for the majority of their countertops, ceramic tile can create a beautiful backsplash or a funky design in a lesser used area, like islands or peninsulas. If you choose ceramic tile for your countertop, be sure to find floor-grade tile, as wall-grade tile is more likely to crack if used in a heavy-use countertop.

Wood

Wood countertops have decreased in popularity over time, due to the prominence and affordable availability of natural stone. Also, full wood counters require a significant amount of maintenance to keep the surface looking oiled and sharp. Like ceramic tile, however, wood counter can make a great decorative backsplash or design in a low-use area.