Choosing the right countertops for your kitchen or bathroom can be tricky, but it can also be a fun experience! There’s a variety of options in a wide range of styles, colors, and prices. Understandably, many homeowners fall in love with a material based on its looks alone. But, it’s also important to consider how well each material:
- Resists stains
- Handles heat
- Repels cuts, abrasions, and impacts
Fortunately, durability and ease of maintenance are two important characteristics that all of our granite and quartz countertops offer.
Here’s how to decide which material is right for what are often the most used rooms in your home:
What to Look For
Countertops are one of the most important selections you make during a kitchen renovation or bathroom remodeling project. They play a big role in the room’s style, so they need to look great. But, they also take a lot of wear and tear, so they should be able to stand up to whatever’s thrown at them. Before deciding, ask yourself these 3 questions:
- How will the surface be used? Are you a weekend chef, or do you prep three or more meals a day? Is your bathroom remodel for a new master suite or an updated space for kids and teenagers?
- How much do you want to spend? In addition to price per square foot, you want to think about how the material will be used. Are you installing customized countertops in the kitchen? Does the bathroom design call for a small vanity top or a large double sink?
- What’s your personal style? For example, if you like a traditional kitchen but want to give it a unique look, choose granite because every slab has its one-of-a-kind appearance. If you live the typical hectic lifestyle of a young family, quartz is beautiful yet easy to maintain. Quartz can be ideal for kitchens and baths that see a lot of wear and tear.
Pros and Cons of Different Surfaces
For premium kitchen countertops, the most popular choices are granite and engineered stone. Since you can expect to spend up to 15% of your remodeling budget on countertops and installation, it’s worth weighing all of your options carefully.
Granite Countertops. No other material says upscale and elegant quite like granite. The natural stone’s classic good looks, durability, and heat resistance make it a favorite for many homeowners. While granite is scratch resistant, it does require regular sealing and is prone to chips if hard or heavy objects are dropped on it. Still, with its unique made-by-nature appearance, there are good reasons it remains at the top of many people’s list.
Quartz comes in a wide range of dazzling options that make for dramatic kitchen or bathroom countertops. It’s a non-porous, stain-resistant material that’s easy-to-clean. The material is unique in its color, brilliancy, and clarity while combining durability with strength. Variations in this engineered surface’s color, patterns, and shades give it an appearance that beautifully mimics natural stone.
Making Your Selection
There was a time homeowners were thrilled with their small laminate prep area between the sink and stove. Today, there are hundreds of textures, colors, and patterns available in a variety of materials. No matter what your budget or lifestyle, one is sure to be exactly right for your upcoming kitchen or bathroom remodel.
At Kingswood Designs, all of our countertop materials offer luxurious finishes that can be used in creative ways. Need some help in choosing the right ones for your remodel? Visit our showroom and on-site fabrication shop. We have all the information you need to make the right decision! To learn more about all your countertop options, including customization, give us a call today.