When it comes to most popular rooms to remodel, bathrooms are at the top of the chart at 81 percent. But trailing just behind bathrooms by just three percent? Kitchens.
Remodeling your kitchen is a big project, but highly rewarding in the end when you have a beautiful area to cook in. Kitchen countertops are the place to start your remodel. Here’s how.
Kitchen Countertops: How to Choose What’s Best for You
When it comes to kitchen remodeling, your countertop is one of the most important parts. It’s the centerpiece of your kitchen, and where you’re going to be doing the most preparing – and probably eating. Get the best one the first time.
Maybe you’re doing it because you’re tired of your countertop, or maybe you’re trying to increase the appeal of your home in preparation to sell. Either way, it’s time to get a fresh look for your kitchen.
Questions to Ask
Before you decide what type of kitchen countertops to choose from, ask yourself a few standard questions to start guiding the process.
What’s Your Budget?
Surprise, surprise. Some kitchen countertops cost most than others. They also widely vary in price, from twenty dollars to a hundred dollars per square foot.
When you’re getting a cheap countertop, you’re paying for what you’re getting. Keep in mind how durable the material you’re choosing is.
What Amount of Maintenance Will You Put in?
That brings us to our next question: how often do you want to repair your countertop?
Some materials, like limestone, marble, or granite, need to be sealed yearly. Manmade materials require less upkeep. Consider how much work you’re going to be willing to put into the maintenance of your countertop year in and year out.
How Will You Use Them?
Assess the way you use your current kitchen, and realistically apply that to the types of counters you’re looking into. If they’re counters that will wear easily, take the previous question into account. You might not want to endure constant repairs for your new kitchen countertops.
However, if you’re looking for a counter that’s more for serving and for show than it is for preparing food, choose any of the softer tops you’dl like soapstone or wood.
Are You Living on the Edge?
By this we mean that you need to choose the kind of edge your countertop will have. It’s not something that’s often thought about, but actually makes a huge difference in your kitchen. Kitchen countertops that don’t have rounded angles are going to cause injuries if they’re jutting out, waiting to get bumped into.
Rounded edges are popular, but can be difficult to maintain. The eased edge is going to be the easiest to clean because of its flat design. Bullnose edges are one of the most popular styles and look good with basically any countertop material.
The Material
Choosing the material for your kitchen countertop is the most important decision that you’re going to make. Whatever material you choose, it’s going to stay with you for years. An informed decision will ensure that you love that counter for the years to come.
Granite
Granite easily clocks in as one of the most popular countertop materials, especially when money isn’t an issue.
This material does very well under heat, and when it’s freshly sealed, doesn’t require much maintenance throughout the years. However, it does require frequent sealing in general. Overall, it adds value to the home and looks beautiful, but could be a poor choice on a strict budget.
If you’re looking at Silestone and wondering if it’s a good option to consider besides granite, then click here to learn more.
Marble
There are no two marble countertops that are the same, because every sheet of marble is unique. This property alone makes it expensive. It also needs to be sealed and can be easily scratched.
Still, your marble countertop will stand up to the highest temperatures and gives any kitchen an elegant feel.
Laminates
In basically direct opposition to marble and granite, laminates are going to be a great choice for those looking for a cheaper material option for their kitchen countertops. They even allow for DIY installation, so you can cut back the cost there if necessary.
You will be dealing with visible seams if you choose a laminate countertop, and it will be fairly obvious that you have a laminate countertop. Still, there are thousands of options out there for you to consider with laminates, and you can make it just the color and style you want it to be.
Wood
Wood brings warmth to your kitchen like no other countertop material can. Usually, you’ll choose from hardwoods like oak or maple.
With wooden countertops, you’ll need to oil and seal them often. If they’re not maintained properly, then bacteria can grow. The wood can also be cut or scratched.
Wood does wear well with time if it’s maintained, though, and can bring a natural, quaint vibe into your kitchen in a fairly simple way.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel gives you the most contemporary look of all the countertops. Bringing a modern style, it’s also very easy to clean. It gives real estate value to your home because it’s thought of as a premium material.
You might have guessed that stainless steel will cost you, because it needs to be fabricated and can be custom fit to your kitchen. It’s also fairly easy to scratch, and might make you adverse to cutting anything on it.
Other contenders
If you’re not doing with your material search, there are many others to consider. Before you put in the final say on your kitchen countertop, you can look at concrete, butcher block, ceramic tile, solid-surface material, engineered stone, and others. Make sure that you’re aware of all your options before putting in the final say.
Prepare for Your Remodel
Doing a remodel in your kitchen, even if it’s only your kitchen countertops, isn’t easy.
That’s why you’ve got to get prepared before you remodel. You’ll never realize how much you used your kitchen until you’re not able to use it for the duration of your remodel.
At Realty Digital Marketing, you can get ready with the tips and tricks they’ve provided you. Living without a kitchen for a little bit? No problem, you’ve got this under control.
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