A while back I wote an article about how to upgrade your kitchen on a tight budget. In the article I outline some very basic ideas for sprucing up your kitchen without having to spend tens of thousands for a complete remodel. I want to go into a little more detail in this article about the countertops selection. Whether you are remodeling your kitchen on your own, or you are having a general contractor take care of it, you need to educate your self on the pros and cons of each possibility. As you’ll see below, I’ve broken up your options into low end, middle and high end.
Low end
Laminates:
Pros: inexpensive ($35-$45 per sq. foot); fairly easy to clean
Cons: very cheap; not heat resistant; easily damaged, scratched or chipped; porous
Consensus: avoid laminates unless all you care about is cost
Ceramic Tile:
Pros: cost; heat resistant; can get creative with the tile; can be a do-it-yourself project
Cons: grout; can be hard to clean; needs to be resealed often; can crack
Consensus: Ceramic tile allows you to get creative when installing it, but be very careful about the grout installation and making sure it stays sealed
Middle
Solid surface:
Pros: durability; sand-ability
Cons: appearance
Consensus: Not cheap, but not as expensive as stainless steel or granite. It’s all man-made material that can easily be sanded if scratched or gouged. A decent solution, but nothing to write home about
High end
Natural or engineered stone:
Pros: appearance
Cons: somewhat expensive ($50-$100 per sq. feet), natural stone (granite, quartz, slate) can be porous, while engineered stone holds up better
Consensus: If you’re looking to sell your home or give your kitchen a more sleek and elegant look then definitely consider stone
Stainless Steel:
Pros: appearance
Cons: expensive, questionable durability, may stain or corrode without significant care or maintenance
Consensus: Even pricier than stone ($100-$200 per sq. foot). Unless you love this look and are ready to maintain it (or sell your home), stone may give you more “bang for your buck”
Concrete:
Pros: can get extremely creative with colors and texturing; truly a custom look
Cons: expensive (up to $100 per sq. foot); very porous
Consensus: While you can be as creative as your mind desires with concrete, I don’t recommend concrete as a countertop for anything but outdoor kitchens.
It is important do your research when deciding on a countertop. The best countertop for your kitchen depends on your exact needs. Consulting with a well-established, professional general contractor is also a great idea. For more information on kitchen remodeling in San Diego contact San Diego kitchen remodeler Greyhound General today, or call 800-568-7108.