Today's Article

Choosing Your Kitchen Counter Tops

POW! BOOM! SCRAP! SCATCH! GOUGE! CRUCNH! All of that sounds pretty brutal doesn’t it? Those are some of the sounds the average kitchen counter will endure through the years. Over any other surface in your home, the kitchen counter will receive the most brutal of punishments. When choosing counter tops for your St. Louis kitchen remodeling project, the choice you make will either save you money or make you spend more money in the long run. There are two things you need to focus on when choosing kitchen counter tops, beauty and durability. Today, there is such a wide range of brands and styles to choose from, how do you pick? Let’s go over some of the materials to choose from.

Soapstone is known for its rich deep dark grey color and smooth finish. A very beautiful choice but does require some maintenance of mineral oil applications and only somewhat stain resistant.

Stainless steel will give you that contemporary industrial look. They are heat resistant and very durable though noisy and may dent. They can be fairly expensive and are not the best to cut on. Hardwood/butcher block will give you that warm beauty your desire. They come in a variety of colors and finishes, can be sanded and refinished as needed. They are a great choice though they can be damaged by water and stains so maintenance is a must.

Laminates are made of plastic coated synthetic materials which come in many different colors and are inexpensive. They are easily cleaned though they are prone to scratches and chips which are impossible to repair.

Ceramic tiles are easy to clean and durable. That combined with the fact that they are very inexpensive makes them a great choice for kitchen counter tops. There are some down falls to ceramic tile though. They create a somewhat unlevel surface and can crack. If a tile is cracked, it must be replaced.

Engineered stone is another great choice. Made of 93% quartz particles, they are very durable and come in a large range of different colors. Though they can be expensive, they are nonporous, scratch and stain resistant.

Granite is by far the best choice for kitchen counter tops. They are fairly expensive but becoming very affordable with their growing popularity. Granite is the epitome of elegance in kitchen counter tops. Granite will last a life time with its durability and newer sealers are virtually maintenance free. They can crack if too much stress is applied and can stain if not sealed.

Though some better than others, any of the materials listed above would be a great choice as long as the right care is taken. When deciding on the material, keep in mind the theme you are going with in your kitchen remodeling. Though most come in such a wide range of colors, you will want to make sure the material you decide on comes in a color that will match your theme. Choosing kitchen counter tops can be exciting so have fun with it.