I was aiding my little girl having her kitchen area redesigned lately. She was having troubles attempting to decide on a new countertop material. Walking through the counters area in Home Depot gave her a few ideas, but she was still uncertain when the moment involved pick a month later on. I made a decision to draw up a quick comparison of all the materials and prices for her and also when I was done I assumed other individuals may locate it helpful also, so right here goes.
Many people are familiar with laminate counter tops. (Formica is one brand.) They're a thin surface of high-pressure laminate applied to a thicker base of plywood or particleboard. Pluses: The standby, available in literally thousands of patterns and also shades, laminates are the least costly (beside tile) and durable, needing less upkeep than floor tile. Minuses: Easy to blister with warm pots and pans, the use of layers in their construction makes it complicated to repair chips, show scrapes, particularly lighter colors, so not useful as a cutting surface area. Much less durable than all-natural stone or strong surface; usage with under install sinks is not recommended. Price: $25 to $50 foot
Solid appearing, (brand Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite and Surrell) a more recent countertop product, is durable and also imitates the look of natural stone products like marble or granite. Pluses: Offers seamless surfaces, very easy to take care of. High influence resistance, easily fixed, impermeable and smooth, so will not trap dirt, accumulate bacteria or discolor; conveniently. Minuses: May melt from warm pot; looks non-natural in some color schemes, certified service provider required for installment and repair. Price: $60 to $110 per foot
All-natural timbers. Made use of in butcher-block style plan. Maple, oak and also other woods, make sturdy as well as sophisticated countertops. Pluses: Great surface area for cutting foods; scratches quickly fixed by fining sand; easy match with timber closets and also floors. Minuses: Needs a surface to maintain look, might scorch with hot kitchenware, permits microbial development, so requires normal cleansing. Not practical for entire countertop-- great for little sections. Expense: $50 to $75 per foot.
Granite. Popular for their sophisticated and also abundant appearance, natural stone counter tops will certainly last much longer than a lot of kitchen areas. Pluses: Contributes to value of home, hard durable surface area, really warmth resistant. Minuses: extremely expensive, requires treatment given that it is permeable as well as should be sealed occasionally, oil will stain. Price: 60 to $200 per foot for granite $60 to $130 per foot for marble (spots quickly and not advised for food preparation countertop).
Ceramic or Porcelain Floor Tile: This is the kitchen counter material my little girl was changing. While the counters were in rather poor shape, refurbishing was an option. Tile has a comforting, timeless look as well as is cost-effective. Ands also: Easy to tidy up after a mess. Extra heat immune than laminates solid surface areas, cost-effective, unless you are thinking of custom-made or hand-painted tiles. Minuses: Can chip and also fracture conveniently; requirements regular upkeep to maintain germs out of cement. Scrubbing grout. Cost: $10 to $25 per foot.
So, what kitchen counter material did she pick in the end? For it's practical cost and also reparability, Corian got the nod for the brand-new kitchen. We located a color that was really close to a granite appearance and also we also suched as the 10 years warranty.