Welcome To Countertops Guide!
If you are looking to update your kitchen, but cannot afford to redo the entire kitchen, you should look into replacing your kitchen countertops. By changing out your countertops you can give the entire kitchen a completely new look. There are many options to choose from and you can find one that is in your price range.
With so many choices you should get some professional advice from either your local home improvement store, or go to a custom cabinet shop. Both of them will have samples and ideas to help you get the new countertop that will look perfect in your kitchen.
When you are shopping around for your new kitchen countertops take along one of your existing cabinet doors. This will help you in your color selection as there are literally hundreds to choose from, and most companies will allow you to take a few laminate samples home with you, but very few will let you take home their higher end samples like Corian or granite.
If you want to get an accurate price on what it will cost, take a sketch of the counter you want to replace. Make sure that you include all the measurements. Most companies that give quotes will not give them to you without measurements. The reason for this is because they want to see exactly what is involved. For example, is your kitchen counter top a straight line, or does make more of an “L” shape? Once they have determined exactly what is involved then they can give you an accurate price.
Different Types of Kitchen Countertops
Countertops are made from a variety of materials, you have natural material such as granite, quartz, or soapstone or you can choose man-made products like Corian, laminate, or stainless steel. Each type has some pros and cons.
Granite Countertops - Granite is a natural material and is very durable, it is now becoming more reasonable priced and there are a variety of colors to choose from. One of the biggest downfalls of using granite is that it is porous and needs to be sealed once or twice a year.
Quartz Countertops - Quartz is also a natural material but it is a non-porous surface and virtually maintenance free. It is however not 100% scratch resistance and though it may have a high heat tolerance, it can be scorched.
Soapstone Countertops - Soapstone is a natural stone that is usually imported, easy to maintain and beautiful to look at. The big down fall with soapstone is your color choice is somewhat limited.
Corian Countertops - Corian is an acrylic that is man-made. The best part of Corian is that it is easy to take care of and if you should happen to burn or scratch it, you can easily restore it back to mint condition. The only downfall to using Corian is that it is still priced higher than most other options.
Laminate Countertops - Laminate has been around for a long time. There are hundreds of colors to choose from and it is very affordable. One of the biggest cons for using laminate is that if you scratch or mar the laminate in anyway, it is not repairable.
Stainless Steel Countertops - Stainless steel is starting to be used more and more in the home. It is very sanitary and stain resistant. It is still a little pricey for the average homeowner and you are somewhat limited in the different designs you can make.
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