Countertops are quite important as they help beautify your kitchen or bathroom. Choosing the right countertop material can be tricky as the material is going to be there for many years (they don’t come cheap), and it will have a profound effect on the value of your home.
CHECK OUT: HOUSES FOR SALE IN ABUJA
Kitchen countertops can be found in so many materials, so before investing on such a major part of your kitchen, here are 8 top materials for kitchen countertops, highlighting their pros and cons, so you can select the right one for your space.
Contents
1. Granite countertops
Granite countertops don’t come cheap, so if you have nothing to worry about like money, granite is the top countertop material. It is an elegant material that can make the most modest kitchen look exquisite.
Pros – Granite countertops hold up heat really well, comes in a variety of colours and it’s almost maintenance free.
Cons – Your knives can become dull if you cut on it and it can crack if stressed or improperly installed.
2. Quartz countertops
Engineered stone otherwise called quartz is practically maintenance free. It comes in a larger range of colours than granite and it has a nonporous surface.
Pros – Does not require the annual sealing like natural stone, It is resistant to acid, scratch and stain. It is heat and impact resistant.
Cons – It is expensive.
3. Laminate countertops
Laminate is one of the budget-friendly materials you can use a kitchen countertop. The emergence of new patterns that resemble natural stone has made it a popular choice.
Pros – Laminate comes in a lot of colours, they are easy to maintain, durable and inexpensive.
Cons – Scratches and chips on it, are almost impossible to repair and the seams show not giving it an exquisite look.
CHECK OUT: SELF-CONTAIN APARTMENTS FOR RENT IN ABUJA
4. Wood countertops
Wood countertops otherwise called butcher-block countertops are warm budget-friendly options ideal for food prep even chopping meat. Unlike laminate, wood is highly heat-resistant so you don’t have to worry about putting hot pots and pans on the surface.
Pros – Wood countertops are easy to clean; smooth; can be sanded and resealed as needed.
Cons – It can be damaged by water and stains over time; scratches must be oiled or sealed according to manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Ceramic tile countertops
Ceramic tile countertops happen to be a great choice if you are looking for affordability and maintenance. You can even decide to mix and match or even fix it yourself if you have the skills and time.
Pros – Ceramic tile countertops are heat-resistant, easy to clean, available in a wide range of colours, textures and design.
Cons – Tiles can easily chip or crack, the grout lines become stained over time and the counter surface is always uneven.
6. Marble countertops
Marble countertops are currently the darling of the design world, but because of its extremely high price tag, marble is not often seen on the countertops of the whole kitchen.
Pros – It is waterproof, heatproof and very beautiful.
Cons – Marble countertops are expensive, porous and can scratch. Marble stains easily unless professionally sealed and may need resealing periodically.
CHECK OUT: LAND FOR SALE IN LAGOS
7. Soapstone countertops
Soapstone can be found generally in dark grey and often seen in historic homes. It is highly stained and bacteria resistant and has a smooth feel. Despite its historic look, a lot of modern homes have incorporated soapstone as both a countertop and sink material.
Pros – It is stain resistant, available in a range of grey tones from light to dark, all with subtle veining and does not require yearly sealing.
Cons – Require regular maintenance available in a range of grey tones from light to dark, all with subtle veining.
8. Concrete countertops
Concrete countertops are beautiful but a bit on the pricey side and really good for countertops in unusual shapes as they’re often cast right in your kitchen.
Pros – Concrete countertops are heat and scratch resistant, can be colour tinted, looks exotic and unusual.
Cons – It can be expensive due to custom work, cracking is possible, can look somewhat industrial; porous but can be sealed.
