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Questions to Ask When Choosing Kitchen Counter tops

best quartz countertop

Kitchen countertops play a major role as they serve as a kitchen workhorse and a showpiece. The countertops you select during your remodel should be durable, stain resistant, heat resistant, nonporous and elegant. Choosing a countertop that has all these qualities is not easy and can make one feel disconcerted. Your countertop is an investment and it’s important that you make the right decision.

To make the choosing process less intimidating we tell you questions you should ask yourself and get advice from the granite countertop installers before you select the kitchen countertop.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

How will you use your countertops?

It’s important that you assess how you are going to use the countertop. If you have a busy kitchen the countertop you choose should be able to withstand the activities in your kitchen without being extra careful. If you run a restaurant you need to get a countertop that can withstand hot pans, stain resistant without wearing off too quickly. Quartz countertops will be able to withstand busy kitchens while granite will work for an outdoor kitchen island. It’s imperative that you analyze the kind of activities in your kitchen and select the countertop that suits you. If you cannot decide whether your kitchen is high traffic or not, talk to the experts at the granite company on the best countertop for your kitchen.

How much maintenance can you handle?

Different countertops require a different amount of care. Some materials are resilient while others require a lot of care. You need to be realistic on how much effort you are willing to put to maintain your countertop. Granite countertops require resealing every two years while Quartz countertop doesn’t require to be sealed. Assess the demands of each countertop carefully before you settle for that material. If your kitchen has little activity, the care and maintenance are minimal.

What are your kitchen requirements?

It’s important to know the number of linear feet you require. With the requirements, you will be able to get quotations for various materials and compare. It’s important that you work within your budget.

What materials brings out your style?

The material you choose should give your kitchen an elegant look. Choose the material that will bring out style, but also one that will last long.

Questions to Ask the Countertop Experts

Before selection below are some of the questions to ask the granite installer or fabricator.

What is the best Countertop for Your Kitchen?

Once you have given the experts your requirement, its best to ask for their expert advice on what will work best for you. The granite countertop installer will be able to give you advice on which countertop to choose depending on the state of your kitchen, your lifestyle and the traffic.

Where are the seams going to be located?

It’s important to confirm where the seams will be located. The granite countertop installer will be able to tell where the seams will be and whether they will be visible. Depending on the shape of your kitchen, it may not be possible to avoid seams

How will you maintain your Countertop?

The expert at the countertop company should be able to advise you on how best to maintain your top. Seek advice on the detergents you should use to keep your countertop looking good. Different surfaces require different care practices and you need to choose the one you can handle. Quartz countertop doesn’t require much care while you may need to reseal granite or marble countertops.

Ask About Certification and Experience

Your countertop is an investment and it’s imperative that the installer has the expertise and experience to do a professional installation. Confirm the installer is certified and they have the expertise to install the countertop without damaging it.

Ask about the quotation

Ask for a quotation and confirm any cost that you don’t understand. It’s best to work with a granite company that installs and delivers as that will make your work easier. Confirm that all the cost is in the quotation to avoid surprises.

The kitchen countertop you choose will cost you money and determine how your kitchen will appear. Its therefore important that the countertop products NC you use is durable, functional and gives your kitchen an elegant look. Whether you choose granite countertop, marble or solid surface countertop make sure you bring out style.

Straight talk about solid surface countertops

Solid surface is a great manmade countertop material. This material is combination of acrylic and polyester. The solid surface countertops can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, decks and even in commercial kitchens. This surface is durable and easy to maintain. It is capable of withstanding daily wear and tear with grace. There are plenty of reasons to opt for the solid surface countertops over convectional countertop surfaces, such as marble, granite, quartz and tiles.

Choosing solid surface countertops

Solid surface countertops are gaining popularity these days among interior decoration experts. In fact, several home improvement magazines have featured the solid surface countertops, and highly recommended for kitchens and bathrooms. These countertops are capable of transforming any mediocre space into plush area. It brightens up the aura of the room where it is installed.

Benefits of solid surface countertops

Variety: Since solid surface countertops are manufactured in factories, they are available in variety of designs. You can find plenty of colors and textures in the solid surface countertops. You can even finish it with polished or matte.

Beauty: Solid surface countertops look incredibly beautiful in kitchens. Their presence can actually increase the value of your kitchen. Since they are available in plenty of colors, you can find a perfectly matching countertop to complement your kitchen décor.

Durability: Solid surface countertops are engineered to bear the load and stress of busy kitchens. They are highly durable and strong. You can enjoy beauty and strength of this countertop surface for a long period of time.

Low-maintenance: Solid surface countertops do not require much maintenance. They don’t get stained easily. Moreover, you can easily clean them using soap water and cloth.

Hygienic surface: Solid surface do not harbor bacteria. This makes them apt choice for kitchen countertops as well as bathroom countertops. You can enjoy this aseptically clean surface in both kitchen and bathroom.

Repair: Unlike natural stone countertop surfaces, solid surface countertops can be repaired if they are broken. You can hire a contractor and get your countertop repaired.

Cost: In terms of cost, solid surface countertops are cheaper than natural stone countertops. This countertop is a great investment as well.

Interesting facts about kitchen countertops

Kitchen countertop installation is a big decision, both in terms of longevity and cost of the material. There are so many types of countertop materials available today. Finding the apt countertop surface from the crowd of luring materials is not an easy task. However, it is important to pay attention while selecting the kitchen countertop. No matter you are looking material for kitchen countertop replacement or fresh install, your countertop will play an important role in building the look and feel of your kitchen. The better is your countertop choice, the more luxurious your kitchen will look.

Kitchen countertop choice

The role of countertop in kitchen is more functional then aesthetic. Along with look, you should consider other aspects while choosing the countertop material for your kitchen island. In order to install the best countertop in your kitchen, you must understand the pros and cons of various countertops.

Granite Slabs

Granite slabs are one of the most popular countertop surface options. These slabs look amazingly good and offer world-class working substance. Granite is durable, scratch resistant, heat resistant and germ resistant material. It can bear the daily wear and tear of the busy kitchens.

Pros:

Increases the value of kitchens
Look incredibly good
Come with little or no seams

Cons:

Requires regular sealing
Quite expensive

Quartz Countertop

Quartz is a perfectly engineered material for kitchens, especially commercial kitchens. This material is made up of f pulverized waste rock and resins. This material is ideal for kitchens because it has attributes of natural stone as well as manmade stone.

Pros:

Amazingly beautiful surface
3D texture
High resale value

Cons:

Very heavy
Difficult to install

Solid surface countertop

Solid surface countertop is another manmade countertop material for kitchen. It is cost-effective, durable and beautiful countertop.

Pros:

Cheaper than quartz and granite
Small scratches can be sanded out with fine sandpaper

Cons:

Prone to scratching
Lifespan is shorter

Laminate countertops

Laminate countertops provide amazing look and feel. They are good for kitchens. This countertop surface does not require much maintenance.

Pros:

Inexpensive
Easy installation

Cons:

No re-sale value
Get chipped, cracked and damaged easily.

Commercial Kitchen Countertop Recommendations

Do you own a commercial kitchen? Do you think you need a heavy duty countertop for your restaurant kitchen? Or are you looking for durable and maintenance-free countertop material? Well, if so, then you have a number of options to consider. There are many natural and manmade surfaces are available for commercial kitchen countertops. You need to look after the pros and cons of every material to select the countertop as per needs and requirements of your commercial kitchen.

Commercial Kitchen Countertops

Countertops are used very roughly in the commercial kitchens. The countertop has to bear the load of heavy kitchen equipment, heat coming from the commercial kitchen appliances, freezing temperature of frozen foods, scratches from knives and heavy traffic. The countertop surface should be able to bear the daily wear and tear of the commercial kitchens, and still remain in the good condition. You should select the countertop surface by keeping the activities of your commercial kitchen in mind.

Recommendations for commercial kitchen countertops

Granite –Granite countertops can provide the elegance and utility to your commercial kitchen. This countertop surface has scintillating shine and ability to bear scratches, heat and load. You can count on granite if you want a heavy-duty yet low-maintenance countertop surface. Granite countertops can be cleaned using wet cloth and soap water. However, you need to clean the countertop surface on the regular basis.

Solid Surface –Solid surface countertops are combination of aesthetics and versatility. These countertops are great option for busy commercial kitchens. With solid surface countertops, you need not have to worry about stains and bacteria. Solid surfaces do not require much maintenance.

Quartz –If you are looking for customization and versatility, then quartz is the countertop surface for you. Quartz countertops can be amazing addition to your commercial kitchen. This countertop surfaces are available in variety of colors and textures. You can choose any design as per you kitchen décor. Quartz countertops can diligently serve your commercial kitchen without demanding much maintenance.

Laminate –Laminate can be a great restaurant kitchen countertop material. This material is budget friendly and heavy-duty countertop material. These countertops are available in variety of designs and colors. This countertop material is ideal for busy kitchens.

How to Install a Solid-Surface Kitchen Countertop

Countertops not just provide the work surfaces in a kitchen, but they also give an opportunity to add colors and materiality to the space. With the availability of limitless countertops materials, choosing the designs and color is often the most confusing part of installing new kitchen countertops. Granite, marble and quartz are the most preferred kitchen countertop surfaces. However, solid surface countertops are getting a lot of popularity among homeowners. These countertops are durable and scratch resistant.

How to Install Solid Surface Countertops

Installing solid surface countertop is not a difficult task. The slates of solid surfaces can be seamlessly glued together. With right tools and DIY knowledge you can install solid surface countertops on your own. The tools required for the countertop installation are:

Pencil
Tape measure
Circular saw
Hammer
Power drill
Caulking gun
Screwdrivers

The below mentioned information will help you in installing the solid surface countertop in your kitchen.

Fabricating the Countertop

Fabricate the solid surface countertop first. Fabrication of the solid surfaces starts with taking measurements and examining the locations of joints. Since kitchens are never perfectly square, it is essential to know where you need to deeper or narrower the countertop.

Add Cleats for Support

In areas where there is no cabinet for support, it is important to install support cleats. The cleats are required to support corners. So, take the measurements of the cleats and then cut them to length. Extend the line of the cabinet tops using levels. Screw the cleats to the framing walls.

Installing the Sink in the Countertop

You will have to install the sink in the countertop. You can choose over or under mountings according to your requirements. However, undermounted sinks are easy to install.

Setting the Countertop

Spread the adhesive solution on the top edges of the cabinets. Set the countertop slabs onto the cabinet. Check the alignment and press downwards.

Sealing the Joints

Since countertop has multiple parts, it is important to seal the joints. Use color-matched grouts for this purpose.

TIP: Solid surface countertop installation is easy yet lengthy process. Also, one mistake can ruin your entire hard work and make your countertop look inappropriate. It is better to hire a professional for countertop installation.