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Countertops

Countertops I feel are the icing on the cake. Today with so many products to choose from your “icing” can be almost any colour or consistency you’d like. The materials on the market today are Laminate, Solid Surface (a man made product), Tile, Granite, Marble, Stainless Steel, Engineered Stone, and Concrete.

Your countertops, particularly in the kitchen, are going to be subjected to wear and tear, heat, moisture and abrasive cleaners that will test your countertop choice on a daily basis. A Granite countertop, which usually runs close to, the upper level in the price range category is a great choice, not only because of how beautiful the stone is but also because of its durability. Marble is less stain resistant than the granite and can make an excellent choice for a bathroom or en-suite.

Engineered Stone is a quartz composite product mixed with coloured pebbles and epoxy. It can have more options on the colour chart than natural stone and it handles the heat well and resists most household stains. The price point here is similar to that of granite. Stainless Steel is not seen too often in a residential application but it looks familiar to us in a commercial use. For those of us who love the sleek cool looking surface, stainless steel would be an excellent choice. It is stain resistant but can scratch easily. Today you can get a textured finish applied to the stainless steel that helps hide or minimalize scratches or markings. Here too the price point is similar to the higher end line of countertop materials.

A Solid Surface countertop offers a seamless look on the surface with seaming only visible from the underside. These countertops are stain and heat resistant and minimal scratching can be diffused with a non-abrasive cleaning product. An under- counter sink looks perfect with this type of countertop material. Concrete is one of the new contenders on the market and its popularity is picking up fast. This countertop choice is probably not a do it yourself project because of the use of engineered concrete that is used specifically for this purpose. Because concrete is porous a sealer must be applied so as not to have any staining. Last but not least is Laminate, which has been a staple in the countertop business for years. Today laminates come in a kaleidoscope of colours, patterns and textures. It is the most economical on the market but laminate countertops are not expected nor do they last a lifetime. Laminate for the most part is stain resistant but not scratch or heat resistant. So if you’re the type of person who loves to change their home regularly then maybe a choice of laminate is for you.

The selection of your countertops will be important to the overall look to your particular room. Make sure you choose your cabinetry colours, backsplash tiles, and countertops all at the same time to ensure the colours are co-ordinating or accenting appropriately. Nothing looks worse than 2 Rights and 1 Wrong, be thorough in thinking of all the angles where the three products all meet together. A marriage of cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes will give you a harmonious union in the end. After all, everyone loves a Happy Ending!

Written by Sharon @ IDQ

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