Today, designers have developed different materials for kitchen countertops and islands as opposed to the traditional style of featuring granite material only. Kitchen countertops have the most demanding role in a home being the central site for all food preparations. When choosing the counter material, you should go for a durable, scratch-proof, stain-proof, heatproof not forgetting to look for a beautiful material that fits your budget. With vast options available in the market today, settling for just one material is understandably daunting. Where do you start? Below, I have listed a few pointers that will help you to figure out your priorities correctly.
- Consider how you will be using the kitchen countertops
- Think about the maintenance needed to keep the counters looking new
- Think about your kitchen functions
- Get kitchen countertops that match your budget
- Consider your taste and style when picking out the material.
The number one tip before getting Kitchen countertops is to assess the way you live. For example, if you are in a family with kids who will most likely be making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the countertops, white countertops are not your best choice. Below, let us discuss more pointers on how to choose the perfect kitchen counters.
How will you be using the countertops?
The most critical consideration to make before going for a particular kitchen countertop is how you will be using the countertops. If you have, for instance, grown kids who would like to be making in between meals regularly, it is advisable for you to go for countertops that can withstand a lot of cooking and cleaning activities, without having to be extra vigilant in the cleaning process. Most homeowners are less concerned about scratches on their countertops and more concerned about stubborn stains. In recent days, however, you can get a countertop that is both scratch and stain-resistant.
Consider the amount of maintenance measures that you are capable of handling
Most kitchen countertops will come with unique lists of upkeep demands, although there is a number of them that is remarkably resilient. Be realistic about the amount of maintenance effort that you are capable of into your countertops. For instance, if you are considering porous materials such as limestone, granite, or marble, you will be required to seal them at least once in every year. Wooden kitchen countertops, on the other hand, will need you to apply Danish oil twice every year. The bottom line is before you fall head over heels for particular material access all the demands that will come with living with it.
Think about all your kitchen needs
It would be beneficial if you knew the number of linear feet of kitchen countertop that you will need as well as any other measurements for your kitchen space that might not be standard. This way, even as you are gathering information about the various material and kitchen countertops styles available, you can be able to create a ballpark figure for each material for easier comparisons. For budgetary purposes or the design, you can mix and match two different materials. This will work very well for islands so that you can use an affordable wooden material for the island and granite or marble material for the adjacent countertops.
Your budget also has a role to play
The cost of kitchen countertops can have a wide variation ranging from $22 per square foot for the most basic plastic laminate to $250 for high-end granite or marble countertops. The installation cost for the kitchen countertops will also vary depending on your local fabricators and installers. However, these are just basic guidelines that can be misleading at times because a high-end material such as butcher block can be available at a higher price than other low-grade granite materials. Keeping in mind that a good kitchen countertop material will last as long as your home, it would be better if you focus on the durability of the material before factoring in your budget to avoid settling for a not-so-good quality. There is nothing wrong in spending a little more than you had planned. Afterall, this is a decision you will have to live with for the rest of your life.
Get a material that speaks to you
The last but not least of point to be keen on to get the perfect kitchen countertops is not to ignore the aesthetics. You should, however, be careful not to pick a kitchen countertop material because of its beauty only, only to realize it might not be the perfect match for your taste.
Conclusion
Figuring out the reason why you are attracted to a particular material will help you decide which kitchen countertops will satisfy your taste perfectly. Treat your decision of kitchen counters in Atlanta just like you would treat any other significant investment decision. Take some time to look around for the perfect Custom counters in Atlanta, note down your best options, then leap. Art Stone specializes in all types of kitchen countertop material. Visit them today for all your installation needs.