Buying Countertops: Plastic Laminates, Granite and Solid Surfaces

Posted On Jul 11, 2019 By admin With Comments Off

Three Determining factor: Price, Maintenance and Appearance

When a sample of a kitchen countertop made from 60 percentage newspaper recently swept my desk, I realized surpass is likely to be, and are, made out of anything and everything. Wood, plastic, granite, metal, concrete, tile, acrylic–they’re all exerted. Seventy-five years ago, stone and wood were the primary countertop options; 25 year ago, laminate was clearly king of the hill. But today’s kitchens and inexpensive countertops are used for more than time cooking. The kitchen is a living room, study, breakfast nook, recreation expanse, craft middle and showplace all rolled into one. The countless functions of this room today call for a countertop face that suits our lifestyles and activities.

When people need a top that’s durable, simple to install, easy to maintain and cheap, most still head for the laminate spectacle. But there’s a bewildering scope of other options out there today. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. They’re all jolly durable; no real stinkers in the knot. They all require some maintenance or help. A wine-coloured glass lowered from two feet will smash on any of them. So selecting inexpensive countertops certainly cooks down to how you answer these three questions 😛 TAGEND

How much are you able invest? How much maintenance are you willing to do? What information do you most like to touch, look, show off and work on?

Check out 10 kitchen vogues we’ve been realize

Price: cheap countertops and expensive countertops

You can waste$ 2 to $250 per sq. ft. for countertops. Surprisingly, the authorities have few selects that fail between the basic $ 10 per sq. ft. laminates and the $80 stone and solid-surface surpasses. Wood and tile meridians fall in the middle, but of all the crests we look back, these had the most commentators. The scarcity of midpriced alternatives can be a blessing in camouflage; if you have a limited budget, look at the many design possibilities of laminate. Kitchen experts follow a few rules of thumb based on experience:

The longer you plan to stay in a house, the more sturdy and upscale the countertop you should select. The “cost per year” becomes a bargain as the years pass.

Tops and installing generally compose ten to 15 percent of a kitchen remodel fund. Tops that falls outside this wander may not look like they fit.

Put your fund where your heart is–especially when you’re on a fund. If you affection high-tech gizmoes or tradition timber cabinetry, expend your coin there. Upkeep and use causes

Maintenance on most cheap countertops is minimal–but fail to do it and permanent, or at least difficult-to-reverse, mar can happen. Here i am preventive upkeep( mopping up pours, squandering hot pads, working on cutting boards) and long-term maintenance( that are generally involves working some shape of sealer or finish ). Ask yourself, how careful( actually) are you and their own families? What do you expect your exceed to look like in five years old? Does it induce more feel to stick with laminate until the kids are out of grade school? Aesthetic and tactile causes

If budget and maintenance aren’t decisive factors in your thought, how the top examinations and feels are the true deal creators. Both you and your countertop have a personality; select one that you can get along with. Texture, esthetics, glossiness, “warmth, ” how natural the material gapes and feels, and how it fits in with the design of your kitchen and residence are all part of the final equation.

One of the appeals of today’s veer toward several countertop faces is, when rip between two meridians, you can install them both!

Wear and Maintenance

A chart comparing laminate, granite, solid face, grove and tile countertops is available in Additional Information below.

countertops plastic laminate Plastic Laminates: Pros and Cons

Plastic-laminate tops may not grab many headlines, but they still account for 75 percent of the market. They’re inexpensive, durable, come in lots of pigments and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers.

Plastic laminates are multiple seams of resin-soaked kraft paper, surpassed by a patterned expanse of melamine that’s subjected to heat and stres. The resultant 1/16 -in. laminate sheet can be made into inexpensive countertops in two ways.

It can be post structured at a manufacturing flower to create crests with the rounded “unibody” backsplash and snout. Post-formed tops can be purchased off-the-shelf at home centres in limited complexions or special told. This vogue crown is the least expensive, easiest to empty and quickest to install.

They can also be habit made into an extraordinary range of forms. Laminate expanses are glued to particle card, then perimeter with laminate, lumber, even solid-surface deprives.

They resist grease and stains and clean-living with soap and irrigate. They’ll take a good strike, and changing your color scheme won’t cost an arm and a leg.

On the downside, laminate crowns can be damaged by hot goes and sharp-witted knives, abrasive cleans can dull the finish, and if ocean infiltrates strata, the substrate can expand and the laminate belly. Surface damage is difficult to repair. All of these problems can be avoided through suitable installing and use. Things to Know Before You Buy

Darker solid dyes and glossy finishes register blemishes and chip traces more readily than patterned or matte skin-deeps. Tops where the laminate overlaps the fringing, rather than buttocks to it are harder to damage. Newly technology in publish has improved the clarity and depth. Many wood specks and stone structures are amazingly crisp and reasonable.

Click here to learn more about selecting laminate countertops .

countertops counter options Counter Opinions

“Laminate worked with our budget. We elected enormous appliances instead of a costly top.” — homeowner

“There’s nothing bad with laminate, but the high-end kitchen magazines are showing all stone. As the 1950 s wording sways back, laminate will be in vogue again.” — kitchen designer

countertops surface ring Jazzing Up Basic Laminate Tops

Three produces on the market can help extend the versatility of laminate. Most are installed by your fabricator when your top is offset.

Counter-Seal is a relatively new product that allows you to undermount a sink in a laminate surpas. Using templates and special tools, licensed fabricators chipped the sink opening, then line this opening with a closely engineered reverberating of solid-surface material. The tighten set of the ring and special cements protect the particleboard core from spray and humidity. Premiums start at about $250. The company likewise makes a product for do-it-yourselfers wishing to undermount a sink in a tile meridian.

Gem Loc is a solid-surface edging integrated into a laminate surpas during fabrication. It comes in a wide range of colourings and forms.

Kuehn Bevel Edge is a specially milled laminate edging that eliminates the dark edge rows often found on laminates. Kuehn likewise realise another kind of edgings.

countertops solid surface Solid Surface: Pros and Cons

DuPont introduced the first solid-surface countertop, Corian, to the world 35 years ago and the two categories continues to thrive. There are currently more than a dozen manufacturers offering countertop materials in hundreds of emblazons and designs.

Most, if not all, solid-surface exceeds are dealing with learnt pros who have been attested to make and install that specific make.

Solid-surface pinnacles are normally 1/2 in. dense and made of acrylic, polyester( or blends of the two) together with fillers. Peripheries are built up with two or three strata of fabric for a thicker figure. One exclusion, Wilsonart’s Solid Surface Veneer( SSV ), consists of a 1/8 -in. coating of solid-surface material, ligament to a particle-board core. Some initial problems linked to the product were resolved by bonding a moisture-resistant layer to the bottom of the particle-board core.

Some have labeled solid-surface surfaces the “near-perfect” product. They’re non-porous, impelling them ideal for menu cooking. They’re difficult to stain. They can be formed into nearly any size and condition. Because they’re of outfit substance through and through, light-headed scratchings are available to buffed out, deep blemishes and feelings are available to sanded out, and severely damaged neighborhoods can literally be cut out, ousted, then blended to be darn near invisible. Submerges can be undermounted and backsplashes can be integrated into the top, moving them seamless.

Most possible problems with solid-surface transcends can be avoided by proper installation — and companies are increasingly selective in whom they’ll certify to do their manufacture. There are some negatives, nonetheless. It’s expensive. Cutting on them will leave scratches, and those that are solid color or have a high-gloss finish can be especially revealing. Some object to their homogenous look and cold feel. Things to Know Before You Buy

The key to a trouble-free solid-surface top is an installer who are familiar with his or her material. Seams should be offset 1-1/ 2 to 3 in. from inside regions, inside recess is due to be radiused and braces should be reinforced. Know where your seams are and take precautions not to use crock flowerpots, griddles and hot plates in that area. The swelling and constriction can cause cracks during the cool-down cycle. You can have a pro resand and repolish the top every 5 to seven years for a hard-to- tell-from-new look.

Counter Opinions

“Lots of beings like solid-surface surpass because they’re predictable; they’ll glance the same five years from now as they do today.” — make

“Solid-surface surpass were originally touted as being indestructible and having invisible seams; now they’re touted as being renewable with inconspicuous seams.” — installer

countertops granite Granite: Pros and Cons

Although granite’s been around for millions of years, it’s still considered the new kid on the block. Ten years ago granite fell into the “exotic” or “extravagant” lists. Today it’s become more accessible and affordable. Shipping is easier( more than 90 percentage comes from overseas ), and technologies and thinner blades allow it to be chipped with less garbage and cost. In the 2001 National Kitchen and Bath Designs Trend Survey, 37 percentage of the crowns installed by its members were granite.

In its natural state it stands most stains and when closed becomes tougher yet. Countless line forms are available to crafted: most commonly bevel, radius, half-radius, ogee and square. A natural substance, it comes in a wide range of hues, patterns and degrees. Each top is absolutely unique. Sinks can be undermounted( in the case of one fabricator, 95 percent of the cases .) And it can handle red-hot washes.

On the downside, neglected granite are available to discoloured by sizzling grease. It’s hard and cold. It are available to scratched by extreme mistreat. Cutting on it will more likely gloomy your bayonets than expense your top, but reiterated cutting in one area can eventually change the gleam. Seams are more evident with granites that have a strong pattern or speck. And since working with granite compels special tools, it’s not a do-it-yourself material and on-site amends are difficult to reach.

Granite is an amazing option, but not always the right ones. Click now for 13 other options . Things to Know Before You Buy

Most slabs came to see you 9-x 5-ft. segments. The fabricator will often factor in a “waste charge” for the part of the slab not exercised. Keep this in mind. For speciman, don’t spec out a 10 -ft.-long island, when a nine-ft. one will work. If possible, stay the granite “boneyard” and adopt the actual slab your top will be made from. The gaze of a large slab can differ vastly from a small sample. Darknes and solid-colored granites indicate dings and accidents more easily. Granite with a gloss finish will have more depth and liveliness than one with a matte finish, but it will also testify scrapings much more readily.

Counter Ruling

“Some people desire a slab of granite because of a wildernes hue or particle structure. Others hate it for the same reason.” — fabricator

“Some clients feel tension that wasn’t there before granite. You do sort of tend to work around it.” — contractor

countertop engineered stone Engineered Stone: Pros and Cons

Blend the functional benefits of solid-surface material with the aesthetic the characteristics of natural stone and you get a new class of countertop materials announced engineered stone. They’re composed of more than 93 percent suppressed natural stone, bound together by acrylic or polyester resins. While new to the U.S. sell, these crowns have been used successfully in Europe for more than a decade.

Like solid-surface materials, they’re nonporous and nearly impossible to stain. Most never need shutting. They have excellent blemish fight and have more “give” than granite. Because they’re composed of stone they can have a natural inspect. But since they were also have resins and fillers they can also be colors to create dyes not found in nature.

They’re expensive, with most falling between solid-surface and natural-stone rates. And while manufacturers say they can stand up to sizzling goes better than solid face fabrics, they can crack, even change hue, if subjected to extreme temperatures. And they share some of granite’s negative tones: They’re slippery, freezing to the touch and unforgiving with a tipped glass. Things to Know Before You Buy

Manufacturers of the quartz-based concoctions claim zero sealing is required–ever. The composites made of marble( CompacMarble) and limestone( Terrestone) are best suited for lavatories. If you’re in a hurry, Cambria strives to manufacture and deliver your top in 14 epoches.

Counter Belief

“If you’re looking for absolute zero maintenance on a kitchen countertop, this is as close as you’ll ever get. ” — creator

“A small sample piece of the stuff might look like natural stone, but an entire countertop doesn’t. ” — designer

countertops stainless steel Stainless Steel: Pros and Cons

If all the great restaurants of the world use stainless-steel surpass, why don’t you identify more in homes? Well, they’re expensive and it’s difficult to find fabricators. Critics likewise point out that they evidence fingerprints and water blots readily( peculiarly when brand-new ), and that they’ll readily prove gouges, dents and scratches.

On the thumbs-up side, they’re completely anti-microbial, ply a good heat-proof surface and are easy to clean.

One creator, John Boos, offers mail order stainless-steel surfaces in limited immensities. Things to Know Before You Buy

There are different grades and thicknesses of stainless steel. Make sure you know what you’re paying for. Make certain the stainless steel is wrap totally around the edges of the substrate to protect it.

Counter Opinions

“It’s so sanitary, I sometimes feel like I’m preparing food on an operating table when I’m working on the stainless steel area of my top.” — homeowner

countertop top Wood: Pros and Cons

Wood is the original solid-surface countertop; it’s attire through and through and shattering are available to restored by sanding and recoating.

Most wood crowns are created from 1-1/ 2-in. divests of maple edge-glued to each other. Oak and other groves are available, but constitute such a paltry share of the market that most need to be special ordered. End-grain maple tops–the true “butcher block” with the part discontinues forming the cutting surface–are usually four or more inches thick and proportionately expensive.

For homeowners intending to use wood as their primary top, a understand lubricant finish is recommended because chips and dings can be touched up with a little oil and a swipe of a rag. For those intending to use the surface as more of an eating domain, transcends with a varnish finish can be ordered.

Moisture is the number-one enemy of grove meridians. Seams and areas around submerges are particularly vulnerable. And a lumber meridian can, and will, expand and contract.

Counter Opinions

“Wood has a high fondle factor. People can’t stroll by( our booth) without touching it.” — creator at Kitchen and Bath Show

“It has too many fragilities to be used everywhere in a kitchen. But a small chopping slouse is fantastic .& rdquo — designer

“Real wood with a( fissure) is still more beautiful than( laminate) without one! ” — producer

countertops tile Tile: Pros and Cons

Tile has many moralities. It’s inexpensive, do-it-yourself friendly, available in an stunning variety of materials and colours, and it offers pattern opennes. But it has similarly strong detriments: It’s unexpectedly hard-bitten, its piecemeal sort means some face unevenness and the grout words are vulnerable to discolouring.

Not all tiles are created equal. Granite, porcelain and glazed tiles are the least porous and are quite durable. Marble, unglazed clay or limestone tiles are absorbent, soft and usually not recommends to kitchens.

Grout is another part of the equation. Epoxy grout is more durable but harder to install and may yellow. Standard cement grout must be sealed often and well.

The tile base or substrate the tile is laid over must be solid and watertight. Backerboard over plywood is the most do-it-yourself friendly base. Many pros will structure and build a “mortar bed” for laying their tile. Things to Know Before You Buy

High-gloss and solid-color tiles do testify blemishes. Hand-picked flat tile vs. that with a slight pillow influence to it. Using bigger tiles leaves less area in between for grout, which will have to be sealed and retained.

Counter Opinion

“It’s the eventual do-it-yourself top, but I never thought about how very difficult it would be to write on it or put down a wine-colored glass.” — homeowner

“Well, let me articulated it this lane: I’ve never had a buyer with an existing tile top ask me to design a brand-new kitchen with a tile top.” — designer

Tropical Faces: Pros and Cons

countertops marble Marble

Marble can be, and is, used for kitchen countertops. But its porosity and insecurity make it best suited for bathrooms, where it’s less likely to be damaged by pierces, acidic meat and influence. But marble is undeniably exquisite; it has more natural graining than most stones and is available in a wide range of dyes.

countertops soapstone Soapstone

Soapstone has proven its durability through use in chemistry labs over the past 100 years. It has natural veining and a rugged natural appear. One fabricator territory, “If you require a top that seems 100 years old the day you set it in, put in soapstone.” Although the material is relatively soft, its implementation of mineral oil will disguise most scratches. Heavier damage can be sanded out. Submerges can be seamlessly incorporated in the top and it can be worked with carbide tools. Most divisions are limited in length to 6 ft. Most granite fabricators can hatch soapstone tops.

countertops richlite Richlite

Richlite is composed of more than 60 percent article, but it gapes and routines more like stone or timber. Utilized in commercial kitchens and food-processing weeds for decades, the phenolic lumber information( according to the manufacturer) fights heat, blots and blemishes and “lasts a lifetime.” It can be installed by do-it-yourselfers and has a warm, soft gape and feel. Expenditures start at about $25 per square paw for information materials.

kitchen Concrete

Concrete countertops are expensive, easily discoloured( even with a glaze finish ), can chip easily, and are as hard as, well, concrete. So why would anyone install one? “They’re recreation! ” justified one fabricator. You can form them into any determine, embed stuff in them, colour them. And they’re sturdy and heat resistant. But only those committed to a fair stage of upkeep should consider them.