Kitchen counter tops design defines the attribute of your kitchen while providing the required space for you to cook your food comfortably. Kitchen countertops are made from various materials, which means that there is a lot of options available for you. It is important to note that any choice of kitchen countertop should be stylish, durable, functional, and economical and should be able to satisfy what you need to cook comfortably.
Each countertop material has its properties, resistance to stain and scratch, and other qualities. They can also be classified into different categories, including; natural stone, synthetic materials, metallic materials, and others (such as tiles, wood butcher board).
Kitchen countertops materials that can be classified under natural stone countertops are marble, granite, soapstone, and limestone.
- Marble: If you desire unique beauty without a concern for cost, marble will suit you. Marble countertops come in different colors depending on their place of origin.
- Soapstone: This is mostly used in laboratories. It is very durable and resistive to stain and acids like vinegar, which can cause damage to other types of stone. It is uniform and smooth even to the touch.
- Limestone: This is akin to marble in terms of geology. It’s beginning to gain popularity as a material for kitchen countertop. It exists in various colors such as sandy tan hues, white, etc. It is thermal resistant and rugged. It is quite attractive in kitchens with stainless steel appliances.
- Granite: this is a type of natural stone countertop that is in vogue. It has a beautiful appearance and exists in various colors and grain. It is tough (even more than a marble) and resistive to damage and scratch. It is less expensive than marble.
The synthetic countertop materials are manmade. They are quite rugged, resistive to stain, and durable. We will discuss the different types of synthetic countertop materials.
- Recycled paper: you may be surprised to see recycled paper in the list, not to talk of the fact that it is a very durable kitchen countertop option. It is also eco-friendly. It is made by mixing the paper with resin and adding colored pigments.
- Concrete countertops: This can be customized to meet your color needs by mixing it with stains, dyes, and pigments.
- Plastic laminate: This can help you mimic the appearance of a natural stone or wood butcher board while saving some money. It is the cheapest kitchen countertop and is available in different colors and patterns.
- Recycled glass and cement countertops: they are quite expensive but visually appealing. Their color and appearance can be customized easily to suit your taste.
- Solid-surface counters: this can imitate the appearance of most other materials because they are made from a special synthetic polymer.
- Engineered quartz: this is also a “green” manmade countertop. They have a wide range of applications and colors (even those not available in natural stone). It has high endurance and also impermeable.
Professional cooks mostly use metal countertops. Examples of metal countertops are stainless steel, copper, and zinc. Amongst these, the stainless steel possesses superior stain resistance and durability, while zinc is widely known for its natural antimicrobial properties. Copper changes to a different pattern as it gets older, while zinc darkens as it ages.
The most important thing for you to consider is how you want the kitchen to look like and what you desire most (stain resistance or durability).
