Kitchen Counter Tops - Laying It Straight

Whether you have a kitchen island or not, your kitchen counter tops will be an important consideration for you and your kitchen.

You will want your kitchen counters to look good of course, yet also perform well in the day to day running of a busy kitchen.

For this dual consideration you may want to note that although wooden countertop edges everywhere will sit nicely with new cabinetry. It may be advisable to use matching or complementary solid surface composites for the countertop edges, as they will resist moisture better.

Encountering Countertop Choices

Today we demand choice. And just like with a kitchen sink, there are many types of countertop available. And you can combine them for different areas of the kitchen if you want. So let`s take a look at some countertop materials.

Most expensive are countertops like granite. A granite countertop is the height of style, and stays cool to the touch, but some oils will be absorbed. Granite is heat and scratch resistant but it`s still recommended to use a cutting board as granite cannot be repaired if chipped.

Marble and stainless steel are also both fashionable and expensive, but both can scratch easily.

A countertop of wood of is less costly, but will stain and scratch over time. The scratches can be repaired, but it can be less easy to remove some staining.

Solid surface and solid surface laminates counters are medium expense. They are heat and oil resistant and easy to repair if scratched, and simple to restore to their best looks after use.

Tile countertops are more affordable, stylish, and will not scratch or absorb stains. But the grout can discolor over time.

Plastic laminate counters are the cheapest, and boast a large range of color and patterns. They`re resistant to staining. But cannot be repaired if scratched or chipped, and are not that heat resistant.