I am overwhelmed: Which Kitchen Counters Should I Use?
We have all been there. A friend or family member runs to a big box store to renovate their kitchen and they are so proud. You show up…and of course….they selected Uba Tuba or Santa Cecilia granite. Yes. This is still happening in 2020. Yes. granite is one of the strongest and most durable options. With advancement is sealants and treatments almost any stone could be a quality canidate for your kitchen renovation.
EDUCATION
We have all been there. A friend or family member runs to a big box store to renovate their kitchen and they are so proud. You show up…and of course….they selected Uba Tuba or Santa Cecilia granite. Yes. This is still happening in 2020. Yes. granite is one of the strongest and most durable options. With advancement is sealants and treatments almost any stone could be a quality canidate for your kitchen renovation.
While countertops are the main work space in the kitchen—the appearance of the stone does impact the overall theme of your kitchen. Do you want solid colors like white, gray and black? Are you looking for bold strong veins? What about pepper flakes of pepper and geodes?
Marble -tends to be heat and stain sensitive. In addition, because of the inconsistencies in the appearance and veining—it is important to map out where you will be placing the stone quite well. It is important to remember to that marble can stain easily and it is important to keep up with the sealing. Wine, oils, and sauces can damage this stone. There are many great slabs of marble to get explored. On a final note marble can have lots of motion and action that may not give you the subtle motions your may be looking for.
Quartz- tends to be very predictable and consistent with its patterns. Quartz tends to be very affordable. On average it can be as much as 50% less in cost compared to many of the marble options. The durability factor for quartz is quite impressive. This is because quartz is referred to as an engineered stone. Typically its 93% limestone and 7% resin. Quartz is both non-porous and anti-bacterial. Don’t put a hot pot on this surface.
Granite- tends to be less porous and it does need to be sealed. In addition, granite is heat resistant. You can literally take a pot of the stove and place directly on the the surface with no risk of damage.
If you are looking for a modern sleek appearance in your kitchen. I highly recommend going with a less vibrant appearing stone. When properly paired with the right cabinets, they will anchor the space and offer the strong architecture needed to ground to space.
Finally, don’t wait until the last minute to select your counter tops. I highly recommend to my clients to make their stone selection as soon we finalize the kitchen floor plan and cabinets have been signed off.
Just because you want gray marble counters…it doesn’t mean the perfect slab will be there waiting. This is a huge investment…don’t settle for what is available only because you didn’t plan properly.
While I rarely use granite. It is a must consider having the stone honed or ever a river wash treatment. This will all a more character to the stone versus what you would typically see.
Every showroom will be able to offer samples of the stones they offer. Don’t purchase off it ever. I highly recommend even if you are purchasing a production home—if the builder will allow you to pick your slab from the yard…do it. Most mid-range builders will have a design center where you finalized your selections. It is true, they will usually have an interior designer working there. If you are going to upgrade your counters….please try to pick your slab in person…not from the small samples.
As you can see, selecting the best counter top for your kitchen should be well planned and thought out. It is important to consider your lifetime and the look you are going for. Currently, I see more people going with clean, simple, refined slabs with less motion.
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