Remodeling Professionals Can Update a Home’s Kitchen Countertops for a Brand-New Look

Looking for a great way to make a kitchen look fresh and new? Try replacing worn-out, stained, or broken countertops. Cost-effective and easy to replace, new countertops give a kitchen a brand-new look and feel without needing a complete kitchen makeover. While it’s common to replace kitchen appliances to freshen up a kitchen, the installation of shiny new appliances often just spotlights the broken tiles, grimy grout, or stained surfaces of adjacent countertops. Likewise, replacing cabinetry may not be what the cook had in mind; many homeowners love their cabinets, but find that wear and tear from years of meal preparation has left counter surfaces looking worn out. Replacing countertops is one of the most affordable ways to update an older kitchen, adding tasteful style and value to a home. A kitchen design professional can help homeowners choose the right material, color, or pattern that’s right for every kitchen and every budget. Granite Granite is one of the most popular choices for countertops, and is available in a wide variety of natural patterns, colors, and variations. Heat-resistant and resilient, granite is one of the top choices for counters, conveying luxury and beauty while providing top-notch function. Granite resists scratching and blistering, making it the perfect choice for cooks who demand high performance from countertops. Granite’s beautiful glow when polished comes from the mineral crystals found in the rock. Granite countertops can contain quartz, feldspar, and a number of other minerals, giving each piece a unique appearance. And, as granite for countertops is mined from quarries and cut afterward into slabs, each piece is different from any other. Naturally moisture-resistant, granite is still porous; granite countertops should be sealed to keep dirt and spills away from the stone, as these can cause granite to become etched or stained. Sealant should be applied periodically to keep the stone protected, and the frequency of reapplication will vary from piece to piece. A kitchen remodeling professional in Royal Oak can recommend the optimal sealant frequency for each countertop; many remodelers perform countertop sealant work or can recommend a professional who can. Granite can be cut in a variety of ways, and the edges can be curved, rounded, beveled, or flat. Due to the difficulty of aligning granite edges, the delicate work of cutting and aligning granite counters should ideally be performed by a remodeling professional who has both the tools and experience to achieve the finished look desired. Granite is easy to clean, and daily maintenance consists of soap and water applied with a soft cloth. Because acidic or abrasive cleansers can eat away at the countertop’s sealant and etch the stone, these types of cleaning products should be avoided. If a spill soaks into the countertop, a kitchen remodeling professional can apply a poultice to pull the stain out, and then may need to re-polish or re-seal the granite. Quartz Another excellent material for countertops is quartz, an engineered stone. Quartz combines durability and beauty to create a highly functional and luxurious countertop that can last many years. Quartz is available in glossy or matte finishes, consistent patterns, and a wide variety of colors to complement virtually any home decor. Quartz’s durability is comparable to granite or even concrete, and does not tend to crack or chip as easily. Quartz countertops are temperature-resistant up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but can sometimes be damaged by quick temperature changes. Quartz is extremely scratch-resistant, and although it’s possible to damage it forcefully with sharp objects, such as kitchen knives, this type of damage can be avoided with the use of a cutting board or chopping block. Quartz is extremely stain-resistant; quartz countertops don’t generally absorb liquids, so spills will not permanently damage the surface. Cooks who prepare raw fish, meat, or vegetables will find that food safety is enhanced by engineered stone, as bacteria are not absorbed into the countertop. Cleaning quartz is fairly simple with soap, water, and a soft cloth. Solid Surface Solid surface countertops are usually made of stone and mineral dust, acrylic, polyester, resin, and pigments. These materials can be seamlessly molded to create curved features, so that seams and joints are invisible. Seams are typically melted together on-site during the installation process to create a single surface out of several smaller pieces. A kitchen remodeling professional in Royal Oak can expertly take care of solid surface countertop installation. Homeowners who select solid surface countertops can choose from a wide array of colors available in both a plain finish and patterns, including some that mimic natural stone, but at a much lower price point. The acrylic content of solid surface countertops makes them very durable, and since they are generally non-porous, they will not promote bacterial or mold growth. Although not immune to staining and scratching, solid surface counters that become stained or scratched are relatively easy to repair. If a countertop is a uniform color, a kitchen remodeling professional can buff out scratches or stains and sand them down. The biggest disadvantage of solid surface material is that it generally isn’t very heat-resistant; countertops will discolor or warp when directly exposed to excessive heat, like a hot pan or pot. However, they’re easy to clean with standard cleaning supplies and require little upkeep. Laminate Laminate countertops are made of laminated plastic attached to a substrate or base. The base is generally made from plywood or particle board, and is remarkably durable, providing a beautiful surface and pop of color for much less money than other types of surfaces. Laminate countertops are an inexpensive way to add a fresh touch to an outdated kitchen. Available in a wide variety of colors and graphic patterns, laminates can be made to resemble granite, marble, slate, or other natural stone and can appear to have mineral veins that run through the design. Different types of laminate edge styles help to create a unique look for each laminate countertop. Edge styles include bevel, straight, and post-formed, as well as the self-edge style, the original boxy edge first introduced in the 1950’s. The major disadvantage of laminate countertops is lack of durability; laminates are not heat- or scratch-resistant, and so are not typically long-lasting. However, they clean easily with soap and water, without the need for abrasive cleaning products. The wide variety of countertop surfaces available can make it difficult to narrow down choices to just one, but a kitchen design professional can help homeowners select countertops perfectly suited for their kitchen remodeling project, while keeping budget in mind.