Countertops in your kitchen play an important role in establishing the mood of your home decor. They not only give the final touch to your kitchen, they dictate how we function. Before choosing the right countertops material, homeowners have to assess the way they live. There’s a wide range of countertops materials available, and factors like durability and quality are important when choosing the best material. You can also personalize your design by doing some creative mixing of textures, patterns, and colors. Choosing the best countertop material depends on your specific expectations, but factors like durability, maintenance, and design are important. We’ve prepared a guide to six popular materials to help you decide what’s best for your kitchen.
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Natural stone
The most common natural stone countertop materials are soapstone, granite, and slate. Granite is by far the most popular one because it comes in a wide array of colors. The granite is treated with an impregnating sealer that makes the countertop stain resistant. Soapstone is usually dark or greenish-black and it must be sealed with mineral oils to reduce staining since it’s porous. Slate is available in five colors gray, purple, black, green, and red. This material is relatively soft, but it’s nonporous and maintenance free. Marble is also a popular solution for countertops material because it’s resistant to heat and cracks.
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Quartz materials
Quartz countertops are man-made stone countertops, formed by combining this natural hard mineral with polymers and pigments. This material is extremely durable, hard, and easy to clean. But, it isn’t heat-resistant and it isn’t exactly a good choice for large countertop designs.
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Ceramic tiles
Tile is an excellent choice for secondary work surfaces, such as island, counters or peninsulas. This material can be made to suit specific sizes and shapes. It’s heat and stain resistant what makes it a perfect countertop material. Tiles can easily crack, but another con for this material is that damaged tiles are replaceable.
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Wood
Wood countertops add warmth and charm to your kitchen. The most common type of wood countertop is butcher block made from walnut, maple, cherry, oak, bamboo or zebrawood. Maintenance depends on the type of finish you choose. Wood is an excellent option if you want strong and durable eco-friendly material.
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Stainless steel
Stainless steel materials will complement your kitchen appliances. If you like spending time in your kitchen cooking for your family and friends, you need a durable and easy to clean material like stainless steel. Fingerprint smudges show up easily, but you can avoid this if you clean stainless steel surfaces regularly.
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Plastic laminate
This material can survive many years in the toughest kitchens. It’s available in hundreds of colors and dozens of patterns. Those with a matte finishes are usually used as countertop materials.