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3 Tips for Choosing Durable Kitchen Countertops for Your Family Home
One of the many considerations a homeowner has when building or renovating a kitchen is what kind of countertop to install. Countertops must be attractive, for an ugly countertop can mar the look of an entire kitchen. At the same time, they must be durable, especially if it belongs to a household where there’s a lot of cooking and food preparation. Here are three tips for choosing countertops that are beautiful and durable:
Think of Stone
When it comes to durability, few thing are more durable than a material that’s been around for millions of years. Countertops made of stone such as granite, marble, soapstone, slate or travertine are not only tough and durable, but beautiful. They add elegance and a touch of nature to the overall decor of the kitchen. Qualified stone suppliers can tell a homeowner the selling points of each kind of stone and whether or not it needs to be sealed: granite and marble need sealant, but soapstone doesn’t.
Photo by North Shore Kitchens, Inc.
Think of Engineered Stone
Though natural stone is durable, engineered stone is even more durable. This material is made out of powdered or pulverized stone, often quartz, mixed with resin and pigment and cured in a form. Engineered stone does not have to be sealed and doesn’t have to be protected from screaming hot pots and pans the way natural stone does. It resists stains and etching, and if it’s chipped, all the homeowner has to do is present the batch number to the fabricator, and the counter can be easily repaired.
Consider Solid Surface
If a homeowner doesn’t quite have the budget to afford natural or even engineered stone for their countertop, another durable option is solid surface. These countertops are made of acrylic and resin and can be made in an endless assortment of colors and patterns. They’re not only long-lasting but can come with integral sinks and dish drains. That means there’s no dirty water to seep beneath the rim of a sink. Not only this, but dings and burns are so easy to fix that the homeowner can do it. All it takes is the application of a bit of plain steel wool.
Photo by Leicht Westchester-Greenwich
Looking for that perfect, durable countertop is one of the more pleasurable aspects of renovating a kitchen. There are so many materials to choose from, and they come in many price ranges. Best of all, a homeowner no longer needs to sacrifice durability for good looks.
