Home Insights
October 22, 2021
How to choose the right countertop
Choosing the right countertop for your home can be a daunting decision. Whether you're building a custom home or renovating your kitchen, it is a big decision and investment. Many people think that aesthetics is the only thing to consider when picking out countertops. However, things like expense, durability, porosity, and sealings (amongst many others), vary between materials and should be taken into consideration when deciding. Therefore, making time to educate yourself is important to get the most out of this investment!
Porcelain
One of the most prominent advantages of porcelain countertops is that they are heat resistant. You should not have any trouble when putting hot pots right off the stove onto these counters. Something else that many porcelain countertop owners love is that it is stain and porous resistant- meaning that there is no need to seal it.
Quartz
If you are on the hunt for a countertop that won't crack, is stain resistant, and has a sleek modern design, quartz might be the way to go. Quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Unlike granite, quartz doesn't require sealing which makes it highly popular among homeowners. Because it is so durable, quartz is also often known for its great warranty coverage (depending on the manufacturer, of course). The brand Cambria offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty, which covers manufacturing defects for the original owner.
Marble
Marble countertops are guaranteed to make a statement in any house. Marble is unique, eye-catching, and often seen as a piece of art more than a construction material. Marble is also heat resistant and can hold up against hot pots and pans. However, it is still recommended to use trivets. Marble has stood the test of time as it is used in many designs in Ancient Rome and by many famous sculptors, so it is guaranteed to never go out of style.
Granite
Granite is resistant to chipping and scratching. It is the 2nd hardest material known to man, right behind diamonds. Granite countertops are 100% natural, extremely durable, and available in hundreds of colors covering virtually every design preference. When viewing a slab of granite for your new home, there is no guarantee that YOUR slab will look exactly the same. A design benefit to installing granite is that since it is so unique, your countertops will never be replicated. It's only unique to you!