Different Kitchen Countertop Materials

When choosing a new kitchen countertop for your home, there are many decisions that will need to be made.  How much are you willing to spend?  How is the countertop going to be installed?  But the most pressing question will be what material the new countertop will be made from.

Some homeowners choose granite countertops for installation in their kitchens.  Granite is a very strong and extremely durable material, but it is also very expensive, costing more money than a lot of individuals are willing to spend.  A granite countertop can be purchased as either complete granite slabs or granite tiles that are carefully placed on a form and glued together using a special adhesive.  Because of the costs associated with purchasing granite, many homeowners choose to hire a contractor to install the countertop, which ensures that the countertop has been installed correctly.

Less expensive than granite but still just as strong are the kitchen countertops made out of engineered stone.  These beautiful stone countertops are manufactured out of small particles of quartz that are sealed together into a non-porous surface that is extremely resistant to both heat and scratches.  Engineered stone countertops come in a wide variety of colors and styles designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Some of the most popular types of kitchen countertop are the ceramic tile kitchen countertops.  These countertops are created by applying ceramic tiles to a countertop form using a strong adhesive and sealing the entire countertop together using a high quality clear sealant.  Ceramic tile countertops are popular because they can be created in any color, design, or style that the homeowner can imagine and it is possible for the homeowner to purchase the tiles and complete the entire project on their own, which can be much less expensive than purchasing one that is pre-made or custom made.

Laminate kitchen countertops are also very popular with individuals looking for a new kitchen countertop for their home.  A laminate kitchen countertop is less expensive than most other countertop materials and they come in a wide range of colors and patterns to match a home’s existing décor or provide a jumping off point to change the décor of the entire kitchen.  Laminate not as durable as some of the other countertop materials and will need to be replaced sooner as blemishes on laminate is very difficult to repair.