What Colors Are Available For Stainless Steel Countertops?

By nature, stainless steel countertops come in the traditional silver gray shade. Stainless steel gets it color from the iron and chromium it is composed of. Some types of stainless steel can be composed of nickel, carbon, and titanium. These different elements give stainless steel its different casts and levels of brightness or reflectivity.

Stainless steel countertops can come in different finishes, but they are still limited to different shades of silver gray. When it comes to shade, stainless steel is no longer limited to silver gray, thanks to technological advancements. Colors can now be added to stainless steel, giving stainless steel countertops various color options like copper, bronze, blue, black, and red.

Stainless steel countertop finishes

Stainless steel gets its signature finish, or its degree of brightness and shine, through a process called annealing. In this process, metals are subjected to high temperature levels which change its hardness and overall durability. Some types of stainless steel are rolled into the desired thickness or thinness which also alters their finish.

The basic finishes of stainless steel are gauged in number such as No. 0, No. 2B, No. 4, and so on. Stainless steel countertops usually come in No. 6, No. 7, and No. 8 gauges. These numbers indicate if the stainless steel countertops have a mirror, matte, or reflective finish. Some of the other stainless steel finishes are beaded, satin, bead-blasted coarse, bead-blasted fine, and random swirls. These finishes usually vary depending on the manufacturer or the countertop builder.

Stainless steel countertop colors

Today, stainless steel countertops are no longer limited to matte, mirror, and reflective finishes. Because of a process called chemical bonding, different color pigments can now be added to stainless steel to give it various shades.

Aside from the traditional silver gray shade, some stainless steel countertops are now available in other metallic colors like copper, bronze, and brass. For bolder stainless steel countertop colors, color pigments can be added to the metal to give it a solid black, blue, or red color.

The colors of stainless steel countertops can vary depending on the manufacturer and the process used in coloring stainless steel countertop products.

Stainless steel countertop textures

Stainless steel countertops are also available in different textures and patterns, aside from various finishes and colors. Some countertop patterns include the swirl, alpenglow, vibration, and beaded types. These textures can give more personality to ordinary stainless steel countertops. The countertop patterns and textures can vary depending on the countertop manufacturer.

Caring for your colored stainless steel countertops

Maintaining your colored stainless steel countertop is similar to cleaning the traditional silver gray countertop. This can be done by cleaning the surface daily with a mild soap and water solution to remove and dirt and residue that may have settled on the surface.