Steps for choosing a kitchen countertop
- Visit a showroom that has full-scale kitchens on displays. There you’ll see various countertop materials in realistic kitchen settings.
- Laminate counters are composed of thin sheets of plastic laminate glued to a particleboard substrate.
- Plastic laminate comes in a wide range of solid colors and patterns, including ones that resemble stone.
- Wood counters are available in several hardwood species, including teak and maple.
- Don’t use wood counters near sinks or other wet areas.
- Natural stone counters are cut from granite, marble, soapstone, limestone, sandstone, and slate, to name a few.
- Note that natural stone is porous, so it must be sealed regularly to prevent staining.
- An alternative to natural stone is an engineered product called quartz composite. It’s extremely hard and more stain-resistant that natural stone.
- If you’re interested in a natural stone counter, visit a stone fabrication yard and view the full-size slabs in person.
- Marble is a popular countertop material, but because it’s calcium-based, it’s softer and less scratch-resistant than granite. Marble must also be sealed more often.
- Marble can be factory-sealed prior to fabrication, which dramatically increases its stain resistance.
- The marble slab is placed in an oven and warmed to open up its pores.
- Next, liquid penetrating sealer is sprayed onto the warm surface, and then buffing wheels evenly distribute the sealer and force it deep into the surface of the marble.