Kitchen Countertops

If you are upgrading your kitchen in Toronto to accommodate a growing family, then you must consider making it as child friendly as you can. A lot of homeowners do not give this serious thought until they realize that the expensive stone countertop is beginning to wear out a lot sooner than expected.

When children become a part of the family, the time that you spend in the kitchen will increase.

And you can always expect them to follow you around into the kitchen, try and fix their own snacks, do their homework and possibly help you with your chores.

One of the most important things that needs to be tailored according to kids, is the countertop. There are countertops and then there are child friendly countertops.

Child friendly does not merely mean having a countertop with blunt edges either. It means choosing a material that will be forgiving to the wear and tear.

Here are our top choices.

Granite

Most parents wouldn’t consider Granite as a child friendly countertop material until a few years ago because of the many micro-fractures which form on the surface of the stone during installation. But now, newer sealants are available which makes it completely non-porous. So, you can rest aside your fears that the countertop is harbouring germ colonies.

When it comes to durability and styling, Granite doesn’t even deserve a second thought. Dropped glass and spilled juices are not going to affect it one bit. It is scratch and stain resistant. And it is available in more colours than you’d imagined. Speak to your supplier to know more about the colour choices in Granite.

Quartz

If you thought Granite was good, wait till you meet the new guy in town, Quartz. Quartz has all the features of Granite minus the maintenance woes. You no longer have to worry about resealing the stone once every few years. And being an engineered surface, all the tiny niggles have been engineered out of Quartz. It is available in a plethora of colours and you can easily find one that fits into your kitchen. It is 99.9% germ free.

Laminate

The most important thing that homeowners would like to know is how Quartz performs when lined up against Granite. It is considered to be almost five times harder than Granite. The resin makes it completely non porous for its entire lifespan. So you do not need to reseal it ever. It does not harbour bacteria and is impervious to stains. Does that sum it up?

The Design Choices are abundant

The low cost, the many colours and the completely non-porous surface makes laminate a very good choice for family kitchens. Its kid friendly features go beyond the germ resistance. It is one of the most durable surfaces available for countertops that won’t get scratched or damaged easily. Many homeowners choose laminate when the kids are smaller and then replace it once the kids grow up.

Solid Surface

Solid surface countertops are extremely durable and made of acrylic. Available in a multitude of colours and patterns, it allows you to choose a kid friendly surface without compromising on the aesthetics. It is extremely resilient to scratches and minor scratches can easily be sanded out.

You can choose any one of these countertop materials for your home in Toronto, according to your budget and décor. Once you have selected a kid friendly countertop surface, you can always tailor the rest around it.