Replacing Kitchen Countertops

When you are remodeling your kitchen there’s a lot of things to consider: cabinets, appliances, flooring, sinks and counters. Your counters take a lot of wear and damage every single day: you might put hot pots and pans on them, quickly chop something up or even spill liquids on them regularly. Your counters need to be able to take the daily wear and tear you and your family put on them while looking just as good as the day they were installed.

So, before you install a new counter top here are some things you should know about kitchen renovation and replacing your counters.

Cost

When remodeling your kitchen you should aim to spend about 10 – 15% of your entire renovation budget on the counters including installation. If you either over or under spend on this portion you could end up with counters that just do not look or feel quite right in your kitchen.

Mix it Up

You could consider installing different colours or materials in various areas of your kitchen for added functionality, and to keep it interesting. For example, if someone in your home really enjoys baking you might want to consider adding a marble top to an island in the kitchen for rolling out dough.

Engineered vs. Natural Materials

If you select a solid or artificial material, like engineered stone, what you see is what you get. This is great because what ever the look is you see in a showroom or on display it is pretty much the colouring you will get when you order your own kitchen countertops. If you want a surprise you could go with a material like granite, but since it is a natural counter you do not really know that actual colour you will get until it is at your house and ready to be installed. This, of course, is completely up to you but if you know what you like when you see it then an engineered material might be right for you.

Think Long Term

There are various trends in countertops just like any form of home renovation, but this particular item can last upwards of 15 years in your home before it needs to be replaced. So that really bright and out there colour might seem like a good idea right now but think about it for a while before you actually buy it: this part of your home will last a long time, so make sure you are not making a major purchase on something that will be only trendy for a short period of time.

Know Your Materials

There are three popular kinds of materials, normally, for higher end kitchen countertops: solid surface, engineered stone and granite. Each of these has its own pros and cons and it really depends on your lifestyle as to which one is right for you. It is really important, though, to research each one and what it can offer you so that when you make this large purchase you are comfortable knowing you made the best choice for you.

Overall, selecting new countertops is a big decision in terms of renovating your kitchen and no matter which style, colour or material you are going with knowing what you are purchasing is going to ensure you get the right option for you.