Kitchen countertops for today

Your kitchen counter plays an important role in establishing the design style of your home. It makes a strong visual and tactile impression. The material you use should be durable enough to resist kitchen greases and stains, as well as attractive and up-to-date. If you’re considering renovating your countertop, select a style that complements your kitchen cabinets and the overall style of your home. Here are some options that are popular today:

granite

Today’s home trend toward a modern look, cleaner lines, and simple patterns has led to less ornate patterns in all countertop materials. However, granite is still a very popular surface for countertops. It is resistant to scratching with knives or etching with cooking acids. Granite is a dense stone formed by minerals crystallized at extremely high temperatures. Here are several options in granite finishes:

Polished: Fine polishing brings out the depth, color, and pattern of the granite. This is the least porous and most reflective of the granite surfaces. Each piece has its own natural movement of pattern and color.

Polished Finish: To create a polished surface, the polishing process is not carried to its full potential. Instead of a polished 3000 grit surface, it stops at a soft shine 600 grit surface. The result is a less formal satin finish. The polished surface is more absorbent, so it will show stains more easily than a closed pore polished surface.

Leather finish: A leather finish starts with a polished surface. It is then swept with diamond-tipped brushes. Brushing closes the pores of the surface and returns the color. The result is a surface between polished and honed. It has a higher shine than a polished finish and is less porous.

Flame Finish: To create this surface, heat is applied with torch force to the granite surface. This causes some of the granite crystals to explode and break, leaving a highly textured surface. This surface is more suitable for outdoor paving than for countertops.

River Wash – To create the river wash texture, the granite is first flamed; it is then swept with a diamond-tipped brush to soften the sharpness of the surface. The result is a rustic texture with an aged and irregular finish.

roof tile

Used on kitchen counters for many years, the tile is scratch and heat resistant. They offer a wide range of colors and patterns that fit well with today’s modern look. Tiles can be made from fired clay or cut from stone. Stone tiles and some clay tiles are rectified. This means they are cut to precise sizes, so they can be placed close together, keeping grout joints to a minimum.

Stone and clay tiles come in a variety of sizes, up to 28 x 28. Large, precisely sized pieces result in a countertop that has a smooth appearance with less exposed grout. Tile is not as expensive as tile material and can be installed by tile installers for less labor cost.

Marble

Shell sediments and plant matter turn into marble stone after millions of years under pressure. Marbles include limestone, travertine, marble, and onyx. Since its main component is calcium, these stones will react to acids such as vinegar and citrus. Marble can be used on kitchen counters as long as there is some tolerance for stains and scratches. The polished finish is better for kitchen countertops, rather than polished. This is because the softer, less formal look will take wear and tear more naturally.

Limestone

Limestone is an organic stone similar to marble, but not as hard. It can be sealed and used for kitchen countertops. However, there will likely be some staining and color variations over time, as the calcium in the limestone is exposed to the acids used in cooking.

Jerusalem Stone is a dense limestone found in Europe and the Middle East and is used for countertops. It offers a warm and soft look in creams and earth tones. Since limestone is absorbent, it must be sealed regularly. Some stains and color variations are part of its organic and rustic appearance.

engineering stones

The trend towards greener finishes has led to a greater use of compositestones. Engineered stones are approximately 93% quartz, 7% epoxy, plus resin and color. Using crushed quartz creates less waste, making it a greener option. However, the cutting and shaping of the material is done by the manufacturers. So the cost is about the same as many granites or stone slabs.

Some familiar names are:

Caesarstone – evokes the look of limestone

Cambria – imitation granite

Silestone – very dense and polished surface

Okite – Adds some graining for a marbled look

Slate and Soapstone

Most slates are too rough for countertop use, however there are some exceptions. Pietra de Cardosa is a gray slate from northern Italy, which could be an alternative to granite. It doesn’t have much pattern movement.

Soapstone is also an alternative to granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain. It has been used for years as a work surface in chemistry laboratories. The colors are mostly gray and black.

ice stone

ceStone is a tile product made from recycled glass on a cement base. Offers a clean, modern look with the shine of glass. Because it uses recycled glass, it is considered an eco-friendly option. Due to manufacturing labor, the cost is similar to natural stone slabs.

Concrete

A good fabricator can build a beautiful concrete countertop in soft colors. Although it is sealed, the homeowner should expect some staining and staining over time. That is part of the organic aspect of concrete. There is a lot of art and craft involved in making a concrete counter. A professional fabricator should be able to hollow out and finish the counter in place. Although concrete is inexpensive, the labor raises the cost up to that of some stone slabs.

stainless steel

Stainless steel has been used for years in professional kitchens. It fits well with today’s chic and contemporary style. Steel is stain resistant and durable, but it scratches and can be noisy. There are brushed or textured finishes that help camouflage scratches. And, when attached to an underlayment of wood, it’s more sound resistant.