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Top 5 Materials for Kitchen Countertops

Countertops are one of the focal points in every kitchen. Although the details truly make a kitchen into a masterpiece, it’s hard to say anything makes a bigger visual impact than the countertops and cabinets, which are two of the biggest investments you can make into your cooking space. For this reason, it’s a big decision when it comes to choosing the material, color, and details for your dream kitchen. If you’re currently in the process of making this exciting choice, here are the five most popular materials when it comes to selecting your kitchen countertops.

Quartz
Some people may think of granite as the most durable countertop material, but the winner is actually quartz. If durability and strength are your priorities, then look no further than quartz. These countertops are the combined effort of man and mother nature, which is probably why they’re so great. Crushed quartz stone is mixed with a resin to produce these beautiful countertops that can be found in a number of styles and colors, and will also beat natural stone in an arm-wrestling competition. The cost of quartz does reflect that, and you’ll find it to be a higher end option. However, if you do choose to pay that price tag, you’ll sleep easy knowing it’s a huge investment in the equity of your home and that your counters will be sure to last.

Granite
Granite is a classic option, and a very durable one as well. Although slightly less tough than quartz, you’ll find its performance and longevity to be just as satisfying if you care for it properly.   Although granite used to be reserved for houses in a higher price range due to its cost, it has actually become much more affordable in recent years and is now something many more people can aspire to owning.

Tile
Tile is a classic option for very good reasons. It’s durable, it’s affordable, and it offers a lot (a lot) of ability to customize. The main danger with tile is obviously chipping or cracking, which can really compromise the beauty of a kitchen, but it’s virtually unrivaled when it comes to stain resistance. Plus with proper care, you can build a stunning kitchen with any colors and patterns that you can imagine, which will surely last for years to come.

Recycled Glass
This is a relatively new countertop material on the scene, but it’s an excellent one. Crushed glass doesn’t scratch, chip, burn, or stain, and it doesn’t fade over time, either. It’s also made from recycled materials such as bottles, traffic lights, and other disposed glass – so it’s an incredibly eco-friendly purchase, too. As with everything, it does have a few disadvantages. The first is if you’ve set it with acrylic (versus cement), acid can eat away at the surface, and it can also crack if something too heavy is sat on the corner. The price tag is also on the higher end, but purchasing it will guarantee a beautiful, tough, and eco-friendly kitchen that you can feel proud of owning.

Wood
Wood counters are not only beautiful, but we’ve also learned wood is exceptional at killing bacteria, which makes it a wonderful work surface for handling foods. In addition to knowing you’re keeping you and your family quite a bit healthier, you will also enjoy the fantastic benefit of extreme heat resistance without the fear of cracking like stones and tile can. They are much more demanding in terms of regular maintenance, whereas stone is less work, but if you’re willing to care for them, they’ll look absolutely beautiful for many, many years.