Posted on: April 6, 2009
Counter Attack
The wear-and-tear headquarters of your home deserves special treatment
By Mirielle Cailles
CTW Features
Image courtesy Kenmore
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the home. Everything from eating, to drinking, to cooking, to entertaining, to relaxing - this one space sees a lot of wear and tear. So when it comes to choosing your kitchen countertop, make sure to consider these tips from the experts to get the most out of your choice.
The mold of the typical countertop goes far beyond marble and laminate, says Christi Barbour of Barbour Spangle Design Group, Inc., High Point, N.C. She recommends that homeowners consider how they use their kitchens and what they need in terms of a countertop, taking into account day-to-day activities and durability. For example, serious bakers should consider stone as an option - it's great for baking and rolling out pastry, Barbour says.
Kathy Borth, owner of KTB Designs, Austin, Texas, likes to encourage clients to choose sustainable and "green" countertop materials. Engineered stones and quartz countertops are less likely to be affected by thermal shock and have a lower maintenance since they do not have to be sealed. "I suggest a quartz material like CaesarStone for durability and resistance to mold and mildew," Borth says. "They look much like granites, soapstone and concrete but without the headaches of resealing and refinishing."
Stones and quartz countertops come in a wide range of colors and patterns, tend to be less expensive and are stain, scratch and heat resistant. But Cher Shuck, of Superior, Colo.-based CS Design Inc., warns that the material can sometimes be more expensive than granite or marble, so make sure to compare prices.
Barbour also recommends that consumers think outside the box by shopping at restaurant supply stores for some unique industrial alternatives to the standard counter.
"Stainless steel is wonderful for kitchen islands," Barbour says. "It's great for prep work and as a hot top."
For the savvy do-it-yourselfer, concrete is an alternative for unusually shaped areas because it can be poured on site, Barbour says. It can give your kitchen a very industrial, modern look. But the upkeep of concrete is a little more diligent, as the material can easily stain.
