Remodeling your house is a great way to customize your space and reveal your ideal home, and choosing your countertop is a fantastic way. A new countertop can be a sizeable investment however, so you want to make sure that you’re not going to end up with regrets that might end up costing you precious time and money. To help you make the best possible choice to suit your home, here’s 10 tips and points to consider when choosing your countertop.
1. Take your time when choosing your countertop material
Choosing your countertop material is possibly the most important choice you will be making, and it informs all the other factors to consider. The best advice possible when it comes to selecting the ideal countertop material is to choose one that best fits your lifestyle and what you intend to use it for. A kitchen countertop with frequent spills might not be best with a more porous material for example. Once you’ve figured out the physical properties that your countertop requires, you can select a material within those specifications that accentuates the aesthetic of your home.
2. Be realistic when it comes to how much it will cost
Being realistic when it comes to buying a countertop is key as they can be expensive depending on the material you choose. For considerations of expense it can be best to talk to experts in countertop installation, you can tell them what look you’re going for and your budget, and they can provide you with your best options. Depending on your preference it’s completely possible to get a countertop that looks great for a steal of a price.
3. Investigate your full range of colour options
The ideal colour for your countertop is one that compliments its surroundings, naturally blending in whilst highlighting the overall aesthetic of the area. A traditional example of this would be a white countertop in an overall white bathroom, a classic look that exemplifies cleanliness and hygiene. Alternatively, an unconventionally coloured kitchen countertop can create a fun and modern area perfect for creativity. Matching your countertop material with function and colour can be challenging but is highly rewarding.
4. Consider a variety of different designs
There are a wide variety of potential countertop designs available to you, allowing you to customise to perfectly fit your countertop to your home. The options available are far too vast to cover here, there are options for different colours, patterns, contrasts and combinations for any mood or aesthetic you are trying to create. Consider pink marble for a casual yet luxurious feel, or black granite for a calm and cool design. Whatever you need, there is definitely a countertop design that you will love. It’s just a matter of looking long enough.
5. Be sure to consider the environment in which you will be using the countertop
As mentioned earlier, the environment in which you plan on placing the countertop can be very important for determining its composition. If you purely consider the environment then a solid pick for the kitchen would be a granite countertop, owing to the fact that granite is extremely durable and doesn’t stain very easily. Alternatively, a quartz countertop may be a good choice for a bathroom as a properly sealed countertop can be easily cleaned, whilst blending well with the traditional white colour palette of a bathroom environment. Matching the right countertop to the environment you’re considering is key to a successful countertop installation that will provide you with the longevity you would hope for with such an investment.
6. The life expectancy of your countertop is part materials and part maintenance
The life expectancy of a countertop can be hard to quantify, as it heavily depends on usage and maintenance. A well maintained and lightly used granite or quartz countertop may well outlast a natural stone equivalent that is neglected. As the life expectancy of a countertop is closely linked to maintenance you may want to consider a material that is easy to clean and maintain, such as quartz. It is also sensible to consult countertop installation experts for advice on properly sealing more porous countertop materials to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
7. Be sensible and patient when it comes to the installation period
A good time frame to keep in mind when it comes to countertop installation is at least a few months. As mentioned, a new countertop can be expensive, and you want to make sure you’re making the right call. This means consulting experts, making decisions about materials and patterns, construction, and installation. Whilst you could in theory rush this process it is a bad idea, a well-considered and patient approach can land you a countertop that adds the perfect finishing touch to your home, and a hasty decision can mean having to start again.
8. Do not forget to consider Heat-Resistance
Heat resistance isn’t necessarily the first thing that springs to mind when considering countertop installation, but it is vital to consider that kitchen renovation Toronto suggests you. Laminate is a great example of a material that can resist scratches and scrapes well but is vulnerable to melting when confronted with high temperatures. If you have identified a countertop as a space likely to be exposed to high temperatures on a routine basis, such as in a kitchen, it is wise to consider materials that are more resistant to thermal expansion in order to ensure a long life span.
9. Consider going Eco-Friendly
Going green is an increasingly common choice for countertops and presents an interesting option when buying your own. Choosing ethically sourced stone can be an excellent choice both aesthetically and environmentally, as well as being a fun conversation piece. This can even be taken one step further with options like recycled glass counters, which are expensive but flashy and unique.
10. Talk to an expert
This is the last of the 10 tips and it is by far the most important, any countertop seller worth doing business with has experienced professionals on staff who will be happy to give you advice on everything you would possibly need in order to end up with your ideal countertop. The team at Granite & Quartz installations are happy to provide counter top services. If you’re happy they’re happy, so they are sure to give you the best advice going.