Kitchen Countertop Options
What You Need To Know Before Buying A Kitchen Countertop
The elegance and style of a kitchen countertop is dependent on a combination of its many features, and not just
on any one item. These features includes the choice of countertop material, its beauty and quality, the overall
design, the finishing edges and the supporting brackets, if there are any.
An average observer will only see the overall impact of the countertop and may consider it attractive based only
on this overall impression. He may not be aware that any of these features can affect the overall appearance of the
whole countertop itself. If you consider the effects of these features on the overall appearance of your kitchen
countertop, your choice of kitchen countertop options will almost always be right.
I. Countertop Material Options
 Bamboo
Countertops
Modern eco-friendly kitchens have made the bamboo kitchen countertop grow in
popularity. Bamboo has been used for clothing, beddings, furniture and now as a countertop material. Bamboo is
also a durable material and is even harder than some hardwood. Therefore you can expect your bamboo countertop
to last for a long time. The cost of a bamboo countertop is definitely lower than the cost of granite or
stainless steel countertop. The uninstalled price of the plank-type bamboo countertop is about $35 per square
foot, while the grain-type is about $22.
 Concrete Countertops
Homebuilders, in their desire to look for alternative countertop designs have come up with concrete countertops,
which can rival granite when it comes to durability and strength. As far as aesthetics is concerned, a concrete
surface can be made attractive by adding various color pigments, acrylic, aggregates and fillers. They are made
stronger by using wire mesh and reinforcing steel bars and fiberglass. An attractive and stylish finish is made
possible by polishing the concrete surface. The cost will vary depending on the color, finish and components of the
countertop. Usually, the ground polished concrete countertop will cost around $65 to $75 per square foot. The most
expensive is the diamond polished which costs about $180 to $200 per square foot.
Copper Countertops
If you are looking for an
unconventional countertop with style, copper countertops would be one of your options. Copper will transform your
ordinary traditional kitchen countertop to a very unique and avant-garde piece of furniture. Your countertop will
project that certain sophistication and style that no other material can. This is very appropriate for high-end
homes. Prices of copper countertops range from $98.87 to $137.91 per square foot depending on the quality of copper
sheet metal used.
 Glass Countertops
The
eye-catching beauty of glass makes it a very stylish and elegant kitchen countertop material. Designers
recommend it as an accent countertop because of its stunning looks especially when back lighted. You can
choose from a variety of glasses made with beautiful variations of textures and colors. This will make your
kitchen countertop truly unique. Glass being one of the more expensive materials is priced at $100 to $200 per
square foot, depending on the color and texture. A more affordable alternative is the recycled glass which is
only $50 per square foot with colors and textures not too far from the more expensive glass.
 Granite
Countertops
Most homeowners who can afford it will readily choose kitchen granite countertops for their
kitchen and bathroom countertops. No wonder, because granite is inherently beautiful and strong. Granite, if
properly maintained, can be used for a long time without losing its elegance. This stone comes in a wide
variety of colors and vein patterns. Colors range from white to black with different shades in between. You
can also find granites of yellow, green, brown, and gold. But this combination of beauty and quality does not
come cheap. Granite is one of the most expensive countertop materials on the market today. It costs about
$30 to $175 per square foot, depending on the grade level, and quality of the stone.
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Marble Countertops
It is
easy to be impressed with the qualities of marble. This stone is beautiful, which is proven by the
fact that it is used for making statues and works of art. Marble is also strong, as shown by the
many structures, floors and walls that were built using it. Because of these exceptional qualities,
marble is also used for building countertops. But marble countertops are expensive because you just
can’t bring down the price of a beautiful and hardy material. For this reason, only a few can
afford to build them. However, for those who really want the elegance of marble, they can opt for
the next best thing: cultured marble which is more affordable. This product is made of crushed
marble combined with polyester and color pigments. It can be made even harder than marble and
certainly just as beautiful. |
 Onyx Countertops
The traditional use of onyx is for ornamental purposes, but with the recent trend going to alternative countertop
materials, it is now becoming a popular material for decorative countertops. Onyx countertops are unique and very
attractive because of their translucent qualities. It is available in a variety of colors,
such beige, yellow, white and gold. Onyx’s darker shades include red, green, blue, black and brown. It is more
brittle and a bit softer when compared to granite, therefore it is better used for decorative
countertops. Still, you can use them for kitchen countertops if it will not be subjected to very frequent usage and
if it will be strengthened, sealed and laminated adequately. Be extra careful in using them because a square foot
of onyx will cost you between $100 and $500.
 Quartz
Countertops
Modern kitchen countertop options include quartz countertops. This type of
material is called engineered stone because it is produced by combining natural quartz with epoxy resin. It
has the looks of natural stone and the countertop is so integrated and compacted that it needs no sealing. The
material is non-porous, looks very clean with vein patterns and colors that are more uniform than granite. It
is rather expensive with a square foot costing from $30 to $125. If you’re looking for a countertop that looks
like stone with more uniform appearance, quartz could be your choice.
 Solid-Surface
Countertops
These types of countertops are completely man-made. They have a material advantage
of being consistent throughout, meaning there are no weak spots on the material. This is the reason why they
are popular today. They can also allow the integration of molded sinks negating the need for seams. With the
addition of a built-in seamless backsplash the resultant countertop structure is water-tight sealed, where
liquid has no chance of penetrating. These countertops are stain and scratch-free, non-porous, strong and very
easy to clean. But heat can discolor the surface and may crack therefore you need to be careful and avoid
directly putting a hot pan over the surface. It is more affordable than granite being priced at about $40 to
$80 per square foot.
 Stainless Steel
Countertops
If you want a modern yet elegant looking countertop, then you can go for stainless
steel countertops. Stainless steel projects a professional image because of its polished surface. Although
there are different grades of stainless steel that can be used, experts in the field recommend the 304
stainless steel. It has better stain resistance and is good for food preparation. The price per square foot
ranges from $60 to $85.
 Wood Countertops
Another
eco-friendly product, the wood countertop can be made of a whole chunk of wood, wood strips or blocks of wood
glued together. Wood gives that rustic, warmth feeling to any home that steel or stone can’t. If wood blocks
or strips are used, they are arranged according to the wood grain so that the wood countertop will be durable.
Some manufacturers mix compatible wood grains to come up with exciting designs. The typical cost of a wood
kitchen countertop ranges from $30 to $150 per square foot.
With regards to granite countertops, there are a number of options as to how they are completed or finished.
This generally refers to their granite edge. Without these edges, granite countertops will seem like they are still
unfinished. Here are the basic kitchen countertop options if you have a granite countertop.
Straight Edge – the corner of the edges are eased off about 1/8 inch to reduce the sharpness.
The edge is still perpendicular (90º) from the top and bottom surface of the countertop.
Bevel – the edge has an angle of 45º from the top or bottom of the countertop surface. The
bevel can be ¼, ½, or reversed.
Bullnose – the edge has a circular shape. Variations include the ¼ bullnose, the half bullnose,
the full bullnose and the demi bullnose.
Ogee Edge – the fancy edge with complex and intricate combinations of bevel and bullnose and
other shapes. Variations include standard, flat, deep, waterfall, double bullnose and cove bullnose
Another consideration you have to make is countertop brackets. If you have a very heavy and very big granite
countertop, then you will most probably need to support its weight by brackets. They are typically made of steel.
There are also different types of supporting brackets for countertops.
Standard Countertop Bracket - this standard type has 16 variations in the basic design. The
supporting bracket is positioned at the bottom surface of the countertop and the countertop cabinet or
platform.
Floating Countertop Support – this type has 8 variations in its basic design. The design is
regarded as fine hardware.
Hidden Countertop Support – this design has 3 variations. This is actually a steel plate with a
cross bar which can provide adequate countertop support while remaining hidden from view.
Wood Brackets – if you have a wood countertop, this bracket could be the most suitable support.
They can be ergonomically designed to give you enough leg room at the bottom of the countertop. You can choose wood
brackets made of hard maple, cherry, alder and red oak.
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