Popular kitchen
counter-top materials
The
kitchen counter top is what you might call as the backbone of your kitchen. The
one that takes on the entire burden, from hot pans to piles of flour to
chopping and cutting. Your counter top must be inviting, giving you a nice
clean slate upon which to work that culinary magic, but it’s also got to be
extremely strong, willing and capable of taking on all the heat, grease and
chopping that magic needs.
So,
if you’re making a new home or remodeling your kitchen, make sure that you
choose the right base for it. But given the many choices in the market today,
choosing the material for your counter top can be a bit of a challenge. While
you contemplate, we have a list ready for you already! So, here are the top 6
materials that you can definitely vouch for:
1. Granite
There’s
a reason why this is the most popular choice when it comes to Indian cooking.
For one, the price is very reasonable. Secondly, granite can take on everything
from hot pans to hotter spills. It’s not very likely to get scratched and chipped,
and quick wipe-down can leave it looking almost as good as new. Make sure your
granite is sealed to avoid stains, and keep the weight in mind – your cabinet
supports need to withstand a considerable load. While the traditional black is
a favourite with most but you can try a different colour for variation or
choose between polished and non-polished version.
2. Solid Surface
For
those who are a little less traditionalist in their outlook, and would like
their kitchens to reflect it, solid surface is a contemporary innovation that
might support their style. Made from polyester and acrylic, solid surface can
give you those popping colours and bright surfaces to match your eclectic
tastes. It’s easy to maintain, but might not turn out to be the most practical
option in the long run, as it’s susceptible to cuts and heat. Indian cooking
might not accommodate such delicacy. Also, you might find yourself missing that
natural touch.
3.
Stainless Steel
If
you’ve gazed enviously at those cooking shows where white-clad chefs work in
those spotless stainless steel counter tops, you might want to consider having
one in your own kitchen. Keep in mind that for this to look good, your
interiors have to match. Make your designs modern, angular, minimalist. As for
durability, you can’t get much stronger than stainless steel. However, keep in
mind, the cost factor is relatively high and you might get a little tired
sometimes of all that clanging and banging sounds
4. Marble
There’s
no denying of marble’s aesthetic value. So, if granite isn’t good for you and
your budget expands to cover it, marble is another option. The subtlety of the
patterns & those delicate whites, combined with the cool solid durability
of stone, makes marble not only one of the sturdy choices for kitchen counter
top materials but also stylish. The only hitch is that marble is susceptible to
stains. It might not be so pretty when it’s discoloured and hence its
maintenance is high.
5. Tiles
If
quirky is your style, then maybe you’d like a touch of the unusual and bring
tiles into your kitchen counter top. They come in bright colours, they can
prove quite reasonable when it comes to price and they have a distinctive,
country-cottage charm. However, you might find the uneven surface a little hard
to work with and cleaning up might not prove so charming.
6. Laminates
Laminated
counter tops can give you both the contemporary oddity of style, or simply
replicate a more classic wood or stone finish. Either way, you can be sure that
you’ll cut down hugely on your costs by choosing a laminated surface. It’s easy
to clean and lightweight, reducing the load on the cabinet supports. A word of
caution though- laminates can stain, scratch and get burn marks from hot pans.
The upper layer can peel off due to wear and tear and moisture build-up. Again,
factor in some heavy-duty Indian cooking and you might not find this as the
most viable option.
And
now that you are armed with the right knowledge about kitchen counter top,
choose it wisely and in style. The trick with counter tops, perhaps, is to find
what you can work with first, and then figure out how to make it look good.
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