Debating new countertops?
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The house I
grew up in had some pretty well worn laminate kitchen counters
by the time we did some remodeling 20 years ago. Yet, that
off-white counter managed to stay put, as if somehow it had
become a permanent member of the family. Over the years, the
edging caught on belt buckles or backpacks and broke or peeled
off. My dad always lovingly glued it back on in several places
over the years, despite holes here and there. Hideous as it is,
the rolled edges, integral backsplash and eating counter were
always very practical. Today there are so many magazines,
newspapers, coupons, junk mail and old calendars piled on the
counter, it would be difficult to tell if it has in fact been
replaced. But I doubt it.
The following
primer to countertops is as much for the readers who write in asking for
guidance as it is for Mom and Dad, in case they ever decide to replace
their off-white wonder.
Plastic Laminate
Plastic laminate has been, and still is,
the overwhelming best seller with fully 80 percent of the market in our
area. Also referred to as Formica (a brand name) by many, this material
is inexpensive, very easy to clean, installs quickly and easily, and is
durable. Laminate can be damaged by sharp objects and can be scorched
by very hot items. Poor installation can lead to conspicuous seams.
Newer, more expensive "solid color" laminates eliminate the unsightly
brown center of the material that you may see at the exposed trimmed
edges. Technology has improved the once very poor look of faux wood
grain laminates. I recently saw surprisingly realistic leather and
granite-looking laminate that would have been a pathetic joke several
years ago. Leaves and other materials can be simulated quite well too.
Derivatives of this material are now very popular flooring materials.
Laminate counters called "post-formed" come completely pre-fabricated,
with integral substrate, backsplash and a rolled front edge.
Post-formed cannot be used in custom installations. Laminate cannot be
repaired if damaged.
Cost: $13-$25 per
square foot
installed, and about half that for post-formed.
Tile
Tile is the second most popular
countertop material in our area. Installation techniques have improved
greatly in recent years. Older tile installations may suffer from
stained and cracked grout, and/or loose tiles as a result of poor
installation or maintenance. With high-quality grout sealers and
cement-board underlayments, these problems disappear. Tile can be
fairly easily repaired if necessary. Tile is undeniably beautiful and
is extremely versatile regarding colors and textures. Porcelain tiles
are very popular lately; they tend to be a bit "warmer" than glazed
ceramic tile. Tile also can be made to look like other materials,
particularly more expensive materials such as slate or marble. One of
the more common complaints about tile is the sometimes-uneven surfaces
and the resulting difficulty cleaning it.
Cost: Starts at $20
per square foot installed.
Butcher Block
Butcher
block is milled from maple trees. No need to pull out the cutting board
to protect the counter, as this material is a huge cutting board. This
natural material was very popular in the past, used sometimes for
complete kitchens or large sections of counter. Butcher block has lost
some of its sales luster recently. While it may be associated with
disco and the 70s, this is not your harvest gold refrigerator! It's
still popular as an accent material surrounded by tile in the middle of
a work area, for example. Butcher block is easy to work with, and can
be repaired if necessary. Recently developed sealers and oils help a
great deal when butcher block is installed abutting a sink. Even so,
water staining and heat scorching are still possible. Special care is
needed to keep this type of counter clean, as bacteria are sometimes
harder to remove than on other materials, particularly when the wood
surface is roughed up. Mold growth also can occur easily if not cleaned
well. Despite the drawbacks, there are few other materials that lend
such a warmth and sense of authenticity to a room.
Cost: $40-80 per
square foot installed.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has really not caught on in any degree in this area
outside of commercial kitchens. It lends a certain institutional feel,
requiring contemporary furnishings, by current thinking. Stainless is
unrivaled in easy cleanup and resistance to heat. It may show dirt,
water spots and other debris more readily than other materials due to
relative sheen (which can be altered). It can be dented and scratched.
Stainless is difficult to alter in the field, so precise measurements
and fabrication are critical. Copper, zinc and nickel have been used
for counters also.
Cost: $75-100 per
square foot for installed stainless steel.
Solid Surface
Solid-surface materials such as Corian, Swanstone, Fountainhead or
Avonite are made of acrylic or polyester resins and fillers. Corian was
the original, but Dupont’s patent expired, allowing competitors to enter
the market. And did they ever. In droves. The products are very
similar, varying only slightly in chemical composition. Yeah, it’s
plastic, but it sure does look good! Solid surface materials come in a
variety of colors. This material was one of the first to incorporate
integral sinks, heat bars for hot pots, and has pioneered fantastic edge
treatments and details. Seams in solid-surface materials are virtually
invisible. Solid-surfacing materials are easy to clean and stain
resistant. Minor surface blemishes can be sanded out (although the
sheen may slightly change). High heat and sharp knives can damage the
material. Specially trained and certified contractors install this
material, adding to the cost. Cast polymers (cultured marble) are
sometimes confused with these solid-surface materials. Cast polymers
are not marketed as materials acceptable for kitchen usage.
Cost: $75 a square
foot for solid surfaces. Multiple details can increase the bill further
double it, even.
Granite
Granite is currently a very popular countertop in more expensive homes,
as it fits well in both contemporary and traditional decor. Available
in many colors, in individual tiles or hulking slabs, the material is
resistant to blemishes. Acidic food and oils can stain it, however,
sealers will reduce this tendency. Granite needs periodic buffing and
sealing. As with any product mined from the earth, slab size can be
limited. Some say granite is "cold." Put some in my house I'll warm it
up and report back later.
Cost: Slabs start at
$80 per square foot Granite tiles are less expensive.
Soapstone
Soapstone is a personal favorite of mine, simply for the look and feel.
The light gray/blue color darkens over time. It has excellent stain and
acid resistance and is actually very easy to work with. While it's a
very dense material, it is softer than granite, allowing scratches to be
sanded out. Treatment with mineral oils is needed periodically.
Cost: Closely
mirrors granite.
Slate
Slate comes in limited colors, although certainly more choices than
soapstone. It can delaminate (outer layers have been known to peel or
lift off) although this is not common if the material is chosen well.
Thinner pieces of slate have been known to be very brittle, although
countertop slate is well over an inch thick. Its acid and stain
resistance is very good, and it is totally impervious to heat. Most
slate needs no sealer or maintenance whatsoever, and scratches can be
buffed with steel wool.
Cost: $65-80 per
square foot
Concrete
Concrete is the latest trendy material to hit the showrooms. No, this
is not at all like laying a city sidewalk on the counter! Cast-in-place
does occur, but most are prefabricated in a factory. Concrete can be
fabricated to make pretty much any color, texture or finish desired.
Done correctly, they will not develop aesthetically displeasing visible
cracks, although this plagued early installations. Materials such as
fiber rein-forcers and good old-fashioned steel rebar and mesh help
reduce cracking that might otherwise occur. Concrete will crack.
Period. It is the trick and challenge of the builders to control how
much and where, making it invisible from the top. Pieces of glass, metal
or specially colored rock may be added, then ground down and polished
for a specific look. Concrete does stain easily, but the imperfections
and surface inconsistencies become part of the charm. The texture seems
to get richer as it ages. Sinks and other accessories can easily be
cast into the counter. As this material (also tile and the mined
materials excluding soapstone) is so incredibly hard, it may be tougher
on clumsily handled dishes than more forgiving materials such as wood or
laminate. Concrete counters can be very expensive due to fabrication
and transportation issues. Each installation is completely customized.
Cost: Starts around
$75 per square foot.
Quartz Composites
Quartz composites are recent arrivals and are made to look like granite,
but cheaper. In reality, they are only slightly cheaper. Caesarstone,
Zodiaq and Silestone are a few of the better-known brands. The big-box
home-improvement retailers in our area carry at least two of these.
Sales are very strong by all accounts. No regular maintenance is needed
and they are stain, heat and scratch resistant. Always the skeptic when
it comes to new and unproven building products claiming to be all things
to all people, I am hopeful this material wears well. Complaints of
shortages of trained installers, exclusive sales contracts and lack of a
proven in-service track record have kept some of the custom kitchen and
cabinet shops from dealing in these materials.
Cost: Starts at $70
per square foot.
Kitchen countertops
are limited only by imagination and pocketbook. Ever hear of a nickel,
zinc or copper countertop? Those with no children, a lot of Windex and
a Costco-size stash of paper towels may find themselves with frosted or
tinted tempered glass. For something different from any neighbor, look
across the Atlantic at Finnish fiber-cement, or even French lava rock
for a mere $300 per square foot.
The rest of us with
— ahem — limited budgets may have to settle for the slightly more
mundane, yet probably more practical counter materials described above.
And if those don't
quite meet your needs, you can always do what Mom and Dad did and hang
on to that good ol' laminate.
Countertop Tips:
• When pricing and
choosing materials, note that there are many extra-cost options.
Backsplashes are rarely included in a generalized price. Edge
treatments, material joints, substrate, sink cutouts, sink purchases,
sink installations (particularly under-mounts), corners, complex
designs, extra detailing, coving, inlays, trim, drain boards,
transportation and delivery can all add to the cost.
• Altering the
counter thickness may cause appliances and window trim to need
adjustment. Some countertops were built "flush" with the bottom of
windows — this obviously needs to be accounted for if increasing the
height of the counter when adding thicker counter material.
• Electrical
receptacles and switches may need relocating to allow a new backsplash
to fit. Adding extra height to a backsplash, or even creating a complete
backsplash up to the bottom of cabinets above the counter can look
luxurious and be a very impressive upgrade. |
