Home Improvement

Have you glanced at your counters lately and wondered if it’s time for replacement? If you have, then changing them doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.  Yet, as you prepare to upgrade your kitchen counters, you want to have an idea of what kind of counters you want.

Here are five ideas to help you decide which countertop is right for you:

Quartz - This countertop material needs little maintenance to continue looking wonderful. It’s very tough and resists nicks, scratches and heated objects. However, if you are looking for cheap, you won’t find it here. Quartz can be costly. Still, it’s an investment worth having.

Ceramic Tile - This type of countertop is easy to install and is tough and resists heat. If you want to color coordinate your kitchen, you can often find a countertop that will match your floor. The two drawbacks to ceramic tile are that it can crack fairly easily if something is slammed down on top of it and they may not be completely even.

Stone - These countertops work well to resist cold, hot and water. They look nice and provide a smooth feel. However, stone finishes are often costly and if scratches should appear, they are difficult to remove.

Plastic laminate - The majority of homes have plastic laminate counters. Why? These are quite inexpensive, easy to install, clean and have a large amount of color and pattern variety. However, there are drawbacks to this popular countertop. Extreme heat can ruin it and when it’s installed, seams can be seen.

Solid surface - This kind of countertop won’t leave a seam, less likely to damage from heat and water. If it’s got a scratch, it can be sanded out. However, the two drawbacks: it’s expensive and there aren’t near as many colors like the plastic laminate.

If you so choose, combine countertop types. You don’t have to stick with one type if you don’t want to. Make your home the way you want your home to look.