Countertops
have come a long way since the days when laminate was king. By combining
form with function, they set a tone and a standard. Be it the classic
elegance of granite or wood, a colorful solid surface or laminate, or
the sleek feel of stainless steel, countertop options abound.
Countertops
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General
Dealers price counter surfaces by lineal or square foot, with template,
delivery, and installation (TDI) quoted in the total price of the
countertop. Prices vary depending on texture, color, pattern, intricacy
of edging, number of holes, sink type, and seams. Seams affect look and
durability, and can lead to water seepage that warps wood and causes
laminate to pull away from its substrate. A qualified, certified kitchen
designer can help research qualified manufacturers and fabricators.
Heavy countertops, like cement, natural, and engineered stones, are held
in place with gravity and fixative, while other counters are screwed and
glued. Prices range from $16 per lineal foot for some laminates, to $100
per square foot or more for specialty stones. Since countertop pricing
ranges from the economical to the astronomical, it's important to
consider longevity, durability, maintenance, and price installed.
Concrete
 Concrete
is one of the more dynamic products to grace the
kitchen. It boasts texture and detailing unlike any solid
product. It is porous in nature, absorbs stains easily, and must
be sealed regularly. At an inch-and-a-half thick, concrete
weighs the same as a granite countertop. But, since concrete
must be poured and cured prior to installation, it's
important
to get it right. "The type of concrete used for countertops
is
highly engineered. Every fabricator has a different
formula,"
says Gerry Santora, President of Soupcan, Inc., a counter
manufacturer in Chicago. The countertop fabricator should
first template then create the countertop from a pre-cast mold
in a controlled factory setting. On-site casting might
result in
a one-piece installation, but will require major demolition should
the countertop need to be
removed. Concrete runs about $100 per square foot installed. |
Engineered
Stone
 Engineered
stone is a quartz-composite product mixed with
colored pebbles, polymers, and epoxy. It has an even pattern
and more color options than natural stone. So, if a kitchen calls
for more counter space, it's easy to order the same
pattern
and shade. Engineered stone is an extremely durable product
that takes the heat and resists stains. Engineered stone is
one-and-a-quarter inches thick, and is installed using
epoxy.
At $50 to $100 per square foot, engineered stone is as
costly
as granite. |
Stainless
Steel
 Stainless
steel is chic, contemporary, and noted for its association
with professional kitchens. It is stain resistant, and the only
surface
that can be safely bleached. Newer applications include brushed or
textured finishes that help camouflage scratches. Welded
stainless-steel sinks create an integrated look, while
backsplashes
with corrugated patterns create dimension. Stainless steel, when
attached to a wood substrate, becomes more sound resistant.
Regular rolled edges, bullnose, or Marine edges (no drip),
are
standard. Stainless steel runs anywhere from $100 to $200
per
square foot.
|
Stone
 Natural
stone needs to be seamed, is typically sealed to protect
it from damage and stains, and sells for anywhere from $50
to
$100 per square foot installed. Granite is quarried
worldwide,
with colors and patterns that reveal the region and the geological
conditions that created it. "These are wild creations
of nature,"
says Stephanie Witt, former president of the National Kitchen
and
Bath Association. With granite, each slab is unique, with
random
and inconsistent patterns. Buyers may visit the fabricator to
select
their own slabs. Granite is graded for a host of variables
including
density, strength, water absorption, and acid resistance.
Granite
tiles are less costly but have more seams, while a 3/4-inch
granite
sheet can also be purchased and applied to a wood substrate
for
the same look at less cost and weight. |
Marble
Marble
is less stain-resistant and more porous than
granite, so it may be damaged by acidic foods. New
England slate, from New York, Vermont, and Maine,
is durable, non-porous, and requires no sealing.
Certified kitchen designer Diane Tardif, owner of
Woodstock Kitchens and Baths in Vermont, favors
slate for breakfast bars and counters. "The beauty
of
slate is that it comes to room temperature," she says.
Natural stone runs from $50 to $100 per square foot,
with black slate, followed by red slate as the most
expensive. |
Wood
 Wood
has a warm and luminous appeal for countertops
and kitchens. Oak, maple, cherry, red beech, walnut,
teak, and mahogany are all hardwoods favored for
countertop applications. Some exported wooden
countertops are built with finger-jointed construction
and installed with miter-bolted seams for added
durability. Wood is one of the more sanitary products for
the kitchen, with inherent properties in to protect it from
bacteria build-up. Maintenance is required, however,
starting with regular mineral oil treatments, particularly
near the sink, and extra caution with extremely hot
cookware. Prices for wood countertops range from $50 to
$100 per square foot installed.
|
Solid
Surfacing
 Solid
surface countertops offer seamless acrylic faces with seams
that are only visible from the underside. With solid
surfacing, sink
and counter materials can be integrated to create a fluid,
graceful
line. Solid surfaces come in a rainbow of colors, patterns,
and
styles, including stone and glass look-alikes. They are stain
and
heat resistant, with more edging and border options than natural
stone. Scratches are easily softened with a non-abrasive
scrubbing
pad. |
Laminate
 Laminate
countertops are economical and come in a host of
colors and patterns, but they are not built to last. Laminate
is
not scratch or heat resistant, but it is stain resistant. For
a
nominal cost, manufacturers such as Wilsonart and Nevamar
will upgrade a surface to extend the life of the laminate.
Laminate
is glued onto an inch-and-a-half particleboard base and can
be
constructed using a home store's standard blank. Fancy edges
like
bevels and curves must be custom ordered, however. For
cosmetic revamps, sheets of laminate can be glued to the existing
particleboard substrate. With Counter-seal, under-mount
sinks
are also an option with laminate countertops. |
Ceramic
Tile
 Ceramic
tile remains a popular and economical option. It is
scratch and heat resistant, but high maintenance, since the
grout
needs to be sealed regularly for optimal stain protection. Ceramic
tile runs from $11 to $30 per square foot. Keep in mind that
undertaking a laminate or tile installation can be a
difficult for
the non-professional, so its best to do the homework first.
|
LavaStone
 Lavastone is heating things up in more ways than one. Best suited for
homeowners craving a natural top in a color well outside the typical range,
the enameled material comes in an unlimited pallet of colors. Offered by
manufacturers like Pyrolave, the glazed volcanic rock is non-porous,
keeping stains at bay. Cost: $210 and up
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** Information is an
excerpt from Bob
Vila's How-To page, Text by Joyce
Carrol **
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