Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

KITCHEN TOPS YOU CAN COUNT ON

The kitchen is the heart of the home. When it comes to the best design,
nothing makes or breaks the quality of a kitchen quicker than the counter
space and countertop finishes. During refurbishing projects, the countertop
materials most often make up a significant chunk of the budget, making the
decision to choose the correct countertop quite important.

Ask yourself, “What do I need?”

Before jumping into catalogues and browsing all over for all the options
available, establish what your kitchen space requires. Or rather, what you
need to gain out of your kitchen space? Set up a simple priorities list to
assess these questions, for instance, do you need a countertop that:

• will add a stylish, natural look to your home?
• will not go beyond your budget?
• will be easy to clean?
• will be able to handle tons of traffic and spills?

Familiarise yourself with the materials options

Once you have the criteria for your countertops, it’s time to take a look at the
catalogues to determine which surface selection is tailored to your needs –
below we look at the top five contenders available locally.

Wooden Kitchen Countertops

Wood countertops, one of the most popular options, are the epitome of a
homely yet stylish and eco-friendly kitchen. Whether you choose to go with
freshly-treated or recycled and reclaimed wood, you can’t go wrong.

PROs – Eco-friendly; classic look & feel; easy to refurbish.
CONs – Requires upkeep; prone to rotting; less hygienic.

Stainless Kitchen Countertops

Once associated with cold kitchens in the back of restaurants, the stainless
steel countertop is now a welcome sight if the kitchen design is right. More
and more homeowners are turning to stainless steel as the sleek, safe,
sanitary option for a modern kitchen.

PROs – Hygienic; stylish if done right.
CONs – Expensive; can accumulate dents & scuffs over time.

Quartz Kitchen Countertops

This manmade option is composite consisting of pulverized waste rock and
resins which assist in binding and hardness. This engineered stone
countertop can create a prize kitchen, and dramatically increase the resale
value of a home.

PROs – Durable; stylish; it doesn’t need to be sealed; it is stain resistant; it
is resistant to bacteria; many styles available.
CONs – Expensive; requires experienced installers; very heavy; can look
synthetic.

MARBLE

Think of stylish countertops, and most people will immediately think of marble.
That’s because of its beautifully unique appearance and solid durability.
However, marble kitchen tops do need to be sealed regularly with a top
quality sealer, in order to remain in top condition.

PROs – Beautiful appearance, it’s hygienic, it’s heat resistant.
CONs – Expensive, heavy, easily scratched, easily stained unless properly
sealed.

CONCRETE

When done right, concrete counter tops can give your home a uniquely sleek,
stylish appearance. It has become more popular in recent years, so there are
number of options for surface finishes, including colour, finish and texture.

PROs – Easy to fabricate, customisable, durable.
CONs – Very heavy, requires expert installation, expensive, may develop
cracks, not sealed properly it is susceptible to stains and scratches.

Granite is great!

The top choice in natural stone countertops, granite comes in a variety of
styles and shapes. Whether you want to opt for the most durable option and
go for granite slabs, or if you want to get the granite look without the gruelling
strain on your budget and opt for modular pieces or granite tiles, you can’t go
wrong with this one.

PROs – Very durable and scratch resistant; Very heat resistant; Properly
sealed, it is moisture, chemical and stain resistant; Many unique natural
shades and patterns available.
CONs – Needs regular resealing to stay moisture and stain resistant; Top
quality granite can be expensive.

Don’t be bamboozled by other eco-friendly options, try bamboo!

Often mistaken and lumped in along with wood, bamboo is actually a grass,
and bamboo surfaces are comprised of shredded bamboo fibres blended and
hardened with resins. Even though bamboo isn’t usually anyone’s first choice
when it comes to kitchen counters, it’s usually a better option than wood.

PROs – Sustainable and environmentally friendly, has anti-bacterial
properties, uniquely attractive appearance.

CONs – Not heat, water or stain resistant, it needs regular maintenance,
easily damaged by scratching or chipping.

Luckily, BUCO’s in-store experts know exactly how to help you create the
best kitchen space and give the heart of your home the happiness it
deserves. From countertops to custom-fit cupboards, we understand how to
keep your kitchen looking cool.