Things to consider when choosing a kitchen countertop

The countertop in your kitchen will act as a focal point for the entire room, so it is worth putting some extra thought into! It’s essential to choose a kitchen countertop that suits your taste for style and design, but looks aren’t the only consideration. Cost, durability, and maintenance requirements are all things to consider.

LD&A is a design and renovation company that specializes in major renovations in Calgary. They’ve provided some tips for choosing the perfect countertop for your kitchen renovation.

Choose a countertop that matches your lifestyle

If you’re an avid at-home chef or have kids helping in the kitchen, you’ll want a countertop material that can stand up to heavy use. Engineered quartz is a great choice as it’s scratch, stain, and heat resistant. (*You’ll still want to use a trivet to protect your quartz from excessive heat, though). Quartz is virtually non-porous, so the added resistance to bacteria is a welcome feature with this versatile surface. When sealed properly, granite countertops are heat, stain, and scratch-resistant as well. It would be best if you still used a cutting board for all surfaces, but you won’t damage your countertop with hot pots and pans if you install granite.

For a nearly indestructible countertop, consider concrete. Concrete countertops come in a range of styles and finishes and are gaining popularity. If you think you’ll be hard on your countertops, avoid marble, soapstone, and limestone countertops. While they look fantastic, these natural stones are softer and can easily scratch or chip.

How much maintenance are you willing to put into your countertop?

Depending on the material you choose, a certain level of maintenance is required to keep the countertop looking great. Natural stone countertops like granite and marble require periodic sealing to maintain scratch and stain resistance. Marble, in particular, requires special care due to the softness of the stone.

Butcher block countertops might need to be refinished and must be oiled frequently to seal the surface. Learn how to maintain butcher block countertops.

Engineered quartz is virtually maintenance-free and doesn’t require sealing to maintain scratch and stain resistance. Solid surface countertops such as DuPont Corian or Samsung Staron are also low maintenance, and you can easily buff out scratches. Laminate countertops only require cleaning with soap and water but can scratch more easily.

What is your budget?

Finding a balance between lifestyle, maintenance, aesthetics and your budget is essential. An experienced Calgary renovation company can provide you with multiple options and walk through your priorities to achieve the look, price, and functionality that you are looking for in a countertop.

Engineered quartz can accommodate a range of budgets, but will often fall on the higher end. There are many options including Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria, Hanstone as well as others. Porcelain and natural stone are beautiful options that are also on the mid-higher end of the budget scale.

For a mid-range countertop, consider solid surface. This countertop material comes in a range of colours and designs, is seamless, low maintenance, and durable. While not heat resistant, solid surface countertops can meet a mid-range budget.

The most affordable countertop option is laminate. It’s come a long way over the years and can mimic the look of stone or wood countertops. However, laminate is not heat or scratch-resistant. Laminate can be a budget-friendly, versatile solution for a laundry, craft, or utility room.

Once you’ve determined your main practical priorities, you can have some fun exploring the wide range of colors, patterns, and finishes available for your new countertops. If you’re renovating, start planning with the Calgary interior design team at LD&A.

Contact them here!

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