Kitchen Countertops
Think style, durability, and easy maintenance
Chop on it, knead on it, serve from it: you ask a lot, every day, of your kitchen counter-top. No one material is best for all purposes, but each of those described below and on the facing page looks distinctive and has specific merits.
Disadvantages. It can scratch, chip, and burn, and it's hard to repair. Ready-made postformed tops can look cheap; other edgings may collect water and grime. Conventional laminate has a dark backing that shows at its seams; new solid-color laminates, designed to avoid this, are more expensive and somewhat brittle. High-gloss laminates show every smudge.
What are the choices?
Plastic laminate, ceramic tile, solid-surface acrylics, wood, stainless steel, and stone are the six major countertop materials in current use. We discuss each of these options here. Cast concrete and soapstone are both showing up, too -- most often in modernistic and traditional designs, respectively.Shopping around
The problem is that you probably won't find all these materials in the same place. Some dealers are listed in the yellow pages under Countertops or Kitchen Cabinets & Equipment; they'll probably have tile, plastic laminate, solid-surface products, and -- maybe -- wood. Large home centers and lumberyards usually carry plastic laminate and wood. For other dealers or fabricators, check listings under Concrete Products, Marble -- Natural, Plastics, Restaurant Equipment, Sheet Metal Work, and Tile. Designers and architects can also supply samples of materials.COMPARING COUNTERTOPS
Plastic laminate
Advantages. You can choose from a wide range of colors, textures, and patterns. Laminate is durable, easy to clean, water resistant, and relatively inexpensive. Ready-made molded versions are called post-formed; custom or self-rimmed countertops are built from scratch atop particleboard or plywood substrates. There are many more laminates available for the latter tops, and edging options abound. With the right tools, you can install laminate yourself.Disadvantages. It can scratch, chip, and burn, and it's hard to repair. Ready-made postformed tops can look cheap; other edgings may collect water and grime. Conventional laminate has a dark backing that shows at its seams; new solid-color laminates, designed to avoid this, are more expensive and somewhat brittle. High-gloss laminates show every smudge.
