What countertop to choose in a Kitchen?

Choosing the kitchen Quartz countertop is one of the most important decisions when remodeling or furnishing the kitchen for the first time. It is not easy to make this decision, since this element is often very visible in the design of the kitchens.

To choose a good worktop you will have to take into account several factors: the duration (it is not the same a countertop for a rental home as for a home), the budget and its maintenance.

In this post I will explain the different types of countertops in the current kitchens and their advantages and disadvantages and try to make easier the process of choosing this element so important in the Kitchen Reform Budget.

What I see lately is a trend already widespread, and therefore no longer a fashion, are the compact quartz countertops. It is a material of great hardness, difficult to scratch, it is cleaned with ease, it resists well the water and the blows, although it is necessary to be careful with the high temperatures reason why it is better to use protectors for something that comes directly from the fire or the furnace.

There are several trademarks, from the best known silestone or compac to quarella or zodiaq. They vary the designs, prices and the facility to find some of them, but the quality is very similar.

One of the most common (until now, although they are still made) are the Granite Countertops. They are very hard, almost impossible to scratch, resist acids and blows, are very suffering.

As the granite is very porous, the stains penetrate, especially the oil, and can remain permanently. Instead, it completely resists the heat, so you can support hot pots and pans without any problem.

There are several colors, perhaps one of the most popular for kitchens is the pink granite or also the pearl gray. There is not as much variety as in the compact quartz, but every time new colors and presentations appear.

The marble countertops are very similar to granite, although somewhat more delicate, especially with stains and acids. Another disadvantage I see is that it loses shine with ease. It is quite resistant to scratches, but it is not resistant to strong shocks.

As for aesthetics, it has a very elegant design, but the marble countertop more complicated to maintain.

This type of worktops is the most inexpensive and easy to maintain material, withstands shocks, heat and scratches. It is a wood agglomerate with a top layer that imitates different finishes to taste (wood, stone, aluminum, color).

But you have to be very careful with the water, since it deteriorates more easily, and therefore its duration is less. It is the solution for tight budgets or for more temporary situations.

They allow molding of worktop and sink in one piece. It is a new material, quite expensive, it is molded very easily, but it is hard, it is not scratched and is ideal for joints. It totally resists water and there are more than one hundred colors.
Recommended for cooks "almost professional" or passionate about industrial design. It stands out for its hygiene, besides it resists perfectly to the heat and to the acids. It is also a very expensive and very cold-looking material. I see it more for bars or restaurants and even for loft homes.

They are of great beauty, and decorative versatility, with great variety of colors and environments, from rustic to modern. They give warmth to the kitchen.

Although they are usually well varnished they are very porous, so that the spots penetrate easily, they scratch right away and the maintenance in general is delicate. In addition, the constant use of water in the kitchen could affect its duration.