Chris Fuller is the owner of Kitchen Bath & Glass Center, a full-service residential remodeling and commercial construction company that has been helping clients in Brevard County since 1987. In this piece, Fuller gives his advice on which type of countertop to choose for a low-maintenance bathroom or kitchen.
With so many countertop materials available these days, there really is a solution to fit everybody’s lifestyle and budget. For many people, though, one of the biggest issues that comes up when they are looking for the right type of countertop for their project is how easy it will be to take care of and maintain properly.
There is a wide variation in countertop styles, and some will need much more constant cleaning and maintenance than others. Overall, I would say that the easiest type of countertop for most families to maintain would be either quartz or a solid-surface material such as Corian.
On the other end of the spectrum, is marble. It is usually what I think of as one of the most difficult types of countertops to maintain. Choosing a marble countertop can be problematic, mainly because marble is a porous material that can stain and burn easily. So if you are someone who likes to set hot pots on your counter, then marble would absolutely not be the best choice to go with.
When I look at quality materials that have a great lifespan and are easy to maintain, then I look at granite as a good option, as well. Granite has a beautiful look, and it is a sanitary surface. So it will stay clean and you can set foods on it without worrying about what bacteria is there. While it can be expensive, granite is the type of material that is durable and will last a long time, too.
Another type of countertop that is easy to maintain — and yet people rarely think of it even as an option — is stainless steel. In fact, stainless steel countertops are the easiest countertops to maintain among the products currently on the market.
On the downside, though, stainless steel countertops can be expensive and are difficult to install. When you look into getting a stainless steel countertop installed, what you will usually find is that in a residential application, typically, you will have to get the material and take it to a machine shop. From there, you will have to have the machine shop bend it on what is called a break machine, which is what will break the corners so it will fit right around your countertop and stay in place.
Finally, another countertop material that people tend to overlook is concrete. Concrete countertops are as durable as can be, and they will last a long time without much maintenance. I mean, it’s concrete so there is not a lot that you can do to it. As long as the homeowner re-waxes the concrete countertop from time to time, everything should be fine. As with stainless steel countertops, though, concrete countertops can be expensive to install if you are unable to do the project yourself as getting someone in your home who can make the concrete countertop to fit your space can be expensive.
If you are interested in getting a new countertop with the main factor being how easy the surface is to maintain, then something like quartz or granite will certainly be your best bet. If you are looking for something more unique or less costly though, then speaking with a qualified contractor or remodeling expert is probably the best way to go.
