What to Look for in Countertops

A countertop is like a blank page, just waiting for you to spill your ideas and energies onto it. If your kitchen or business countertops look more like yesterday’s news, it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Bring your home and office spaces up to date with a targeted remodel. Today’s materials offer an abundance of styles and ways to put your surfaces to work. And a countertop countractor can help you out.

Before you start to interview general countertop contractors, know what you need, and get a sense of what you want. Then let your imagination run wild.

What’s Out There

Residential kitchens enjoy the most bling in countertop and island remodeling. Work and dining surfaces define the functional kitchen, while carrying out its aesthetic themes. From rustic butcher block to pinpoint color matches in solid-surface materials, homeowners can wallow in a vast sea of selections. Popular kitchen countertop materials include:

• Granite, quartz or marble slabs
• Granite, quartz or marble tiles
• Moldable Corian acrylic
• Laminate-topped wood
• Stainless steel
• Custom concrete or natural stone

Homes with multiple baths can employ a different tone or texture in every room. Granite is prized for its sparkle and shine. Solid-surface acrylic affords a seamless blend between counter and sink, eliminating crevices where dirt and bacteria lodge or grow.

Professional offices with countertop storage or display needs can integrate functional surfaces into any type of interior design. Laminate and acrylic materials are relatively inexpensive and most readily coordinated or contrasted with carpet and paint colors. Durability and easy clean-up are their hallmarks.

Hotels and restaurants can impress with the best in exotic materials. Pair stone with wrought iron trim. Add the warmth of beautiful wood. Countertops in custom stainless steel shapes and finishes add the wow factor to any public or private space.

Who Needs What

Homeowners with isolated countertop projects, such as a new island in the kitchen or repairs to bathroom marble, should call a general contractor. Be sure to find one with plumbing certification if sinks, faucets or pipes enter into your plans.

Larger remodels involving kitchen or bath floors or cabinets should include an architect and designer who will work with a contractor. Measure the area in question so you can give the builder a ballpark figure. Once you choose the material and finish, a professional measurement will be used to estimate the job cost.

Small business owners, commercial property managers and those responsible for retail or restaurant remodels will need a team of professionals to design, plan and install countertops. Your general contractor should have references to the best.

Benefits

It may be tough to be restrained when looking at the plethora of materials and glossy photos of design suggestions. Wood, stone, steel and acrylic each have their benefits, whether in function or form. Consider how your space will be used before looking at any portfolios.

Bakers love smooth granite, quartz, marble or wood surfaces, even if just in one dedicated area. Prep cooks and bartenders may do well with an expanse of sturdy stainless steel to work on. Tile is more for show, and synthetic finishes serve dry areas well.

Consider how your remodeling outlay will affect the value of your property. This may affect your choice of top-flight or budget materials. Should you limit the job to countertops? Or should you go all out with cabinetry too? It doesn’t hurt to ask the contractor and designer for their professional opinions.

Consider also how your contractor fits into your remodeling scheme. Does the builder offer laser or other precision cutting for stone or steel? Will dismantling your old countertop system be part of the service? These are the extra pluses you should be looking for.

The Risks

With each material’s advantages come drawbacks as well. Marble can chip. Granite and stainless steel can scratch. Synthetics are prone to abrasion from scouring pads or cleansers. Don’t rely on the pristine examples in the showroom; be sure to find out the pros and cons of each countertop type that interests you.

With the right surface, accurate installation will complete the project beautifully. A less-than-competent builder, however, can wreck your budget and your efforts at home or business improvement.

Watch out for these risks in countertop remodeling:

• Wrong or poor-quality surface for the intended purpose
• Stone countertop that is too heavy for cabinet foundation
• Countertop foundation that is not level

Any of these problems can hurt your renovation. Knowledgeable salespeople and experienced contractors help homeowners and business managers avoid substandard workmanship.

Take the time to learn what you don’t know about installing countertops so that you will recognize that expertise in others. The best way to avoid remodeling risks is to enlist the right professional crew.

The Bottom Line

Whether your project is commercial or residential, you have a lot riding on your decisions. Countertops may last a lifetime, and there are no guarantees that your satisfaction will persist as long. Free consultations with service providers and physical product samples give you the chance to make informed choices. Don’t miss that opportunity by being impulsive.