We all know those home renovations don't come cheap. The average homeowner is going to spend over $10,000 on home renovations, and they're going to want to make them count. Renovating your home isn't just about making changes that are aesthetically pleasing, but about making changes that are worth the investment. You'll want to increase the value of your home without completely abandoning your own sense of style. This is one reason why a lot of people favor renovating their kitchens, which is a room a lot of potential buyers will focus on when considering a house, while also being an area in which personal style can come through.
Perhaps nowhere in the kitchen is this more clear than in the countertops. Kitchen countertops are both practical and often aesthetically pleasing; that is, if you choose the right materials. Where once there were only a few different kitchen countertop styles on the market, more recently homeowners have gotten more creative. As the kitchen remodeling industry booms, kitchen design stores offer a number of different options. One reason why people have a hard time deciding on their countertops entirely is that they just have too many options, and don't know enough about any of them. With that being said, let's look into some of the more popular types of countertop options available.
Quartz countertops are popular for a number of different reasons. For one thing, they are of course rather attractive. They're known for offering up a lot of different colors, with veining or speckled patterns. Technically, quartz countertops are not fully quartz, made with a mixture of the stone and resin. This makes them more durable, and they're nonporous which means that they don't absorb as many germs and bacteria. They're easy to clean, and are usually sold without sealant requirements. Quartz countertops are resistant to heat and scratches, and though they can sometimes be pricier, they're usually worth the extra investment. You should try to avoid too much direct UV sunlight bearing gown on quartz countertops, but otherwise they can withstand a lot.
Like quartz, marble is a natural stone and therefore it has some advantages and some disadvantages. However, it remains a super popular countertop option for a reason. Usually, marble will be less expensive than quartz or granite, and it's still rather durable. Each piece of marble is unique, which means that you get a very distinct look that cannot be replicated through synthetic marble. There are a lot of different colors and patterns that can be found in marble, and this type of stone is immediately recognizable when someone sees your kitchen. These countertops do tend to last as well, and with good reason.
Granite may not be what you initially think of when choosing a type of countertop. It's often perceived as a rough rock, due to its toughness, which is greater than that of quartz and marble. With that being said, that toughness makes it much more long-lasting overall. In the rare case in which a granite countertop is damaged, it can be easily mended through the application of a specific putty. This putty is used to seal any chips or cracks in the granite, and can be made to look seamless in the original countertop stone. While certain types of stone, like quartz, can have some degree of textural variation, granite countertops are in fact completely flat. This makes it easier for people to cook and bake without any kind of issues.
No matter what type of stone you end up choosing for your countertops, you need to think of it as a long-term investment. The fact is that countertops aren't inexpensive, but they're also supposed to last a long time. And no matter how careful you are, they naturally take something of a beating. Think about the long-term effects of investing in a tough stone countertop. By choosing the right material, you'll be adding value to your home and creating a brand new centerpiece of your kitchen.
