How To Pick Your Kitchen Countertop

 In Blog, Kitchen Countertops in Guelph

Whether you are redoing your entire kitchen, or just making a few upgrades, there are many decisions to be made. Choosing a kitchen countertop is an important and exciting task because it must be functional, durable, and fit the aesthetic of your space! Here’s our advice on how to pick your kitchen countertop.

Choosing the Right Material for Your Kitchen Countertop

Some of the top material options for kitchen countertops are:

  • Natural Stone (granite)
  • Quartz
  • Butcher Block (wood)
  • Concrete
  • Stainless Steel

The Pros and Cons

Natural Stone (Granite)

White quartz countertop in a kitchen.

Granite is elegant, natural and beautiful. It is often the most desired material for homeowners, but it comes at a cost. Granite needs to be sealed regularly in order to remain durable and stain-resistant. Granite can fade over time as well, especially if it is exposed to sunlight.

Quartz

quartz countertop

Quartz is manufactured from natural materials, and is more affordable than granite. It can be made to give the appearance of granite, and offers more durability and stain resistance. Quartz is a naturally sealed material, so it doesn’t need to be resealed like granite or wood.

Butcher Block (wood)

butcher block (wood ) countertop with stools.

Butcher block countertops are increasing in popularity and give a warm, natural, farmhouse appearance. It is available in many different varieties including birch, bamboo, white oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and more. There are many options when it comes to appearance, hardness, and cost. Wood countertops can be finished in a few different ways including oil finished, stained, or a solid finish. These types of countertops range in price, depending on the wood and finish type — in some cases, the price of wood can meet or exceed the cost of granite or quartz

Concrete

Concrete countertops

Concrete countertops are highly customizable and very durable. Concrete needs to be sealed in order to remain stain, heat, and scratch resistant; however, so do most other countertop materials. Concrete countertops give a modern “worn-in” appearance. Concrete requires extensive skill and labour upon installation, which means it can be a larger investment.

Stainless Steel

stainless steel countertop

This material is nearly indestructible. Stainless steel will not burn, rust, or stain. It is quite easy to install and offers a sleek, modern appearance. However, stainless steel can be loud when it comes into contact with dishes, pots, and pans. As a countertop material, the cost of stainless steel is considerably less than quartz, marble, or wood.

Choose Your Countertop Style & Finish

Polished stone countertop

Honed vs Polished

A honed finish is when a granite or quartz countertop has been ground to give it a smooth, flat, and matte finish.

A polished finish is when quartz or stone has a smooth, high-shine surface.

Veining

For quartz and marble, high-variance veining styles are when the slab of stone has lines of a varying colour that run across and through it. This is something to consider when choosing your material as it can make your countertop quite a statement piece in your home.

Think About Your Sink

When choosing a kitchen countertop, we recommend thinking about your sink as well. Would you like an apron sink with a wood countertop, or a quartz countertop with a stainless steel sink? These are good questions to ask yourself and our team of designers will be more than happy to help you determine your selections.

Consider Your Lifestyle

A father bakes in the kitchen with his two children

When you’re thinking about how to pick your kitchen countertop, consider your lifestyle and daily needs.

If you’re a home chef who spends lots of time in the kitchen, stainless steel might be a top choice as it provides the look, feel, and resiliency of a restaurant kitchen.

If you have kids and want something durable that will minimize the look of fingerprints – quartz with a honed finish is the way to go.

Cambria has a handy kitchen visualizer tool which allows you to see countertops in different spaces to help you get a better sense of each style.

The team at Sutcliffe Kitchens would love to help you get started on your kitchen renovation project. Please contact us here and get the conversation started! 

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