4 Important Factors To Focus On When Shopping For A Kitchen

One of the busiest places in a household is the kitchen, and countertops endure a lot of abuse as most used surface.

The kitchen is among the busiest places in a house, and countertops specifically endure a lot of abuse.  When it comes to designing or renovating a kitchen, there are a lot of things to consider before picking out your countertop. Gone are the days when they were chosen simply for their aesthetic appeal. Today, these additions need to be functional as well as visually appealing. So, if you are looking to make an informed decision regarding your kitchen countertop, this blog post is just what you need. Here are four important factors to consider before choosing a kitchen countertop. 

Here’s What You Need to Think About Before Choosing a Kitchen Countertop

1.Think About Functionality

A great way to identify which countertop material will best suit your kitchen is to think about the daily activities you will perform. Durable materials like solid surfacing and engineered stone are great for families. On the other hand, materials like stainless steel are preferable for busy kitchens where hygiene is prioritized above all. For bakers, marble is best as the surface is heat resistant and remains cool to the touch. Another thing to consider is the choice of sink. Both granite and quartz are sturdy enough to accommodate under-mount sinks. If you are looking for an integrated sink, it is better to choose solid surfacing or concrete. 

2.Consider Maintenance

To ensure your kitchen countertops stay in prime condition, you need to maintain them. This is a major factor and depends largely on your lifestyle. If you have a large family that keeps your kitchen busy most of the time, it is not advisable to select a countertop material that needs regular sealing to prevent staining and water damage. Granite is a gorgeous material but requires regular sealing to retain high resale value. Engineered quartz, on the other hand, eliminates the need for annual maintenance. 

3.Analyze the Material’s Durability

Perhaps the most important quality to look for in a kitchen cabinet is its ability to resist scratches. Granite is known to stand up well to hot pans and sharp knives. However, solid surfacing and laminate does not. Tile is also great at holding its own against sharp objects and is cheap so is easily replaced in case of chips and cracks. Laminate is most vulnerable to burns and scratches and is difficult to repair since it has a raw particleboard core. 

4.Don’t Forget Your Health

Kitchens should always be clean and bacteria-free, so it is advisable to look for countertop materials that don’t have grooves to host dirt or bacteria. Homeowners avoid tiles, and grouting is another place that can become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you choose granite or concrete, sealing can help with this problem but is labour intensive task and can prove costly. 

The countertop you choose will probably go through more abuse than you realize. So, do your research to ensure that the material it is made from can withstand everyday activities. You obviously want a material that requires little maintenance, adds aesthetic appeal, and is heat and scratch resistant. To do so, make sure you consider the above-mentioned factors to create the kitchen of your dreams.  

License: You have permission to republish this article in any format, even commercially, but you must keep all links intact. Attribution required.
Related
Constrution |
Related