Embrace her with a Diamond? No…Why Not An Outstanding Kitchen Counter Top!

December 12th, 2007 Categories: Home Fixin's, Findings and Planting

The kitchen in many people’s mind is the most important room in the house. At least for women (men think the garage is). In fact great strides have been taken with new homes and up-graded homes to make the kitchen an award winning epic center.

So if you want to shine in her eyes think about a new kitchen counter top. The choices and colors are abundant.

The Metals ….

Metal in now in vogue. Pricey, yes. From about $ 175-$ 500 per linear foot installed. Pewter is very upscale but the one’s that tend to be the most fashionable are stainless steel and copper (for the country style kitchen motif). Cleaning is a breeze. Alcohol is the cleaner of choice preventing smudges and surface germs.

Oh, back to copper. Stains and imperfections make copper look more stylish. Often copper is burned and chemically aged for various looks.

Natural Stone….

Stone is expensive ranging in price from $ 100 to $ 600 per linear foot installed. Choices in this area include marble, soapstone, basalt, Jerusalem stone and Lavastone (this can be extremely pricey). Stay away from cleaners that will leave a waxy finish on the surface.

Glass….

Glass is durable, tempered and heat resistant and cleans well. Price ranges for $ 100 to $ 300 per linear foot installed. This material however shows smudges and fingerprints quite readily. Cleaning is often with vinegar and water just like one would do with windows.

Concrete….

Almost anything you want to do can be done with concrete. Dye it…you bet. BUT (you know that was coming) concrete has to have sealer and must be sealed or waxed two to three times a year. Acids tend to be harmful to concrete so one has to be careful and wipe off any acid juices quickly (orange and lemon juice for example). Prices range between $ 100 to $ 200 per linear foot installed.

Manufactured Quartz…..

Quartz mixed with resin becomes a very hard non-porous surface that is stain resistant. Sealant not required. Soap and water does the trick when cleaning. Price range is $ 90 to $ 270 installed.

Solid surfaces…..

Synthetic, seamless surfaces, made of non-porous resin are known as Corian, CaesarStone and Avonite (brand names). These are priced between $ 80 to $ 135 per linear foot installed. These surfaces may have a tendency to stain which can be cleaned with a rub out cleaner. Surfaces are heat resistant BUT most manufactures suggest not setting hot pans on them.

Granite…..

Price between $ 75 and $ 250 this is a very popular material for counter use and has an extensive array of patterns. Granite must be sealed once per year. The lighter slabs are less porous than the darker (black) slabs.

Butcher block…….

This is high density wood that has been laminated together to create a tough, lasting surface which is quite porous (compared to other materials). Sealed with mineral oil; stains can be sand paper out. Tends to collect micro-organism quickly if not maintained properly. Butcher block is priced between $ 50 to $ 150 per linear foot installed.

Ceramic tile……

Tiles are durable and heat resistant and come in an array of colors and styles. Grout between the tiles has to be sealed at least twice a year. Prices range between $ 30 to $ 150 per linear foot.

Laminates…..

These are available in a wide range of color and patterns. Quite easy to install. Very durable but the surface can be cut or gouged. Keep chemical and abrasive cleaners away from the material. Hot pans will scorch the surface. Prices range between $ 20 to $ 100 installed.

So embrace and bedazzle your love one with a kitchen counter top that shows that you care. Just like “diamonds” are a girl’s best friend. Well OK, maybe that is a stretch. You just may end up doing both.

Data Sources: HGTV.com and Los Angeles Times (Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007).