The
Countertop Encounter
By James Garland
Kitchen remodeling
offers such a multitude of choices, from the style and finish of cabinetry,
appliances, plumbing and lighting, flooring and wall materials –
the options seem endless. The materials available for countertop surfacing
present even more decisions to be made.
The choice is
made easier however, because each countertop surface works in a different
way, offering different performance benefits, different maintenance
considerations, and a wide diversity in price. This short primer is
to acquaint you with some of the materials out there as options, and
explain some of the benefits and limitations. Your contractor, designer,
or kitchen cabinet supplier can offer more detailed information and
pricing. The Internet can be a valuable resource as well.
In selecting the
right top for you, I think it is most important to think first of
how you use your countertop. Do you bake a lot? Granite offers a cool,
smooth surface for rolling out dough. Are low maintenance and easy
cleanup most important features? If so, consider solid surface tops.
Is price a major concern? Laminates offer an inexpensive and durable
deck.
An important point
is that there is no rule against using multiple surfaces in the same
kitchen. You might put granite by the cooking area and solid surface
at the cleanup area. You might have a butcher block island, or even
have two countertop heights on an island with different surface materials
on them. Different counter materials have different functions, benefits,
and disadvantages. Sometimes it is up to the budget to decide.
High-Pressure
Decorative Laminate
The most common, and affordable, countertop surface is high-pressure
decorative laminate. High-pressure laminate is composed of thin layers
of plastic-impregnated paper fused under heat and pressure into a single
surface. The thin laminate (the horizontal grade used in building custom
laminate tops is .050” thick) is then glued to a substrate, usually
particleboard (selected for its dimensional stability in a variety of
climatic conditions), to create a countertop deck.
There is a wide
spectrum of colors and patterns to choose from when selecting laminate.
It is stain resistant and easily cleaned. These factors, and the affordability
of the product, make laminates a popular choice for many people. There
are some limitations however. Laminate does scratch, and dark colors
tend to show abrasions more readily than light colors. Also, gloss
finishes are not recommended for kitchen countertop applications.
A chipped laminate countertop cannot be repaired. Also laminates can
be damaged by heat: hot pans can scorch the surface, and cause de-lamination
from the substrate.
Also available
are color-through laminates, similar to high-pressure laminates except
the melamine color sheets are used throughout the material. Since
the color is solid throughout the laminate, no joint line is visible
after fabrication. Color-through laminates are a costlier option than
standard high-pressure laminate, and there is a somewhat limited color
selection.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is an enduring choice for countertops, offering a long-lasting,
durable decking surface with an endless menu for design possibilities.
Trim tiles are available for coving backsplashes and front edge treatments.
Ceramic tile tops
are impervious to heat, and the surface, if cut upon, will not scratch
(but it will dull your knives).
There are a couple
of considerations when choosing a tile deck. A tile countertop is
not a smooth surface, a factor if there is a lot of baking planned.
The joint lines between the tiles, the grout lines, make the countertop
harder to keep clean. Being a cementitious product, the grout will
require extra maintenance in the form of careful cleaning and the
regular application of sealant in order to keep it from staining or
discoloring.
Wood Butcher
Block
Counters made
of laminated wood products, or butcher block tops, are also an option.
Butcher block decks can be used for an island or an entire kitchen
top. The desire to use natural materials in construction has been
a boon to wood countertop suppliers, according to Ed Mays of Endura
Wood Products. Endura offers tops made from regional hardwoods; Western
maple, oak, and madrone, and other woods are also available. Endura
also stresses the importance of using sustainable wood products, following
the movement towards “green” building practices.
Wood tops are
available with finish options including oil and verathane. An oiled
top requires the reapplication of oil throughout the life of the top.
Verathane tops are used in areas where no food chopping should be
done. Wood tops will scratch if cut on and can be damaged by heat.
Solid
Surface
There are many solid surface countertop materials to choose from offering
a variety of colors and patterns. Solid surface tops are made from
acrylic or polyester materials, depending on the manufacturer.
There are many
positive benefits to using solid surface decking materials. The workability
of solid surface materials make design options almost limitless. Solid
surface decks are stain resistant, nonporous tops and are repairable
if scratched or damaged because they are of a solid color throughout.
Correctly fabricated, the corner seams joining two sections of solid
surface decking will be nearly imperceptible. A solid surface sink
can be mounted into a solid surface deck, offering a smooth, nearly
seamless transition into the sink bowl.
Solid surface
materials can be scratched. The surface is available with a factory
finish, which can be sanded to a matte finish, or buffed and polished
to a gloss finish. The gloss finish is not recommended for heavy-use
areas or on dark colors. Solid surface tops can also be damaged by
heat as well as some chemicals. Most manufacturers require that installation
of a solid surface top be carried out by a certified, qualified fabricator.
Stone Tops
Granite
Granite decks have gained popularity in the last 10 years, both for
the allure of its beauty and the ruggedness of the product. Polished
granite slab decks are available in a variety of colors, and prices
can vary greatly depending on where the granite is quarried. It is
impervious to damage by heat, and under most circumstances it can
be cut on (though this is not recommended, due to the possibility
of chipping), and again it will dull your knives.
There are maintenance
considerations that have to be considered when using granite. It is
a natural, porous material, and can stain. Oils, juices, wine, etc.,
can permeate the pores and lead to discoloration, which can not be
repaired. Granite tops therefore require periodic sealing. Another
commonly overlooked consideration when using darker colored granite
is that with its glossy finish, under-cabinet lighting may be reflected
back onto the countertop surface. A “honed” granite finish,
in which the glossiness is removed, is available, but the problem
of staining is then greatly increased.
Granite tile tops
are also an option. A variety of sizes of granite tile is available,
though 12” x 12” is most common for kitchen countertop use.
The top can be installed for a fraction of the price of a slab granite
deck, but there is the disadvantage of requiring grout at the joints
of the tile. And granite tile requires the same sealing procedures
as a slab granite top. Not all colors of granite are available as
a granite tile.
Marble
Because of its porousness and propensity to stain, marble is not recommended
for kitchen countertop use. It is widely used in bath vanities.
Quartz
A relatively new product is a manufactured stone top made primarily
from quartz, offering the use of natural material while eliminating
some of the drawbacks of granite. Quartz tops are nonporous and thus
stain resistant. They are also heat resistant.
Another feature of quartz tops is that it offers greater color stability
from one piece to the next. There are occasionally some objections
to the random patterns and coloration of granite. Being a manufactured
product, quartz offers uniformity of color.
Concrete
Another fairly recently introduced countertop material gaining in
popularity is concrete. Unlike the concrete walks that everyone is
familiar with, concrete decks are polished smooth. Available in a
number of colors and offering a great opportunity for creativity and
design options, concrete is a long lasting and durable counter material.
The counters are
fabricated in place, and though the material costs for a concrete
top are moderate, it is labor intense to produce. A concrete deck
is impervious to heat, but can be scratched if cut on. Concrete is
a porous material, and can stain. It requires occasional application
of sealant throughout the life of the top.
Stainless Steel
Along with the recent popularity of commercial-style appliances, there
has been an increased awareness and use of stainless steel in the
kitchen. Commonly used in commercial kitchens, stainless steel countertops
are now gaining use in residential kitchens as well.
The benefits of
stainless; its durability, cleanability, imperviousness to staining
and damage by heat, are well known. And a stainless sink can be integrated
into the kitchen deck, offering a seamless transition from the top
to the bowl. But stainless poses maintenance and care problems as
well. Stainless can scratch. Fingerprints can mar the stainless finish.
For further information
on these materials, please ask your contractor, kitchen dealer or
log on to the The National Kitchen and Bath Association: www.nkba.com.
For wood butcher block contact Endura Wood Products: 1303 SE 6th,
Portland 97214 www.endurawood.com
James Garland
is a kitchen design consultant for Canac Kitchens in Tualatin. |
