Countertops galore

We all want to do a kitchen makeover.  The glossy photos in the magazines look so delicious.  You know that wonderful meals will flow from the kitchen if your kitchen looked like that.

A big part of any redo is new counters.  Today, there are so many styles and surfaces to choose from and you can walk  yourself to death comparing substances and prices.  Here's a quick synoposis.

Granite - either natural granite or engineered stone will run about $100 - $200 per square foot installed.  Probably the most popular surface today, it is elegant, heatproof and waterproof, but it can be hard on breakables.

Engineered stone - also called quartz surface it is non-porous and made with 90% or more quartz.  It costs about the same as natural granite but doesn't require sealing.  The best known brands are CesarStone, Silestone and Zodiaq.

Granite Transformations - is an engineered stone from Italy that is assembled as a cap to fit over existing countertops.  Priced about the same as natural granite the advantage is that the existing countertop does not have to be removed before installation of this product.

Marble and limestone - from $70 - $200 per square foot, acidic foods can stain them and they must be treated with a sealant.

Natural soapstone - is $75 to $150 per square foot it is soft, stain-resistant material that could crack or chip more easily than other natural materials.

Metal is unusual and distinctive but may not be to everyone's taste.  Stainless steel runs $75 to $150 per square foot while copper can run $100 - $160 per square foot.

Concrete is trendy and industrial looking and runs $75 - $200 per square foot. 

Butcherblock is a class material costing $75 - $200 per square foot.  It can burn if hot pots and pans are placed on it.

Formica is a generic name for laminates.  They run $50 - $100 per square foot and are affordable and practical.

Acrylic - $90 - $120 per square foot.  Known as Corian, Swanstone and EarthStone they will show wear and can be scratched.

A few websites to do more research include:

Corian - www.corian.com

Formica - www.formica.com

Silestone - www.stilestoneusa.com

Swanstone - www.theswancorp.com

Wilsonart - www.wilsonart.com

Zodiaq - www.zodiaq.com

3:51 PM - Jan. 10, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

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