When remodeling your kitchen or any part of your home, there are a number of decisions you need to make. Colors, styles, and material choices are abundant, and it can be difficult to narrow it all down. When remodeling your kitchen, you have a few major components that are going to be with you for quite some time, that is your cabinets and your countertops. There are a lot of options with both, but when choosing, make sure you are going with something more timeless, rather than trendy. Choosing trendier styles is going to have you wanting to redesign your kitchen in just a handful of years. When choosing countertops, you should go with one of the main countertop materials. Read on for a few of the pros and cons of two different materials to help you decide.
Laminate
Laminate countertops have been around for a long time and are a good option if you don't have a lot of money to spend on countertops. Laminate countertops are essentially a thin layer of laminate over plywood.
Pros
- Cost effective. Laminate is a cheap option for your countertops, which will open your wallet for other things you may want to upgrade in your kitchen, such as your cabinets.
- Long lasting. Laminate counters can last you for quite some time with proper care and use.
- Numerous styles/colors. Laminate can provide you with a number of different styles and colors to choose from. You can even upgrade to high-definition laminate, which will give you a marble or granite look without the same price tag.
- Easy to clean. Laminate is easy to clean and can be cleaned with a general cleanser or with soap and water.
Cons
- Easily damaged. Laminate cannot withstand things such as high heat or a knife, and it can also stain easily if something is left on it and not cleaned up, such as juice.
- Chips easily. Laminate is going to have seams in it and edges as well, both of which can chip easily. Once it's chipped, you aren't going to be able to repair it.
Granite
Granite is a solid-surface countertop material that can withstand quite a bit. Granite is a material that can give your kitchen an updated and expensive look
Pros
- One-of-a-kind look. Granite is a natural material, so one piece of granite may not look anything like the next. It will give your kitchen a one-of-a-kind look.
- Numerous styles. There are a number of different styles and colors to choose from that can match your decor taste. You can also have your granite cut with an edging style that you prefer.
- Timeless look. Granite can provide you with a timeless look to your kitchen. Granite doesn't go out of style.
Cons
- Costly. Granite is a costly material choice for your countertops. You get what you pay for though (read pro #3 above).
- Needs proper cleaning. Your granite is going to need to be cleaned properly, which means more than just a quick wipe down. It will also need a special cleanser and has to be sealed at least once per year.
- Can be damaged by water. Granite is a solid surface, but it can be damaged easily with even just water sitting on it for too long. Other spills can also stain your granite easily, including juice spills.
These are just two of the material options you can choose from for your kitchen remodel. Consider your budget, how long you intend on living at your current home, and the pros and cons listed above when choosing your countertops. Talk to your kitchen remodeling company about these and other options.
