|
 Counter
Tops
The Kitchen
and Beyond
By MARK AUSTIN
Whether you’re
remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, installing a bar or an outdoor barbeque
area, counter tops are the workhorses that add visual impact, improve
sanitation, and offer great flexibility. Today counter tops come in a
variety of materials, colors, and decorative options that are no longer just
for the kitchen and can create a distinctive look that can offer a payback –
literally.
 MSN’s
House and Home Website article “Which Improvements Pay Back?” state that
minor and major kitchen remodeling can on average cost from as little as
$2,000 to more than $25,000 and can offer a return on investment from 90% to
102%.
Cathie Cappelle,
Marketing Manager for Austin Counter Tops states, “Counter tops can
dramatically effect the look, feel, and functionality of a room. There are
primarily three things to consider when evaluating counter tops: budget,
design, and lifestyle.”
Budget: On the
low-end are laminate countertops, which are comprised of pressed paper on
top of particleboard, which can run from $13 to $25 per square foot
delivered and installed. Prices vary depending on color, depth of the
counter tops and edge style. On the mid to high-end are Natural stone
counter tops, such as Granite, which can run from $45 to over $100 per
square foot delivered and installed. Prices vary depending on the color,
thickness, and quality of the stone. Also on the mid to high-end are Solid
Surface counter tops, such as Corian® , which can run from $35 to $75 per
square foot delivered and installed. Prices vary primarily because of
colors. Another mid to high-end option are Engineered Stone counter tops,
which can run from $47 to $87 per square foot delivered and installed.
Engineered Stone is comprised of 93% quartz and 7% pigment and polyesters.
Prices vary due to thickness of the stone and color.
Design: Depending
on the architectural and interior design objectives you have in mind,
laminate, natural stone, engineered stone and solid surface counter tops can
provide a distinctive look and add a textural element to your space.
Interior designers and Architects are combining different counter top
materials in the same room to provide a unique visual effect such as using
solid surface counter tops on kitchen counters, then Engineered or Natural
stone counter tops on a kitchen Island or Bar area. Counter Top edge
treatments can add another design element into a space. Options can range
from a chiseled edge treatment for Engineered stone and solid surface
counter tops, to a sandwich edge treatment for Solid surface counter tops,
and a Bull nose (rounded) edge treatment for Laminate counter tops.
Lifestyle:
Lifestyle considerations include counter top usage in a space, children, and
entertaining and maintenance issues. Engineered stone and Solid Surface
counter tops typically are approximately ½ inch thick and are resistant to
scratching and burning (burns and scratches can be buffed out of these
materials as well). Solid Surface and Engineered stone materials offer a
10-year warranty and are National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) approved. An
NSF approval indicates the counter top material is approved for food
preparation. Natural stone counter tops are porous, which means they require
sealing, are not NSF approved, and have a variety of warranty periods
depending on thickness and quality of the stone. Laminate counter tops are
not NSF approved and generally have a 1-year warranty that doesn’t cover
water damage. Laminate counter tops previously used formaldehyde in the
treatment of the particle board substrate which is no longer the case;
however it is important to remember that laminate counter tops can’t be
sealed, so seams should be at least a few feet from a sink.
Ms. Cappelle adds,
“People are starting to put a lot more thought into counter tops and not
just in the kitchen. Health concerns over bacterial agents are influencing
the selection of counter top materials in kitchens but also in food service
establishments and hospitals - particularly in neo-natal and delivery areas
where solid surface counter tops are increasingly being utilized. Solid
surface materials are also being used as desk top surfaces due to their
durability and practicality.”
In most kitchen
and bathroom remodeling it is best to re-do the counter tops after the
flooring and cabinetry have been tackled. Ms. Cappelle recommends that when
considering changing your counter tops to ask for friends’ recommendations
on dealers and their experiences. It is also wise to consult with home
centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot or custom kitchen or bathroom dealers
(typically high-end oriented) to explore your options. Whatever material you
choose, changing your counter tops can have an amazing impact on the way
your home looks and the way you live.~HS
|
|
