Choosing the Best Kitchen Countertop Material

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Choosing the Best Kitchen Countertop Material</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, it might be time to start considering the various countertop options. Today there are more countertop choices than ever before, many of which can provide a truly luxurious and high end look to the kitchen. Natural materials are more common today than they were in the past, producing many beautiful options from which to choose in addition to the more traditional laminate and solid surface countertops. If you’re confused about which countertop material might be best for your kitchen, here is some information that can help you make the right decision.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Natural Stone</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Natural stone materials have become very popular in recent years, and there are numerous varieties from which to choose. Granite is an excellent choice as a countertop material, providing a wide variety of natural colors and patterns. When used as a countertop material, granite is treated with a sealer to make it more stain resistant. Slate and soapstone are also popular natural stone choices for countertops. Although they are available in fewer colors as compared to granite, there are color and shading variations that can be quite attractive. Although slate is a relatively soft material, scratches can be easily buffed out using steel wool. Because soapstone is porous, it must be sealed to help reduce staining.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Ceramic or Glass Tile</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Tile is another popular option for kitchen countertops. One of the beautiful aspects of tile is the wide variety of colors and patterns which are available. You can use a solid color of tile for the countertop area, or mix it up with different colors to create a one-of-a-kind custom effect. Although it can be more difficult to properly care for a tile countertop due to the seams in between them, it’s an excellent choice for areas that don’t get as much use hard use, such as a wet bar or the kitchen peninsula area. When choosing tile for a countertop, be sure to use those which are designed for that purpose. If you mistakenly use wall tile for a countertop area, it is likely to crack under the pressure of use.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Wood</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Wood is a great countertop material to use in smaller areas, especially where there is a desire for a cutting board. Although wood is not generally used for an entire countertop, it is great for secondary areas where you wish to add a touch of natural beauty. It’s important to keep wood countertop areas properly sealed, so that the porous surface doesn’t harbor bacteria. Wood is great to use in areas where you plan to cut and chop food, since it’s the only countertop material that is actually suitable for chopping, cutting and slicing.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Concrete</strong></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Concrete has become quite popular as a countertop material. Because it can be formed into any desired shape or size, it offers a lot of versatility. These countertops can either be poured in place, or precast off-site and then installed. Once sealed, concrete can provide a very durable, beautiful and stain resistant surface for countertop areas. </p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, is an interior designer who illustrates how simple it can be to use <a href="http://www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com/door-toppers.html" target="_blank">wrought iron door toppers</a> and <a href="http://www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com/southwestern-art-decor.html" target="_blank">southwestern wall decor</a>.</span></p></span>