The countertop in the kitchen work area is the key point. If the countertop is chosen correctly, it will be convenient and trouble-free in the future. There are many styles of countertops on the market to meet the decoration styles of different houses. How do you choose a kitchen countertop that suits your home?
When we were designing the kitchen, the workers asked us to go to the mall to choose countertops. In my impression, the countertops were almost all made of quartz stone, which is what most families would choose. When I went to the mall, I realized that there are so many styles of countertops, suitable for different home decoration styles. In the final comprehensive choice, we conservatively chose quartz stone countertops, which are more suitable for ordinary families and have a higher cost performance. The choice of countertop should suit your home decoration style and daily dining habits. If you choose the wrong one and it is inconvenient to use, you will really regret it in the future!
1. Types of kitchen countertops
1. Natural stone (marble, granite, jade) countertops: countertops cut from natural stone.
Advantages: Made of natural stone, high hardness, resistant to cutting, wear and high temperature. It has natural stone texture and natural texture, which is suitable for elegant and high-end kitchen style decoration.
Disadvantages: It needs to be cut and spliced, and the splices are obvious, which can easily trap dirt and make it look dirty after long-term use. It is too hard and cannot be repaired after damage.
Summary: Marble countertops are more suitable for luxurious European style, but relatively speaking, the cost is not cheap. If you are not pursuing luxury kitchen decoration, it is not recommended to choose marble countertops.
2. Artificial stone countertops: Artificial stone with a certain strength and color that is processed by artificial methods by mixing inorganic mineral materials and some auxiliary materials with organic binders. Made of countertops.
Advantages: High strength, sufficient hardness, high gloss, smooth surface, very suitable for kitchen countertops. There are no pores, no dirt and grime, easy to clean, and no bacterial growth. The price is much cheaper than natural stone countertops.
Disadvantages: Not heat-resistant, hot pots must be separated by heat-insulating mats when placed. The texture is unnatural, and its beauty is relatively inferior to that of natural stones such as marble.
Summary: The advantages of affordable price, sufficient hardness and strength, and easy cleaning are enough to make artificial stone countertops an excellent choice.
3. Quartz stone countertop: It is a new type of stone kitchen countertop that is artificially synthesized from more than 90% quartz crystals plus resin and other trace elements.
Advantages: Hardness reaches level 7, resistant to cutting, not easy to scratch; durable. High temperature resistance, no pores on the surface, strong stain resistance, and stains are not easy to penetrate. It combines the advantages of natural stone and artificial stone, with natural texture, smooth texture and richer colors. It is a natural and environmentally friendly material.
Disadvantages: Difficult to process, too single in shape.
Summary: Quartz stone countertops are suitable for various styles of kitchen decoration, and have good texture and high cost. High-end kitchen countertops generally use quartz stone.
4. Stainless steel countertops: kitchen countertops made of stainless steel metal.
Advantages: Green, environmentally friendly, radiation-free, luxurious. Waterproof, easy to clean, durable, smooth as new, hard enough, and will not crack.
Disadvantages: The splicing marks at the cutting position are obvious and the aesthetics is reduced. Easy to deform and obvious scratches.
Summary: Stainless steel countertops with a relatively cold and hard texture are used by relatively few families, and are more suitable for people who are not demanding about appearance and want to save trouble in cleaning.
5. Wooden countertops: Countertops cut from solid wood generally require painting or wood wax oil maintenance on the wooden surface to prevent cracking.
Advantages: natural texture, warm and good-looking.
Disadvantages: easy to crack; not resistant to dirt. Pay attention to waterproofing, anti-fouling, and anti-moth in daily use.
Summary: Unless you have extremely high requirements for appearance, it is not recommended to use wooden countertops. Maintenance is relatively difficult and the cost is not cheap.
2. How to choose the countertop that suits you
1. Cost-effectiveness: quartz stone countertop.
In general, quartz stone countertops are currently the most widely used countertop material. They are affordable, come in various colors and patterns, have a good appearance, and are durable. If you are in a dilemma, you can boldly choose quartz stone countertops.
2. Super good-looking: wooden countertop.
The advantage of wooden countertops is that they look good, especially when building an open kitchen, wooden countertops are a plus. However, it is relatively easy to crack, requires more attention to maintenance, and is also relatively expensive.
3. Easy to clean: stainless steel countertop.
Due to its smooth surface and material, stainless steel countertops are the easiest to clean and the least likely to harbor dirt and evil. If you are worried about cleaning, you can choose this one.
4. Noble texture: marble countertops.
Many families choose marble countertops. The smooth surface and natural texture of the stone make the entire cabinet noble and extraordinary. However, the pores of the stone itself can easily harbor dirt and evil and must be known in advance. If you are pursuing this noble texture, you might as well choose marble countertops.
After reading my introduction, do you already have a choice of kitchen countertops for your own home? The choice of countertops depends not only on the material but also on good quality. The design of the kitchen must ensure that our meals are healthy. A comfortable and convenient kitchen can help us make healthier and more delicious food.