Remodeling your kitchen is one of the most intricate, yet rewarding, renovations you can do for your home’s value. While many decisions need to be made and considered along the way like cabinets, sinks, appliances, and countertops, you will find that all of these elements will play a significant role in the overall design. Not to mention, each one of these choices has a wide variety of stylish options you will need to consider.
At ICC Home, we understand that your countertops need to be a functional part of your layout. Since you will be preparing family dinners, hosting holiday traditions, and entertaining guests, your kitchen countertops need to be able to withstand your household’s daily activities, and we are here to help! When considering countertop options, it is important that you make sure you ask yourself these five essential questions:
Maintenance
When considering countertops, the first thing you should consider is the amount of maintenance and upkeep. Different countertop materials have different levels of required maintenance. While you may be in love with granite, you may not have the time or desire to keep up on the maintenance. If you are looking for an easy to maintain countertop solution, we recommend going with some beautiful yet simple like ceramic tile. If ceramic tile is not quite your speed, no need to fret; one of our expert sales staff would love to help guide you to the perfect material for your family’s lifestyle.
Type
There are many types of countertop options with different benefits. Granite, quartz, butcher block, ceramic tile, and more, all have added beneficial reasons that homeowners choose them. The first thing you should consider is the type that looks the most aesthetically pleasing with your home design. While this is important, functionality will also play a significant role. For example, what are the types of activities your kitchen countertops will see on a day to day basis? If your countertops will be used consistently and need to be cleaned regularly, you may want to opt for an easier to maintain countertop like quartz.
Heat Resistance
Some countertops are excellent heat resistors. For example, you can take a hot pot from the oven and set it directly onto a granite countertop. Unfortunately, you cannot do the same with wood or quartz countertops. That is why you will need to consider if heat resistance is an added benefit you are looking for in your countertops. Many people love this additional benefit, while others it does not matter.
Stain Resistance
Some more porous countertops will allow liquids to penetrate deep into the material and this can lead to unwanted stains. Make sure if you have a porous countertop that you keep up on maintenance and apply a stain barrier when needed. And if you are unsure whether or not the countertop you like is porous, one of our expert sales associates would love to help differentiate the products for you!
Budget
Unfortunately, a significant determining factor for most people is the budget. Creating your kitchen can be a costly investment, and we understand that. Make sure you weigh out the options of different countertops that fit your budget and determine whether or not you want to put more of your investment into other areas of the kitchen.
Luckily with financing options available, your dream kitchen may be closer than you think! Let us help tailor every design element to your needs and make this an enjoyable experience at ICC Home. With our new showroom, you can explore our many countertop options and talk to one of our expert sales representatives about all of your design needs. While in our new showroom, be sure to check out everything you need to complete your design.