Countertops Bathroom & Kitchen

Ceramic Tile is a great choice as a bathroom countertop material by home owners as these are available in many different color patterns, can add texture & can be integrated with backsplash designs. Ceramic tiles for Bathroom countertops are available in many sizes, shapes, thick nesses, colors, textures, and strengths.

The Cost Factor

The price for bathroom countertops range from $.99/sq foot to $45.00 a sq foot for designer tiles.

Color & Design

Ceramic tiles are made from clay & other natural materials, minerals requiring a natural glaze application. Color pigments are added to the glaze to form a colorful tile. These tiles get their strength once exposed to extreme heat

Home owners have endless options to choose from in color, texture and style, if they opt for ceramic tiles in their bathrooms.

Durability

A higher glazed ceramic tile is an excellent choice for countertops in any bathroom as it is very strong and can match as any other counter top surface product in longevity, if installed properly & well maintained.
Ceramic tiles are fire resistant & rank highly for scratch resistance. These are moisture resistant with an absorption rate of 3% to 7%.

Construction & Installation

One can install ceramic tiles on its own by following certain rules like getting the right grout & right grout color combination. Space between the tiles is also very important thing to consider.

Environmental & Health Impact

From a green perspective, Ceramic tiles are an excellent choice as these are created from natural ingredients & are not harmful to landfills.

These tiles are non-conductive and therefore do not attract dust and dirt

Although easy to clean, tough on spills, heat resistant and sanitary, Ceramic tiles countertops require proper care & maintenance as these can break when used with heavy materials. Ceramic tiles allow homeowners to use their creativity in Bathroom design & are very prevalent in Mexican and Spanish designs.

Laminate bathroom countertops are very popular countertops used by the homeowners as it is an extremely versatile and inexpensive product having durability & easy maintenance.

The Cost Factor

Laminate Countertops can be a very inexpensive option as pricing starts as low as $10 – $16 sq ft. It is also a great option for the do it yourself.

Custom design laminate countertops range between $20-$40 sq ft. For installed laminate countertops, Homeowners can expect to pay in the range of $35- $55 sq ft.

Color & Design

Laminate countertops are manufactured product and can be infused with hundreds of different colors & can come in several finishes & designs.

Durability

Laminate Countertops are fairly durable but can face some problems with moisture, sharp objects and high heat.

Laminate Countertops are relatively resistant to minor scratches, moisture (about 60%) & are moderately heat resistant (upto 150 Degree).

Laminate Countertops have easy maintenance & can last for decades if used with care & due diligence.

Construction & Installation

Laminate is mixed material and impregnated with resin and bonded with high heat and pressure to give it a solid appearance. These are available in sheet form, molded with finished edges, either rounded or squared and available by linear foot with several finishing options.

With a little skill and good pre-planning, laminate countertops can be easy one to install. When installing these countertops, Homeowners should mount them directly to the cabinet or vanity.

Environmental & Health Impact

Laminate Countertops are not a perfect green product but green conscious homeowners can use only that manufacturer who uses recycled materials in the construction of the laminate sheets. One should use a non-toxic cleaner regularly to effectively battle mold and mildew buildup.

With its many color & design options and relative inexpensive installation and replacement, laminate bathroom countertops can truly be a great choice for your home. Laminate Countertops are versatile & can look great & stand up to the most bathing needs when used with proper maintenance & with the right accessories.

Laminate bathroom countertops are very popular countertops used by the homeowners as it is an extremely versatile and inexpensive product having durability & easy maintenance.

The Cost Factor

Laminate Countertops can be a very inexpensive option as pricing starts as low as $10 – $16 sq ft. It is also a great option for the do it yourself.

Custom design laminate countertops range between $20-$40 sq ft. For installed laminate countertops, Homeowners can expect to pay in the range of $35- $55 sq ft.

Color & Design

Laminate countertops are manufactured product and can be infused with hundreds of different colors & can come in several finishes & designs.

Durability

Laminate Countertops are fairly durable but can face some problems with moisture, sharp objects and high heat.

Laminate Countertops are relatively resistant to minor scratches, moisture (about 60%) & are moderately heat resistant (upto 150 Degree).

Laminate Countertops have easy maintenance & can last for decades if used with care & due diligence.

Construction & Installation

Laminate is mixed material and impregnated with resin and bonded with high heat and pressure to give it a solid appearance. These are available in sheet form, molded with finished edges, either rounded or squared and available by linear foot with several finishing options.

With a little skill and good pre-planning, laminate countertops can be easy one to install. When installing these countertops, Homeowners should mount them directly to the cabinet or vanity.

Environmental & Health Impact

Laminate Countertops are not a perfect green product but green conscious homeowners can use only that manufacturer who uses recycled materials in the construction of the laminate sheets. One should use a non-toxic cleaner regularly to effectively battle mold and mildew buildup.

With its many color & design options and relative inexpensive installation and replacement, laminate bathroom countertops can truly be a great choice for your home. Laminate Countertops are versatile & can look great & stand up to the most bathing needs when used with proper maintenance & with the right accessories.

Lots of options are available in the market for kitchen countertops. The below mentioned list provides the details of the top 10 choices that one can make for renovating their kitchen

1. Granite Counterstop

Granite is a popular countertop material of choice. It adds beauty & elegance to the kitchen.

Advantage: Granite Countertops has zero maintenance, is very durable having hardness only next to diamonds & comes in a wide range of colors.

Disadvantage: Can be bit expensive, also some granite stones absorb stains if not sealed. Crackable if not installed properly.

2. Engineered Stone

Engineered stone is made up of 93% quartz particles. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite and has a nonporous surface that resists scratches. It’s quite easy to maintain having non porous surface & is available in wide range of colors.

Advantage: Easy maintenance & Resistant to stain & acid.

Disadvantage: Can be expensive

3. Solid Surface Counters
As name suggests solid surface counters are quite solid having scratches that can be sanded out. The countertops can be custom made to one’s specifications.

Advantage: Stain resistant & seamless with wide range of colors to choose from

Disadvantage: Can be little expensive. Vulnerable to hot pans and stains that can damage the surface.

4. Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is good choice for countertops for the average home as these are durable & easy to clean.

Advantage: Available in wide range of price, color, texture & design.

Disadvantage: Counter surface can chip or crack, custom-designed tiles can be very expensive.

5. Laminates

Laminate counters come in brands such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. These are made of plastic coated synthetics having smooth surface which is easy to clean.

Advantage: Easy to maintain, durable, relatively less expensive & comes in wide range of colors.

Disadvantage: scratches and chips can be quite cumbersome & difficult to repair, end finishing can be pricey.

6. Wood Countertops

Wood kitchen countertops come in a wide range of colors & finishes offering a beautiful, warm look to the home owner. These counters are made up of hard woods like maple & oak.

Advantage: Smooth surface & easy to clean. Easily sealable.

Disadvantage: water and stains can damage the surface over time; scratches must be oiled or sealed according to manufacturer’s instructions.

7. Stainless Steel Counters

Stainless steel is a very popular countertop choice as it offers a contemporary and industrial look for your kitchen. Stainless steel countertops are heat resistant and durable.

Advantage: Easy to clean & takes hot pans.

Disadvantage: Can be quite expensive & surface may dent. One can’t cut on it.

8. Soapstone Counters

Soapstone counters are dark gray in color having a smooth feel & can be used both as a countertop and sink material.

Advantage: Stain resistant. Comes in deep, rich color.

Disadvantage: Crackable, can become dark & requires maintenance over a period of time.

9. Marble Counters

Marble is not a popular countertop choice as it is quite expensive. Go for it if you want the luxurious look in your kitchen.

Advantage: Beautiful to look & are waterproof, heatproof.

Disadvantage: Can be quite expensive, porous.

10. Concrete Counters

Concrete countertops may be a good choice for home owners, as they’re often cast right in your kitchen.

Advantage: heat and scratch resistant & can look exotic & unusual.

Disadvantage: Little expensive, can be Crackable.

Much emphasis is placed on kitchen counters in comparison to bathroom countertops like their materials, styles, edge design that bathroom counters often take a back seat. Families spend a lot of time in their bathrooms so; they need a bathroom that is both functional and sexy in design.

Bathroom counters don’t necessarily have to be boring as there are a lot of countertop options to choose from.

Laminate Bathroom Countertops

Laminate bathroom countertops remain a common choice for most people as it is an extremely versatile and inexpensive product which is durable and can be easily maintained. Laminate Countertops can be a very inexpensive & relatively easy way to freshen up an outdated bathroom space.

Ceramic Tile bathroom countertops

Ceramic Tile is a great bathroom countertop material from bathroom design point of view. Ceramic tiles for Bathroom countertops are available in many sizes, shapes, thicknesses, colors, textures, and strengths at various prices. Ceramic tiles can add texture, be integrated with backsplash designs and are available in many different color patterns.

Engineered Stone & Quartz Bathroom Countertops

Engineered stone is manufactured using stone aggregate with resin and color pigment to create a great, almost natural looking stone countertop.Engineered stone is a very hard surface and extremely durable, as they are made up of 93% Quartz. Engineered stone is comparable in price to real granite or natural stone countertops.

Marble Bathroom Countertops

Nothing looks good like Marble in your home, as Marble has been used for centuries in homes & are fabulous choice for bathroom remodel & renovation.
Marble or any other natural stone product doesn’t come cheap. Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks like either limestone or dolostone.

Granite bathroom Countertops

Granite is a very popular countertop choice for homeowners, as they are synonymous with luxury, opulence and style. Granite is quarried from deep in the earth and mined in large slabs.
Granite countertop is expensive compared to other countertops.

Limestone Bathroom Countertops

Limestone is a popular option for bathroom renovation. Limestone has an exclusive, natural look & It’s soft texture and soft tones can integrate beautifully into any bathroom with lots of light and neutral colors.
Limestone is similar to marble in price range.

Soapstone Bathroom Countertops

Soapstone is extremely durable and can lend a beautiful touch to the bathroom. It is used widely in wash basins, sinks, laboratories, countertops as it can be easily shaped with stone cutting tools.

Soapstone is made up of magnesite, dolomite, chlorite & talc & is expensive in cost.

Enameled Lava Stone Bathroom Countertops

Although a relatively new product in the bathroom countertops market, Enameled Lavastone has emerged as a popular option for bathroom renovations as it is extremely customizable, unique in texture and design & is available in range of colors.

LavaStone Bathroom countertops are expensive product as it is produced by limited no. of suppliers.

EnviroSLAB Countertops

EnviroSLAB countertop is a good choice if one wants to go for environmentally friendly product to use in his bathroom. EnviroSLAB countertops are made from 100% recycled glass and mixed with Porcelain and custom colored resin to form a very durable surface.

These are available in hundreds of color and design options are comparable to solid surfaces stones in price.

Icestone Bathroom Countertops

Another environment friendly countertop product is Icestone Bathroom Countertop. Icestone Bathroom Countertops are made from 100% recycled glass and mixed with a concrete matrix to form a very durable surface.

These countertops are comparable to granite and Marble countertops in strength and durability. In price terms, Icestone Bathroom Countertops come in mid to upper level.

Concrete bathroom Countertops

Concrete bathroom countertops are a popular choice for bathroom designers and new home builders. Concrete countertops are made by mixing cement, aggregates, color pigments, acrylics & fillers together & are versatile & very durable.

In price terms, Concrete bathroom Countertops come in middle level.