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Holmes in Style:
Work Surfaces – Countertops |
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May 2007 – Depending on material selected, countertops can be “Big Ticket” items when budgeting for a new kitchen or bathroom. Let’s start from the least expensive and work towards most expensive.
Plastic laminate (P.Lam) is a good material for a reasonably low cost with thousands of patterns and colours available. Some companies producing Plastic Laminate include: Abet Laminati, Arborite, Formica, Octolam, Pionite, and Wilsonart.
When selecting a p.lam counter, anticipate seams at the corners and when you have extra long lengths over 120”. These seams will need to be strategically positioned as water can penetrate the seams and cause problems with the plastic surface lifting.
Plastic laminate tops typically have an integrated rolled backsplash; however, a clean cut counter can be ordered to accommodate a decorative tile backsplash with the tile resting on the counter.
Purchase a “drop in”, otherwise known as a “self-rimming” sink, and to cover the raw edges of the hole cut through the p.lam.
Solid surface and stone products are more durable; but, plastic laminate is an attractive, less expensive and fairly durable alternative.
Solid Surface Material is a very good material for mid to high end prices depending upon the pattern and colour selected. Some companies that produce these products are: Corian, Silestone, and Gibraltar. They are man-made, highly durable and sterile materials, and can be installed with minimal to NO seam lines.
Solid surface products are highly resistant to damage; a burn, scratch or dent can be repaired with little visibility of the repair. Marks or stains can be sanded or buff out.
Hospitals and restaurants and other industries with concerns for minimizing germs use solid surfaces because of the material’s sterile quality. When installed in a kitchen, this type of counter is typically “clean cut”, meaning no rolled backsplash, requiring tile backsplash material to be installed resting on the solid surface countertop.
It offers flexibility for fabrication and installation details. It can be bent, molded, perforated, and have other products, such as metal, embedded for function or aesthetic detailing.
Typically under mounted sinks are used, but another option a formed fully integrated solid surface seamless sink.
 Helpful hint: ask your fabricator to keep the cut out material where the sink is positioned and have them make it into a cutting board. You are paying for this material, and it will be highly durable and sterile just like your countertop.
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Stone: Granite, Marble, Limestone, and other Stone products
Mid to high end pricing is determined by the colour/pattern and availability. With “mother nature’s fingerprint”, this type of counter is all natural. Beware when selecting slabs as there will be lots of colour and pattern variations from the small slab in the showroom to the large slab you will have installed. Better stone importers will allow you to review 2 or 3 selections from what they have in inventory before you make your final slab selection.
Hot items off the stove or out of the oven (but not out of the broiler) can be placed directly on the counter with little concern. Stone is wonderful if you enjoy making your own pasta and pastries as the stone always stays cold.
Staining will be obvious if you select a lighter coloured stone
Cracks in the stone cannot be repaired like a solid surface product
Granite with the larger stone/crystal chunks can “pop”; meaning the crystal area of the stone surface can break and create a surface fissure
Stone, like plastic laminate, is sold in fixed sizes and therefore you will have seaming in corners and in lengths greater than 120”
When purchasing a stone counter, most people order a polished surface for durability and to show off the beauty of the stone. Other surface options are honed (meaning a matte surface) flamed, and enhanced. Other surface options should be sealed and best used in areas like a bathroom or on vertical surfaces as they will stain in the daily wear and tear of a kitchen.
Typically, these stone counters are “clean cut” with the backsplash material resting on the stone. Sinks are typically under mount. Don’t forget to ask for your sink cut out to be made into a chopping board or hot plate.
Environmental Note: Natural stone is a truly beautiful product, but as an educated consumer, you might want to consider from where the stone is originating, how it is excavated, and what is being destroyed to have it in your home
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Quartz Countertops
At mid to high end pricing, it is comparable to the higher end of stones and solid surface products. The local distributor for Quartz calls it “CaesarStone.” This product is made from 93% natural quartz – one of nature's strongest minerals – and is combined with polymer resins and pigments. It is compacted under intense vibration, vacuum, and pressured into dense, non-porous slabs. It is said to be more diverse, durable and practical than stone not only because it is more consistent, but it is has wonderful stain, crack, scratch, chemical, and heat-resistant properties.
Like stone and solid surfaces, this type of counter is “clean cut” typically with the backsplash material resting on the quartz countertop and with an under mount sink. The sophistication and pizzazz of quartz has been available for approximately three years. Some of the surfaces have beautiful mirror like sparkle set in the stones. WOW! |
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Pyrolave
The price point on this unique material is mid to high end. Pyrolave is very different from many of the materials we have discussed. It is a unique mineral formed in the volcanic prehistory of France. The mineral is specially quarried, enameled and fired at a very high temperature.
The volcanic lava stone is cut into sheets and enameled. Enamel is applied and fired making it completely heat and stain proof. It is extremely hard, impact resistant and scratchproof.
It is not sensitive to temperatures and can be used indoors and outdoors.
There are approximately 30 standard colours available with custom colouring options as well. This type of counter has a beautiful luster and a unique presence.
An under mount sink is best suited to this type of counter. |
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Wood Counters
Wood counters are BEAUTIFUL! Wood counters can be very expensive and have some maintenance required to maintain that beauty. You will need to decide on light, dark, red or brown coloured woods. The colour of your cabinet doors and other items like your flooring will influence your choice. Most people choose a wood type which has a colour contrast to the cabinetry. The cost of is on the high end and is determined by the tolerance in colour specified, sorting and demands due to the visual composition of the planks used.
Like stone, wood counters will have “mother nature’s fingerprint” with variation in colour and patterns in the wood. A solid wood countertop is a "living" product, and needs to be maintained to remain healthy and resistant. Depending on your lifestyle and desire for maintenance, the options for finishing wood tops are: oil, soap or lacquer.
An oiled worktop can be polished and repaired as long as you are willing to invest approximately one hour every year to maintain it. The oil gives the worktop a beautiful golden tone.
A soap-treated worktop needs more maintenance than an oil treated top. Soap is often used, if you want a lighter worktop, but otherwise it has the same qualities as oil.
Lacquered worktops do not demand after-treatment, but are only recommended for use in bathrooms or shelving solutions.
A short integrated wood backsplash is very practical. The backsplash should make water, crumbs etc. remain on the worktop, so dirt and bacteria do not have the opportunity to get in the joint between the counter and the tiling on the wall.
Sink installation can be either drop in/self rimming or under mount. I prefer the drop in type sink with wood counters so the end grain of the wood does not come into contact with water and does not require maintenance. |
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Stainless Steel Counters
The contemporary or transitional styled kitchen or space will best suit the stainless steel countertop. Stainless steel is expensive, but is very distinct, sterile and highly practical for a well used kitchen. Be aware that stainless steel is expected to scratch and will get a wonderful worn-in look to it. It is not for everyone, but those that work with it love it.
Stainless Steel is a non-corrosive, iron-based metal that is mixed with nickel. It is widely used in the food service and food processing industries for sanitary purposes due to its high corrosion resistance. It may stain, tarnish and discolour due to surface deposits, and will require some maintenance. To maximize corrosion resistance and for aesthetic appeal, the surface must be kept clean, but it does not need harsh cleaners.
It comes in a wide variety of finishes, with “Brushed” being the most common in the fabrication of components for household counters and appliances.
When purchasing a stainless steel countertop, the best type of sink to purchase is a stainless steel fully integrated sink. The stainless fabricator welds this sink to the countertop and fills the seams to make it a seamless installation. Very nice!
An interesting note: over 90% of new stainless steel comes from old remelted stainless steel scrap, and after your countertop life has expired, it should be 100% recyclable!
Some industry lingo that you will hear and need to know while shopping:
This refers to the detailing of the thickness of the countertop edge. There are many profiles from which to select, but type of material limits your choice of detailing. All materials, except for plastic laminate, can have highly stylized edge profiles with special detail to enhance the look of your kitchen. The most practical edge profile is a square edge. This is easily created in all materials including p.lam. Your Fabricator will have a chart from which you can select your edge profile.
This refers to the thickness of the countertop edge profile. Trends today show either a very thick, beefy edge from 3” up to 6” thick and as narrow as ¼” thin. These distinct thicknesses look amazing(!), but I must caution you with the variety of thickness, as your Designer, Cabinetmaker and Countertop Fabricator will need to co-ordinate your selection with the typical work surface height in a kitchen at 36” high. Anything varying away from the typical 1-1/2” thickness will effect the cabinetry installation and finished work surface heights along with a few other major items that will need to be considered.
These terms are typically used when working with stone. The Importer is a company that purchases and transports stone from all over the world. The importer sells the stone to the Fabricator. The Fabricator buys the client’s selected stone and cuts and prepares it for installation in the home. The Fabricator will need to know the type of sink selected and the cut out sizes. The Client pays the Fabricator for the countertop completed and installed.
Another Helpful Hint: Since we have been talking about your primary work surface, you should consider under cabinet task lighting to illuminate your work surface – you will find it makes SUCH a difference! This can be strip fluorescents (select cool white, or better yet colour corrected bulbs!), halogen puck lights, LED strips, etc. Regardless of choice, illuminating that beautiful new counter will greatly improve visibility on your primary work surface.
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Countertop Comparisons
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Material |
Cost |
Scratch
Resistance |
Durability |
Cleaning
Ability |
Available
Variety |
Ease of Repair |
Outdoor Use? |
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P.Lam. |
Low |
Low |
Mid |
Mid |
High |
Not Repairable |
No |
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Solid Surface |
Mid |
High |
High |
High |
High |
Easy |
Yes |
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Stone |
Mid to High |
Mid |
Mid |
Mid |
High |
Not Repairable |
Yes |
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Quartz |
Mid to High |
Mid to High |
High |
Mid to High |
Mid |
Not Repairable |
Yes |
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Pyrolave |
Mid to High |
High |
High |
High |
Mid |
Not Repairable |
Yes |
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Wood |
High |
Low |
Mid to High |
Mid to High |
Low |
Mid |
Yes |
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Staineless Steel |
High |
Low |
Mid to High |
Mid to High |
Low |
Not Repairable |
Yes |
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Article by Dianna Holmes for SayItCornell.com
©2007 All Rights Reserved. |
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