Comprehensive Guide About Kitchen Countertops - Beautiful Homes

Durability

If you want the countertop to last long and continue to look great over the years, then your modern kitchen countertop must be resistant to wear and tear. It also needs to be stain-proof and immune to the effects of moisture. It may also need to be scratch-proof depending on your usage requirements.

Budget

For some of you, this may be the most important criteria to consider. If you are working with a low-cost budget, the most effective kitchen countertops would be granite ones. Engineered stones like quartz or heavy metallic stuff like steel could be more on the pricier side. Most designers, for a coherent look, tend to use the same material for the backsplash as the kitchen countertop. This would be an important item to consider in your budget as well.

Installation

It would be bad if you get stuck with an uneven kitchen countertop with ups & downs, after all those efforts to get your perfect dream kitchen done. To make things worse, a leakage problem would be another nuisance. Hence, as much as it is important to choose the best design or colour, it is equally important to ensure that you find a skilled professional team to install your kitchen countertop design. Professionals would ensure that you get the right seating of the countertop and a strong bond with the base. Sealing your stone-to-stone gaps, in case your countertop is quartz is also an important part of the installation process that is better handled by a professional team.

Maintenance

The countertop material you use should require bare minimum maintenance. Ideally, it should be something that can be wiped clean with merely some soap and water. White-coloured countertops could stain due to the usage or spillage of acidic spices, turmeric, saffron, and so on. So to ensure that your kitchen countertop lasts long, you’d want to wipe spills immediately. If you are using a soft stone like marble, the surface of your countertop should be resealed every few years to make it water-resistant and to prevent any pitting.

Materials Used

The materials you chose to use for your kitchen countertop make a lot of difference. You can choose from granite, marble, steel, engineered quartz, and a variety of other options.  Referring to a modular kitchen guide can also provide insights into which countertop materials best complement different kitchen designs and functionalities. Let’s see how the materials have their own pros and cons.

Engineered Stones (Quartz) Countertops

Quartz is an engineered, man-made material that is manufactured from quartz stone chips, pigments and additives (like glass), and a binder. Quartz countertops deliver a very high degree of high performance while being able to look stunning. Quartz countertops are durable, stain-resistant, and scratch proof. Some varieties of quartz may not be completely resistant to heat, so do check before you buy. A professional installer is needed for the best finishing. Prices start at INR 200 per sq ft.

The surface is matte and cannot be polished to achieve a reflective sheen. Corian countertop prices range from INR 750 to 1500 per square foot on average.

How to Maintain your Kitchen Countertop?

• Vinegar, turmeric, and citrus juices are acidic, and some ready mixes have coloured additives. In case of a spill, always wipe them down immediately.
• On a similar note, avoid cleaning solutions and scrubbers that are acidic. Always use warm water and organic cleaners to wipe the countertop down thoroughly once you are done with cooking.
• Always do a second wipe with a dry cloth to seal in the shine.
  
• Food spills should not be allowed to set and harden on the surface of the countertop.
  
• As much as possible, avoid doing any food prep directly on the countertop. That includes chopping, slicing or kneading dough.

At Asian Paints Beautiful Homes, we understand how significant it is to build each corner of your home. You simply need to let us know about the sort of interior design you are looking for, and we will assist you in transforming your vision into reality by fine-tuning your ideas. Whether you want to create more aesthetic appeal or align the vibe of your space with existing structures or play with colour combinations - we will be able to meet your needs well. We also help with specific furnishings such as the best kitchen countertops and can guide you through the whole process of selecting or renewing one.

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