Kitchen Countertop Ideas

A homeowner who is intending to build a kitchen countertop needs to consider different kitchen countertop ideas before starting on his project. By doing so, he will be able to select the correct countertop that will blend well with his home design and just right for his intended purpose.

It is obvious that the material will not be expensive if it is not elegant and stylish. Other factors will fall into place if the material option is settled first. Such factors as the countertop design, its finishing edges, supporting brackets, etc. will have to follow what the expensive material dictates. If all of these kitchen countertop ideas are brought into perfect harmony, you will have a kitchen countertop that will look great – a countertop that will enhance the ambience in your kitchen.

Material Options For Your Kitchen Countertops
Here are some of the popular materials which are being used by countertop builders all over the world in building elegant and durable kitchen countertops.

		Acrylic Countertops Acrylic countertops are man-made countertops that usually contain about half an inch of acrylic material laid over a plywood backing. Most of these countertops have only one color on the countertop surface. There are also two types of acrylic countertops: the solid acrylic type and the laminated type which has a nice acrylic top layer over the main countertop body. The laminated type is less expensive but can be easily affected by foreign particles. Acrylic countertops have uniform surface consistencies making them highly resistant to stains. Depending on their quality, the prices per square foot of these counters range from a low of $19.88 to a high of $28.66.
		Bamboo Countertops Bamboo is the freshest and most eco-friendly material that you can use for a countertop. When you see the green colors of bamboo, it’s as if you have brought nature inside your house. You can also use bamboo countertops for your kitchen. They can be made strong enough to handle the stresses of your daily food preparation. The strongest bamboo countertops are made using the end-grain method. This is where the strips that will constitute the countertop are arranged and glued with their end-grain facing up. The surface must be sealed and laminated to protect it from water and dirt intrusion. A bamboo countertop usually costs only $22 per square foot.
		Concrete Countertops Another innovative way of using cement is by building them into concrete countertops. Countertops made of concrete are surely strong, but are they not dull for a countertop? No, they are not. For your information, the diamond-polished concrete countertop is very expensive. Why? Its countertop surface is as shiny as a sparkling diamond, and also as hard as this very expensive gemstone. You can bet that it can take any heavy duty activity on its surface. It costs around $180 to $200 per square foot. That is even more expensive than granite. But don’t worry. You can get a stylish polished concrete countertop at an affordable price of $65 to $75 per square foot.
		Copper Countertops If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind kitchen countertop, go for a copper countertop. It will give you that unconventional, but elegant looking countertop that is out of the ordinary. Copper countertops have that certain classic style reminiscent of the old European style of living. This metal is also quite expensive therefore having copper countertops in your kitchen will increase the value of your home. The price of one square foot of copper runs to about $98.87 to $137.91. If you want the copper surface to age gracefully, you can leave it just as it is. However, there are those who want a mirror finish. In this case, the surface must be sealed and laminated so that it will not oxidize.
		Glass Countertops Using glass is one of the best ways you can modernize your kitchen. Its flat, smooth finish conveys a certain sophistication that is easily felt. Because of the reflective property of the material, glass countertops will also make your kitchen look bigger than it is. Countertop builders use glasses with thickness ranging from ¾ inch to 1.5 inches. With these thicknesses your countertop will be as strong as any hard stone countertop. But they are still made of glass therefore don’t abuse them. Although they can carry your weight, don’t use them for sitting but only for food preparation. It will cost you from $100 to $200 per square foot to build a glass countertop. But you can opt for recycled glass which is only about $50 per square foot.
		Granite Countertops With all the new innovative countertop materials flooding the market, granite is still the number one choice of traditional homeowners. This is perfectly understandable because there is no synthetic material that can really come close to the extraordinary qualities of granite. Granite countertops are still the best when it comes to elegance, style and durability. Its gorgeous colors and exciting vein patterns are works of nature that are hard to duplicate. If you seal and laminate the surface regularly, you will be able to use it for years. That’s why granite countertops still command a very high price that only a few can afford. You can get a granite countertop if you are able to pay $60 to $120 per square foot.
		Marble Countertops Marble is another beautiful creation of nature which is used by man to build walls, floors, structures and works of art. It is a metamorphic rock consisting of compacted limestone or dolomite. This stone is more flexible than granite that’s why it is easier for countertop builders to make marble countertops. Such countertops display sophisticated elegance due to their attractive colors and muted vein patterns. White is the most popular color of marble but it also has a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black and all the colors in between. Depending on the quality of the stone, you can get marble at prices ranging from $60 to $100 per square foot.
		Onyx Countertops Onyx stone has a natural translucent beauty that makes it a sought after material for building decorative countertops. Most onyx countertops are back-lighted that capitalizes on their beautiful colors. The popular colors of onyx are pink, yellow, beige and orange. When light is focused on their surface, the translucent colors of onyx brighten up, simultaneously elevating the ambience of the room. Onyx countertops are not as hard as granite therefore they are used for decorative purposes only. Since onyx is regarded as a semi-precious stone, it will cost you more if you use them for your countertops. Their average prices run to about $100 to $500 per square foot.
		Quartz Countertops Quartz countertops are among the most stylish kitchen countertop ideas of today. They are made of about 90% to 97% pure quartz crystals, and 3% to 7% polyresin (or epoxy) and color pigments. Since their structures are designed and produced by man, you can have quartz countertops that are even harder than granite. On the average, they are about the same price as granite. The average price per square foot of quartz countertops ranges from $30 to $125. But with quartz countertops, you don’t need to seal the surface because they are already completely non-porous and highly polished. There is also no need for any periodic sealing and laminating which is always a requirement with granite countertops.
		Solid-Surface Countertops Solid surface countertops are among the latest innovation in the countertop market. They are sometimes called engineered stone because they are designed and manufactured by man. As such, you can get any structural strength and color combination that you want. They are made of synthetic sheets formed by mixing mineral compounds with polyester resin (or epoxy) and color pigments and heating them up to 65º centigrade. Solid surface countertops have very hard surfaces that will not permit water and dirt penetration. Therefore you are sure to enjoy them for years to come. Since they already have high gloss finishes, you don’t need to seal or polish their surfaces. Their prices usually range from $40 to $150 per square foot.
		Stainless Steel Countertops Stainless steel countertops are the best for homeowners who would like a clean and professional look for their kitchen. Stainless steel has the exact combination of nickel and chromium that makes it resistant to corrosion and stains. Your food preparation will surely be spotlessly clean and safe if you use stainless steel countertops. They are also very easy to clean and maintain. Just see to it that all water spots and dirt are cleaned off right away. If you allow them to stay on the countertop surface more than they should, it would be harder to remove them. You can get these countertops at about $100 to $200 per square foot.
		Wood Countertops For homeowners who prefer a rustic ambience in their kitchen, wood countertops would be the best. The attractive wood grains prominently displayed on the countertop will bring warmth to the room. If these countertops are made of hardwood, they can also last for a lifetime. If they are adequately sealed and laminated, you will have no problems with water and dirt penetrating the wood surface. You just have to be regular and consistent with the sealing and laminating of the countertop surface so that you can prevent water and other foreign elements from ruining its finish. The prices of wood countertops usually range from $30 to $150 per square foot.

Other Kitchen Countertop Ideas To Consider
Owing to man’s natural proclivity to desire new things, we can surmise that there will still be other materials that will be developed in the future. From this foregoing list of kitchen countertop materials, you will notice that you can start narrowing your choices to just two categories: natural materials and man-made materials. Natural materials like granite, marble and onyx are indeed very expensive. While man-made materials are more affordable. Your choice now will really boil down to your preference and financial capability. If you want the feel of natural stone, then your choice will be obvious. But if you are limited in your budget, you can still get the elegance and style you want with quality man-made materials.