There will come a time when you’ll need to change your kitchen countertop. This is a big decision to make, especially if you’ve been meaning to change it for some time now and looking for a long-term replacement. Perhaps you’ve already learned some lessons about your previous countertop, or there are some improvements that you want to incorporate.
Extensive research is needed for you to choose the perfect material for the replacement. To help you decide, here are some things you need to consider when replacing your kitchen countertop.
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Expenses
Your decision will start with how much you are willing to pay for the replacement. There are a plethora of choices for the replacement – from the material, styles, durability, and lifespans – and your budget will dictate your choice.
Reflect on these questions:
- What do I value the most: quality, aesthetics, price?
- How much time am I willing to give to clean?
- How long would I want to have this countertop?
- Am I willing to spend this much for the replacement?
Price determines quality and maintenance. High-end countertops can be high maintenance, but they can be more attractive. Low-end countertops are made for high traffic use but are likely to have a shorter lifespan. Your decision will depend on how much you are willing to spend or compromise.
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Material Composition
Countertop materials are classified into two main categories: natural and engineered. Natural countertops include metal, stone, and wood. Engineered countertops include resins, binders, powders, and pressed laminates.
Having artificial materials for your countertop is that it is cheaper, more durable, and low maintenance. It is also flexible as it gives you room to be creative by choosing a color and pattern of your liking.
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High Traffic Kitchen
You also have to consider how busy your kitchen will be because there are materials that are suitable for it – namely recycled glass and travertine countertops.
Commercial kitchens usually have stainless steel countertops because they are easy to clean and are proven to handle a busy kitchen. Another option is a Quartz countertop, as it is known to be highly durable, low maintenance, and easy to clean.
Another thing to consider is whether the material can withstand high heat. It is common for commercial kitchens to have scorching hot pans.
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Warranty Protection
One of the biggest considerations in choosing your countertop is the fabricator’s warranty. This warranty covers countertop installation, including the seams and sinks. This is important because seams can break because of house settling or improper installation of the cabinets. Sinks can pull apart from the countertop, too. If you have this warranty, you will be able to repair and replace these damages. One thing less to worry about.
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Replace Your Cabinets
If you will be replacing your countertops and your cabinets are not attached to them, you might want to consider replacing your cabinets as well. This way, you won’t have to worry about looking for countertops that will match your existing cabinets. Think of it as giving a new life to your kitchen.
Also, if you’ll eventually need to replace your kitchen cabinets, it might cause damage during the repair. So why not change both at the same time, right?
Replacing countertops definitely involves some cost. If you want to slash that expense, here are some things you can do:
- Go straight to countertop manufacturers. You will be able to save more if no middle person is getting a share of the cut.
- Try to research and gauge if you can demolish the countertop by yourself. This can save you with demolition expenses. However, only do it if you are confident that you can because you might damage your flooring and appliances.
- You can use contact paper to freshen up your old countertops.