The team at Details Construction Group is as dedicated to your kitchen 10 years from now as we are in the initial design and build phase of the kitchen remodel.
We’re known for our big-picture and lifestyle-specific approach to our projects. That means we have to maintain that same lens as we help guide our clients through the counter selection process.
Choose Countertop Materials That Live Up to Your Kitchen Remodel
To ensure you love your kitchen as much in the future as you do now, we need to select materials that can stand the test of time. And to do that, we learn more about:
- Who lives with you now, and how might that evolve in the next five to ten years?
- Whether you cook three meals a day or mostly do takeout.
- How often you host parties or family gatherings.
- The level of maintenance you’re committed to from year to year.
- Any near future plans to rent or sell the home?
The answers to these questions help us narrow down countertop options and confidently select materials most suitable for your household and lifestyle.
Quick Guide to 7 Popular Kitchen Countertop Options
Flora and the Details Construction Group team will be happy to give you the info you need to review the pros and cons of each selection we suggest so your countertops continue to function as great as they look for the lifetime of your kitchen.
Once we have a better idea of your household’s lifestyle, design taste, and overarching goals, we’re going to help you select countertop surfaces that meet your household’s needs for:
- Appearance & beauty
- Stain resistance
- Heat resistance
- Scratch & chip resistance
- Easy maintenance
- Price
Here is a quick guide to five of the most popular kitchen countertop options.
- Granite. This natural stone continues to be a favorite due to its luxurious beauty and durability. It checks just about every bullet point listed above. However, since granite is a natural stone and we can’t see between the top/bottom surface, it can have natural imperfections that weaken over time, leading to cracks or chips. While not as porous as marble, granite still requires routine sealing to increase resistance to staining and etching. Finally, depending on the level you want, granite countertops can be on the pricier side.
- Quartz. If you love how granite looks but aren’t as keen on the annual sealing requirements or the potential for long-term cracks or chips, we recommend looking at high-end quartz slabs. These engineered stone products utilize the same natural crystals found in granite, making them wonderful natural stone replicas. However, we consider Quartz to be an “ultimate product” in terms of heat, stain, and chip resistance – not to mention low maintenance requirements. They’re also available in colors and consistent patterns not found in granite or marble quarries.
- Butcher Block. There are so many reasons to love butcher block countertops. They add gorgeous natural wood appeal and work in both traditional and contemporary kitchens. Clients who’ve installed butcher block counters appreciate their eco-friendly benefits (especially if you use reclaimed or salvaged wood) as well as the welcoming warmth they imbue in the space. They’re easy to install, which makes them a more affordable option. However, to retain water-resistant properties, they must be oiled regularly. This option requires consistent attention keeping in mind wood is porous and not heat resistant. The material can stain or display heat rings if you’re not careful.
- Marble. These countertops have been a staple in the luxury kitchen market for a reason. Marble’s soft grace is beautiful to look at and as versatile as can be. That said, it’s a softer natural stone, so it’s more vulnerable to staining and etching than granite. If you’re a busy household, we recommend saving marble for a luxury bathroom remodel, and using granite or a marble-look-alike Quartz product in the kitchen.
- Concrete. Concrete countertops are the ultimate in terms of customization. Because they’re poured into forms, we can design and create ultra-personalized shapes, including rounded or wavy edges or angles/sizes specifically drawn to meet unusual spaces and kitchen footprints. Also, concrete counters can be stained with just about any color you want. They are another “ultimate” product when it comes to durability and heat resistance. However, concrete is also a porous material, so these countertops must be sealed and waxed to reduce their vulnerability to staining or scratching.
Mix & Match: Install Countertops That Match the Location
Remember that Details Construction Group excels at designing personalized kitchen remodels specific to our clients. So, there’s no reason to choose only one countertop surface.
If you have a favorite material that doesn’t make sense for the whole kitchen, we might suggest optimizing visual interest by using more than one material, depending on the surface. This could include:
- Marble on the designated bakers’ surfaces and Quartz elsewhere.
- Granite or butcher block for the perimeter countertops, and quartz on the work-heavy kitchen island.
- Butcher block on a kitchen island used primarily for prep, and granite or Quartz for the perimeter countertops.
- Butcher block or granite for the bulk of the kitchen with complimentary quartz for the coffee/tea bar.
Move Confidently Forward With Your Kitchen Remodel Ideas
Don’t let a lack of confidence or design paralysis prevent you from getting started on a much-needed kitchen remodel. The Details Construction Group team is here to provide ideas and recommendations for your kitchen countertops – and everything else – based on your lifestyle and tastes.
Contact us to schedule a consultation so we can move your project from the “idea” phase into production mode.
