Are you considering remodeling the bathroom or need to just replace the existing countertop? If so, Columbia Kitchens of Maryland is here to help guide you through the selection process by educating you on the plethora of surface options that are available:
Granite, quartz, marble, cultured marble, and acrylic surfaces are typically what is used for the bathroom.
Wear and Tear is an important factor to consider when selecting bathroom countertop surfaces. If you are expecting a lot of abuse in a child’s bathroom or hallway bath for example, you should consider choosing a surface that is scratch and stain resistant such as granite or quartz.
Appearance is also important. The color and type of surface that you choose should complement the rest of the house and rooms nearby. It shouldn’t stand out from everything else in the bathroom, but should compliment and blend with the shower, floor, walls and fixtures.
Solid surfaces are the most durable types of countertops to go with. Stone products are at the top of the list, with quartz gaining popularity for being maintenance-free. If you think about a rock, you can do just about anything to it without it getting damaged, which is the benefit of going with a stone material.
The patterns of granite and marble are unique and inconsistent. This is the beauty of natural stone, and should be expected when choosing this type of surface. The inconsistent variation can’t be duplicated, providing you a unique and elegant look.
Undermount and vessel sinks are great to have in your bathroom if you want to make a statement yet be practical with providing additional workspace.
When selecting your vanity top, be sure to consider maintenance and compatibility with the rest of your house.
The top-selling surfaces of 2012 are:
Granite Countertops
Granite is an exceptional bathroom countertop surface. It is a natural stone product with veining and original pattering that is bold and stunning. It is heat and stain-resistant, long lasting, and once sealed; maintenance free. Uprade the edge to make the surface stand out even more, or to follow the cabinet edge profile. If you want a high-end look, granite is the countertop for you.
For maintenance, granite countertops should be sealed every six months to a year. Be sure to clean your countertops with warm water and liquid detergent.
Marble Countertops
Marble is also a natural stone product like granite, however much softer. This means that it is more prone to damage, but is more durable than cultured marble or laminate. There are typically more lighter (white) colors here than there are in granite, but vary just as beautifully since they are both natural rock.
Seal your marble top every 3 to 6 months and clean with a non-abrasive detergent.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz is an excellent bathroom countertop choice if you are looking for a consistent stone pattern which resembles limestone, granite or marble. It is also maintenance free! There are many brands to choose from, giving you a wide variety of colors and patterns to choose from. You can also upgrade the edge and use an undermount sink to finish it off as you may in granite.
Quartz is very durable making it easy to clean. It does not require sealing or maintenance as needed with granite and marble.
Cultured Marble and Laminate Countertops
If you do not expect a lot of wear and tear, and would prefer to put funds towards other materials in the bathroom, then go with a cultured marble or laminate vanity top.
Cultured Marble is a very popular option since you can achieve the same look as marble without having to break the budget to get it. There are tons of colors to choose from: from white to black backgrounds, with white to brown veining; to white and black granite patterns. You can also upgrade to go with a matte finish and 1 ½” thick edge to give you the look of an acrylic surface.
Laminate has come a long way, but is the least durable out of all of your surface options. This is because it is not repairable. However, there isn’t usually much wear and tear in the masterbath, for example, which could be a great place to include it. There are granite colors to choose from; and when you upgrade to a honed or etchings finish, it is very easy to mistake it for the real thing.
Come in to our showroom today to explore all of your options, and make your dream top a reality.
Here are our Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Services:
At Columbia Kitchens we offer stock builder grade cabinets for immediate purchase or you can choose from our semi-custom and custom lines which are all displayed in our beautiful showroom. When you arrive, we will also show you our vast array of custom countertop options which include: Laminate, Corian, granite, marble, Vetrazzo (recycled glass), Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq, Caesarstone, Eco, Hanstone, Swanstone, and cultured marble.
Columbia Kitchens offers all this plus FREE estimates, FREE design services, and FREE in-home measuring all done by our friendly, creative staff of professionals. Let us create the design of your dreams today!
Contact us by calling 410.796.9090 or click here today!
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