Choosing the Best Kitchen Countertops for your Home

Choosing the Best Kitchen Countertops for you Mississauga Home

No matter your reason for the upgrade, be it a renovation, remodel or update, countertops might just be the ‘facelift’ your Mississauga home kitchen needs to bring it back to life.

Kitchen countertops in Mississauga are available in a broad range of shapes, styles and materials perfectly capable of capturing your own personal style or uniquely complementing the design or architecture of your home.

In fact, when it comes to Kitchen Design in Mississauga, the range of options is so immersive and expansive that many homeowners in Mississauga often find themselves overwhelmed with choices. But before you get frustrated and choose a countertop on looks alone, let us help you break down what to look for and the questions you should ask yourself to find that perfect match.

Questions You Need to Ask Yourself When Buying New Kitchen Countertops

1. How Will Your Countertops be Used?

According to Popular Mechanics, this is a question of the utmost importance. It can help you determine everything from material and layout, to sizing and even colors.

For Example, Will You:

• Need space for your kids to lay out homework or cook big meals
• Require durability due to a lot of cooking or wear from appliances
• Appreciate an easily cleanable surface due to heavy daily use
• Value scratch resistance over easily stainable surface

2. What Type of Maintenance Are you Ok With?

Simply put, some materials are easier to clean and maintain than others, making this a key consideration. We all lead busy lives, so be realistic and honest with the type of upkeep you’re willing to contend with.

Some porous materials (for example) are prone to stains and need resurfacing/sealing periodically throughout the years. Wood countertops, while stylish and classically timeless, require oil and finish at least twice a year.

3. The Big Picture: your kitchen

Sometimes the allure of a particular material or style blurs the big picture. Before you fall in love with any particular countertops, you should take into consideration the needs and requirements of your kitchen as a whole.

For example, how many linear feet of countertop do you need? What are the required dimensions? Is any customization necessary?

These and other elements can have a dramatic impact on the overall costs that you may need to consider in order to stay within budget.

4. Speaking of Budget, What’s Yours?

Very few of us have an unlimited budget when it comes to upgrading countertops. Even if price isn’t a consideration, you want to make sure that you’re getting good value.

Going ultra-expensive isn’t always in your best interest, but neither is skimping out. Remember, the right countertop, build and material can provide enjoyment and use for decades.

Kitchen Countertop Materials

Granite

Once considered the pinnacle of countertops, granite is now both readily accessible and more affordable than it once was. Available in a multitude of options and styles, granite is a highly favored countertop material, adding to home value and making a bold impression.

Pros:

• Available in a wide array of patterns and colors
• Each piece is one of a kind
• Durable, standing up well to heat, abrasion and moisture

Cons:

• Must be periodically sealed over the years
• Heavy, requiring sturdy under cabinets or additional support
• On the higher end of the budget

Quartz

A beautiful option blending aesthetics with ease of care packaged into a solid surface that looks as impressive as it is durable. This exquisite option is an oft-favored countertop material for discerning homeowners seeking to add an element of luxury to their kitchens.

Pros:

• Available in a myriad of colors and natural colors
• Luxurious finishes
• Similar durability to granite without the risk of chipping
• Non-porous and resistant to staining
• Available as eco-friendly natural quartz or synthetic

Cons:

• Higher price tag
• Contemporary (less natural) look may be unappealing to some
• Not as heat-resistant as granite

Marble

Undeniably beautiful and grand, whether for floors or countertops, marble is an impressive and visually stunning material.

Pros:

• Bold and beautiful
• Can make a real statement
• Made from natural materials
• Each piece is truly unique

Cons:

• Ranks among the most expensive materials
• VERY heavy
• Susceptible to staining
• Vulnerable to knicks, cracking and chipping
• Requires maintenance to maintain their durability

Bucher- Block  

It’s no wonder butcher-block countertops are a constant in cozy country cottages and rustic farmhouses alike. The surface, made up of assembled wooden boards, is warmer and more inviting than other materials and never goes out of style. Taken directly from nature, butcher-block is biodegradable and eco-friendly—and it brings a bit of an earthy element into any kitchen.

Since wood is so neutral, many homeowners mix with other materials: You could install all butcher-block countertops, incorporate a built-in cutting surface, or opt for a butcher-block island instead.

But butcher-block has its drawbacks too. We cleared through the sawdust to uncover the choices available, as well as the price and pros and cons.
Pro: They’re as easy on the knives as they are on the eyes. The only countertop that can actually be used as a cutting surface, butcher-block won’t dull your knives like stone or concrete counters. The soft surface also makes for a quieter kitchen. And for those who are a bit clumsier, dishes are less likely to shatter when dropped on wood versus stone.

Con: Butcher-block is susceptible to scratches, dings, and stains. If you plan on chopping directly on your countertops, you’re going to end up marking things up a little (or a lot). That glass you dropped might just leave a dent, and the wine inside could settle into a stain.

Pro: But they’re easily restored. “To remove nicks or gouges after years of wear, just sand the surface [with fine sandpaper] the same way the grain runs, and re-oil,” Mandy Cook, another John Boos & Co. rep, tells us. “Sanding reveals an entire fresh new cutting surface.” Or, to keep butcher-block scratch-free, simply use a cutting board as you would on any other countertop.

Inexpensive, modular, and available in several materials, tile offers a level of flexibility and customization not available with other solid countertop materials.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Easy to cut on like a large cutting board
• A multitude of wood grains and colors
• Available in several wood species from Canadian Maple to Black Walnut
• Suitable for virtually any style from French Country to Contemporary style kitchens
• Holds up well to heat & easy to cut on
• Stain-prone but you can always sand it %& restain it
• Easily replaceable

Cons:

• Uneven surface can make balancing items more difficult
• If unsealed is prone to staining
• Bacterial growth and buildup of grime in-between wood grains
• Needs specialized cleaning & constant resealing
• Not heat and scratch resistant
• Easier to catch on fire than previously mentioned stones

Laminate

A kitchen mainstay in homes all over Mississauga and throughout Canada, laminate is a cost-effective, simple and readily available material for countertops. It’s main appeal is the infinite selection of patterns, colors and styles available, coupled with its impressive affordability.

Pros:

• Highly affordable
• Low maintenance
• Simple to clean
• Lightweight

Cons:

• Less durable
• Can burn, scratch or rip
• Difficult to repair small areas if damaged

Finding the Perfect Kitchen Countertops in Mississauga Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

With a little preparation and forethought, finding the right kitchen cabinets can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Need additional help or have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Kitchen Land. Our team is standing by and eager to learn more about how we can help you find the right fit for your home today.