Kitchen Countertops: Choosing Which Option is Right for your Kitchen Cabinet Countertop
Choosing a countertop for your kitchen cabinets can be overwhelming. Depending on your taste and budget, kitchen countertops can be a very expensive investment. Laminate countertops that have been the industry kitchen cabinets standard for decades, but now there are a wide variety of solid core, stone and butcher block countertops to choose from.
Let's talk about Laminate Countertops. This is by far your least expensive option. The typical laminate countertops for kitchen cabinets now are up to 400% more durable than they were just ten years ago. They are more resistant to scratching scuffing and burning. They also come in a huge variety of colors, textures and patterns and finishes. The drawback to laminate is that they CAN be affected by excess heat, say from a pot, and the edges will be exposed. If you are looking for a clean look and durability, laminate countertops will not be your best choice.
Let's talk about finishes. There are three main types of finishes. Gloss, semi-gloss or satin and textured.
Gloss finish is very shiny. It can mimic with great success, stone like polished granite and marble on your kitchen cabinets. It is, though more durable than in the past, the finish that is most prone to scratching and scuffing. It also can show wipe marks more often. So, using this finish above your kitchen cabinets in front of a window or strong light is not usually a good idea. Using a light color will help hide wipe marks. This is a finish you would prefer in an area where your kitchen cabinets get the least amount of use. Using counter protectors on your kitchen cabinets is a good idea with this finish.
Semi-gloss or satin finishes on your countertops are more durable and easier to keep clean because they don't show wipe marks as easily and are more resistant to scratching and scuffing. This finish is the most popular for today's kitchen cabinets. Expect to get many years of service out of a laminate counter with this finish on you kitchen cabinets countertops..
I’m looking for a computer program that I can use to help me redo my kitchen?
I want to put in a pic of my kitchen, then play around with different looks; tiles, cupboards, floor, countertop etc. Any ideas? (Preferably free or very cheap.)
I used the B&Q free kitchen planner. You put in your kitchen dimensions then add units and appliances. You can choose colour of cupboards and countertop (but not floor or tiles). You can get 3-D colour or lineart views. I found it very useful for initial planning. In fact most of the kitchen companies I went to didn’t produce much better. The only thing you can’t do is print the floorplan as you see it on the screen (except you can by pressing your printscreen key and pasting it into Microsoft Paint).
http://www.diy.com
kitchen update.. need colour and remodel help!?
i am a bit of a country woman at heart and the rest of my home is slightly neutral colours and i want my kitchen to be warm and inviting. the current colours are powdery blue walls, warm slate gray countertops and white cabinets. the cabinets are falling apart and have cheap grey handles which match the countertop. the floor is white and blue tiles that i would love to replace with ceramic but cannot afford it. can anyone suggest colours for the walls and an alternate flooring possibilty and maybe backsplash ideas. we have white appliances as well.
also need a way to repair the countertop hopefully not replacing it as we have limited funds entering this project.
thank you.
also a tip for fixing/replacing the doors and drawers is helpful. they are falling apart.
I work for an architectural firm, and home kitchens look best in reds. Red is very warm and inviting. I would suggest you visit your local home depot, lowes, etc and look through the books in the paint department/wallpaper dept. You can get some wonderful ideas from the books. Also, they carry counters that would be wood color, but may accent your country woman!
BUDGET kitchen countertop ideas – what materials can be used?
Remodeling a small home on a tight budget – what are some cheap/economical kitchen countertop surface ideas?
Thanks for the replies.. I’ve looked into laminate, and it’s an idea. Still not sure. lol
OldeHippy – Thanks for the idea. That’s something else to consider. =)
Thanks for the suggestion Baldie. Not really the look i’m going for, but again, thanks. =)
Baldie – i’m googling your idea right now… Maybe contact paper isn’t such a bad idea.. With a couple coats of polyurathane. Will look into it more, thanks. =)
If you’re on a really tight budget, clean the existing counter thoroughly with tsp. Rinse and dry.
Paint it in any pattern that pleases you using whatever paint you have around (or can pick up at a free recycle place or get free by advertising on kijiji.com or craigslist.com)
Apply 3 to 5 coats of clear, high gloss urethane, allowing each coat to dry over night.
As long as you don’t use a knife on it (use a cutting board) this countertop finish will still look good 5 years later. — Or at least mine did when I fiinally moved.
How to update laminate kitchen countertop? Cheap, do-it-yourself project ideas please.?
I’m redecorating a kitchen on a tight budget. The countertops are laminated in a brown butcher block pattern, which HAS to go. New countertop is out. How can I CHEAPLY update? Can countertop be painted? Tiled over? What other options are there? Thanks for info / links!
Okay this is really easy but VERY tricky. You can go buy new laminate in whatever you like and laminate right over the old.
However you may want to try to go to a do it yourself class at Lowes or a like store to see how it is done since you use a contact cement that is rolled on the old countertop and the new laminate and allowed to dry then placed on the counters.
BUT the trick is placing dowel between the two pieces of laminate and , starting from the center, pull the dowels out and connect the two together once they touch though you CAN NOT get them apart.
Then to clean up the edges you have to use a special tool on a router which can usually be rented from your home improvement store.
Do-It-Yourself Question: How do I refinish ugly countertops, cheap? Can anyone say “harvest gold” be gone?
I’ve thought seriously about lightly sanding the old formica, and staining the countertops and then applying a sealant. Any ideas on products that would stand up to kitchen countertop wear? I need something that won’t peel off in a year or two. Thanks!!!
I’ve sanded a formica surface before and it can be turned into a mildly poreous surface, so I’m fairly certain staining is possible, it is the sealant that would be the problem if I went this route. I know it can be done as there are companies that do countertop “refinishing”. It may be better though to put a laminate as some suggested. Thanks for all the great ideas thus far. Still waiting for that “oh, heck yes!!!!!” answer.
I learned about this a couple of days ago. You can have formica countertops resurfaced. Google it and you’ll see quite a few companies who can do this.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=countertops+resurfacing