By Jessica Hohman
February is all about romance. As a St. Petersburg and Tampa custom home builder, we know that many people have serious relationships with their countertops. The material selected can really round out the style of your custom home. If chosen wisely and maintained well, this material can last through a lifetime of family gatherings, special occasions, and entertaining. Below are 4 things to consider when choosing countertops.
Porosity: Countertops are often abused, seeing their fair share of spills daily. Porosity refers to the materials ability to absorb liquids. When selecting a countertop, think about your daily usage. Do you ever keep raw meat on the countertop when cooking? Are red wine spills a daily occurrence? If so, choose a non-porous countertop material like Quartz. However, if you clean up spills immediately and a porous material really completes your custom home’s appeal, then it may be just right for you!
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Porous materials: Marble, concrete, butcher block
Nonporous materials: Granite, Quartz, recycled glass
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Durability: Similar to porosity, durability refers to the materials ability to withstand heat and knicks. Take into consideration your cooking skills in particular when determining how durable your countertops need to be. Master chefs who have impeccable knife skills may be confident that their knives will never knick the top of the kitchen island. But if you forget that a pot is hot and place it on the countertop frequently, select a durable surface that can see you through your cooking training.
Durable materials: Granite, Quartz, concrete
Nondurable materials: Marble, butcher block
Maintenance: When choosing a countertop material in custom homes in Tampa and St. Petersburg, considering the maintenance required to keep them shining like new is key. Many materials just need to be wiped down after a long day of kids spraying toothpaste everywhere and cooking dinner for the family. However, some materials require professionals to seal or oil countertops so that they don’t become porous or nondurable over time.
Low maintenance materials: Granite, Quartz
High maintenance materials: Marble, concrete, butcher block
Cost: Of course cost is extremely important! Selecting beautiful and expensive kitchen countertops doesn’t do you much good if you don’t have any money to buy food to cook in there. The principles of supply and demand are important to understand. Since some materials are naturally occurring, their supply ebbs and flows. Also, as materials become trendy, their prices can skyrocket. Another thing to consider is the ease with which materials can be installed. If a material is easily broken in transit or when installed, this can drive up cost.
Contact us today to develop a custom home plan that uses the perfect countertop materials for you!
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