What is the most popular room in a home?
The kitchen is the most important room in the home. You may have an entertainment room, but the kitchen always seems to be the place that everyone congregates. This means that if you are building new or remodeling your kitchen, it will involve some very important planning from layout to material selection. One of the most important decisions that every kitchen designer must make is the type of kitchen countertop materials to incorporate into the design.
Kitchen Countertop Materials
There are a lot of materials that can be used for kitchen counters, but some of the most popular are laminate, tile, marble, quartz and granite.
Laminate
The laminate countertop is similar to laminate flooring and consists layers of paper treated with resin and pressed together under high heat and pressure. Under this paper-and-resin layer is a base of composite chip wood. Laminate in inexpensive compared to other kitchen counter options, but it will easily scratch and chip. Because the base is constructed of particleboard, it may swell if it comes into contact with water.
Tile
Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both extremely popular in a kitchen. The price of tile can be affordable to extravagant. They allow for a wide variety of styles and patterns that are only limited by the imagination. Tile can be a great DIY project, but it will require patience and precision, so it may not be for everyone. One drawback of tile is the grout which catches food and needs to be maintained and sealed periodically.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock, formed from the heat and pressure of metamorphism applied to limestone, when the mineral calcite recrystallizes to form a rock comprised of interlacing calcite crystals. The same process occurs when the mineral dolomite recrystallizes to form a rock comprised of interlacing dolostone crystals. Marble contains other minerals including clay minerals, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides, and graphite. Marble is popular in kitchens, but it needs to be maintained and sealed. It is a strong stone, but not as strong as granite.
Quartz
Quartz is partially man-made. Where nature has created the quartz mineral which comprises 90% of quartz countertops, it is combined with resins, polymers, and diverse types of pigments to form the finished product. Because quartz countertops are engineered stone countertops, they form a hard stone-like countertop much like granite which makes them very popular for kitchens. Quartz countertops appear differently due to how the quartz is ground. If it is ground into a fine powder, it will have a smooth appearance. Conversely, if quartz is ground coarsely, it will have a flecked appearance.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a term that is sometimes used quite loosely in the stone industry. It can be used to describe some stones which are more closely related to dolomites and marbles. One of the main benefits of quartzite is that many of the varieties have a similar look to marble, but require much less maintenance, so it can be a good option for consumers who would like marble countertops but want something sturdier. Thus, it is a great material to use in kitchens.
Granite
Granite is an igneous rock, formed from the extraordinarily slow crystallization of magma deep beneath the surface of the Earth. Granite is predominantly composed of the minerals quartz and feldspar, with smaller amounts of mica, amphiboles, and other minerals fused within the composition. The variances in the mineral components influence the color and pattern of each individual granite slab mined from a quarry. Granite is one of the most popular kitchen countertop materials because of its beauty and durability.
Carr Stone & Tile
Contact Carr Stone & tile to consult with our design coordinators to help you determine which material is the best application for your project at (504) 835-8453. We are located at 3200 Andover Street in Jefferson, Louisiana. Our showroom and display area are open daily, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 4pm. Samples are available upon request.
