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Category: Kitchen
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Choosing the Right Countertop Material
You’ve made the decision to remodel your kitchen in Davenport so it’s countertop comparison time. The three most popular countertop material options tend to be quartz, granite and solid surface. While all of them can be ordered to suit any countertop shape and size you might need to fit your kitchen space, each one has its particular strengths and benefits. To help you in choosing the right countertop material, we’ve put together a general countertop comparison for Davenport area new builds and remodels based on several of the most important factors. Read below to find out more on how cost, style, color, and durability can influence your Davenport area kitchen remodeling vision.
Countertop Cost Comparison
Pricing can vary significantly depending on your color and pattern selections. Using normal ranges, though, here are some general price range guidelines.
Granite: Surprisingly to some, granite may be your least expensive option of these three unless you choose one of the very basic solid color patterns of solid surface.
Quartz: As a rule, quartz is generally the most expensive of the three surfaces.
Solid Surface: While solid surface countertops are generally considered to be the least expensive, this may only be true for the simpler colors and patterns. The more natural looking and complex designs often exceed the cost of granite.
Countertop Color Options
While granite, quartz and solid surface all include a wide variety of color and patterns options, each one has particular advantages and disadvantages. Here are some general guidelines.
Granite: If it’s natural beauty and organic appearance you’re going for, granite is generally the top option. While the others do a nice job in simulating the look of organic beauty, it’s already in natural stone. As a natural surface, every countertop is unique.
Quartz: For a balance of natural appearance and bolder color options, quartz is the one you want. The use of organic components plus manufactured colors allows for a wide range of natural looking colors and patterns unmatched by the other two options.
Solid Surface: For bold, unique colors and patterns not necessarily found in nature, solid surface offers the most variety. The use of man-made colors and materials gives you nearly unlimited options to create a unique look that may not normally appear in nature.
Countertop Durability & Maintenance
While all three options are durable, there are some pretty clear advantages to some surfaces. Here’s a general overview of each on durability and maintenance.
Granite: While granite countertops are very hard, they’re also porous. They are also prone to cracking and staining. In addition, they do require some fairly simple but regular sealing.
Quartz: In short, quartz countertops are extremely durable and virtually maintenance free. They’re also non-porous and stain resistant and they don’t require any special sealing or cleaning.
Solid Surface: Solid surface countertops are also non-porous and stain resistant but not quite as durable as quartz. They’re more easily scratched and can melt under direct contact with extreme heat.
We’d also note that both quartz and solid surface, being man-made, can be more easily repaired if damaged.
Countertops Are a Personal Choice
Ultimately, choosing the right countertop material that's best for your kitchen comes down to your personal circumstances. The good news is that there is a variety of available options to ensure you find the right choice for your home in Davenport that suits your style, color, durability, and cost needs. Any of the three options in our countertop comparison can provide your Davenport home with beautiful and unique countertop looks for many years to come.
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Planning for Your Kitchen Remodel
When you’re thinking about remodeling your current kitchen, there are a lot of different things you’ll need to consider. Before you get started, it’s always a good idea to do a little planning and consulting. Here are a few suggestions that can save you time and money while getting you the kitchen you’ve been dreaming about.
Consult with the Pros
Professional advice doesn’t have to be expensive and may not cost anything early in the process. Make the most of the design and planning services offered by your local kitchen and bath providers. They can provide great ideas you may not have considered and help you save time and money later in the process.
You should also use them as sources for prospective contractors if you don’t already have them. They work with dozens of contractors and can help steer you toward some who specialize in your kind of projects.
Keep Your Floor Plan Practical
You can definitely move things around but you’ll want to make sure your kitchen layout remains functional. This means you’ll want to keep a natural triangular pattern between the refrigerator, stove, and faucet.
You’ll also want to ensure the dishwasher is close to the faucet for transfer of dishes. There is some flexibility in these arrangements but you want to keep your kitchen layout clean and make sure that things are arranged in the way you’ll need to use them.
Maximize Your Cabinet Space
If you haven’t purchased cabinets for a while there are probably quite a few new layout options and features you haven’t seen. A visit to the showroom can be a real eye opener when it comes to choosing your new cabinets and making the most of your available square footage.
There are also a lot of new features for saving space, storage and organizing that you might not anticipate in standard cabinetry. A lot of features that used to be custom are now incorporated into many levels of cabinets.
Don’t Skimp on Countertops and Flooring
Kitchen traffic and use can have a greater impact on countertops and flooring than other parts of the kitchen. Spend the money and get high quality products that are as durable as they are beautiful. You can change out a faucet without too much difficulty but replacing worn counters or flooring can quickly add up to more time and money.
Counters and floors also present very large surfaces for visual inspection. This means choosing the right materials, colors and patterns often make the difference in overall visual appeal. Get lots of samples and put them together to make sure everything fits in a way that’s pleasing to the eye.