High-End Countertops for Your Kitchen Remodel

Whether in a kitchen or bathroom, high-end countertops such as granite, concrete, quartz (and other solid surface materials) should be installed only by professionals. The materials can be tricky or difficult to cut, and making clean, smooth joints takes a lot of experience. And there's usually no second chance to correct a mistake. Here's a look-see at the stuff that should be installed by the pros (which will jack up the cost of your project).

Solid surface materials

This category of building materials is gaining popularity. Solid surface countertops are made of polyester or acrylic resins, or a combination of both — they don't have a substrate base. These countertops give the appearance of stone. They're sold under such brand names as Corian, Cambria, Avonite, Gibralter, and Surrell. They come in solid colors and patterns that really do look a lot like stone.

Sadly, this style of countertop isn't DIY-installable — only a trained and certified contractor can get his hands on this stuff right now. So if you decide you want a solid surface material countertop, remember to budget a little extra for installation costs.

Despite the added installation expense, solid-surface material countertops have many redeeming qualities:

• Very durable

• Available in many colors and stone patterns (even granite)

• Self-supporting (doesn't need center bracing support)

• Used with an integrated sink (or a sink that is part of the countertop, which eliminates seams or joints.

• Easy to clean

• Fairly easy to repair (smaller cuts and nicks can be sanded out with sandpaper or an abrasive pad)

• Can be cut and shaped to accommodate custom sizes or design

Solid-surface materials look great in a kitchen, but be sure to keep the following disadvantages in mind as you make your decision:

• Doesn't stand up well to hot pans (although better than laminate)

• Expensive (anywhere between $50 and $120 a square foot, depending on the brand, color, and edge treatment)

• Requires installation by a licensed contractor/installer

• Not available to DIY market

Solid-surface countertops are either 1/2 or 3/4 inch thick and come as wide as 36 inches and as long as 144 inches. If a joint is needed, the two pieces are bonded together with color-matching adhesive. After the joint has dried, it's sanded and burnished — making the joint nearly invisible. Another neat feature is that these countertops can be cut and shaped (because they're a solid material and don't have a substrate base). Many folks like to have a custom or styled edge routed along the surface's front edge and ends.

If you do have a solid-surface countertop installed, don't be alarmed at the small (usually about a 1/8-inch) gap along the walls. Solid-surface materials expand when heated so the gap is needed to avoid damaging the material or your wall.

Granite

If you absolutely want to have real stone in your kitchen, then granite is the way to go. Take a look at granite's good points:

• Durable

• Comes in small pieces and large slabs and every size in between

• Really classy

• Makes a good insert for pastry prep (a small area, maybe 24 x 24 inches or smaller, where you prepare or roll out dough for pastries, and so on)

Granite's disadvantages include:

• Glossy stones can be hard to keep looking nice — they show water spots quite readily.

• Very expensive (figure at least the cost per square foot of a solid-surface countertop).

• Should be installed by a contractor (an added expense).

• Cabinets need to be reinforced to support the weight of the granite.

To select a slab of granite for your countertop, you must see the actual slab and not a small sample. The colors and grain vary throughout the slab, so make sure that you like the piece that will be used. Remember, granite is very expensive and you won't want to replace it after a year if you just can't live with the look. Visit the stone yard and view the cut slabs up close.

Concrete

Who wants a gray kitchen? Probably not too many people. And you won't have to have one, either, even if you go with another new material that's making its way into the kitchen. Concrete countertops are actually becoming quite popular. Okay, a very small percentage of people have them. But only because most homeowners aren't aware that they're available and don't realize how versatile they are.

A concrete top offers several advantages:

• Can be colored and textured to create many different looks

• Can have small decorative tiles inlaid giving you a mosaic look

• A point of conversation with your guests

But don't forget to weigh the disadvantages:

• Should be installed by an experienced contractor for a potentially high labor cost

• Very heavy, requiring your cabinets to be reinforced

• A rough-hewn texture makes cleaning more time-consuming

Concrete countertops, until recently, were used mainly in upscale homes, but you're probably going to see them used more frequently in years to come.