There are many options available when deciding what material to use for your countertops. Some options are concrete, glass, soapstone, stainless steel, tile, wood, granite or man-made stone. There are things to consider with each option and in general. One such consideration is the décor of the rest of the room; most people choose items that are complimentary and work together. Some of these choices need to have a sealant added to them, as well, so that stains, nicks, and the like don’t ruin the smooth finish. For this post, we will cover concrete, glass, soapstone and stainless steel.

Concrete

Concrete is one of the countertop options that will require a sealer to keep out the stains. Concrete is a porous material that will hold onto items spilled upon it. The sealer will fill the holes and spills will remain on top and be easily wiped up. Concrete is an option that offers almost unlimited color choices. This means that a concrete countertop will be easy to coordinate with the rest of the room. Concrete offers the ability to be shaped into whatever need fills the space. Concrete in itself can stand up to higher heats with no worries. The sealer on the concrete does not have the same ability. The sealer can become discolored if too high of a heat is concentrated on an area.

Glass

There are many options available with a glass countertop. The glass can be smooth, textured, and items can be embedded to change the color and coordinate with the rest of the kitchen. The glass can be new or recycled as well. This is one of the pricier options for countertops. Money can be saved by using the glass with another material for the countertop. This means that the glass would be more of an accent to the other material used. Glass is heat-, stain- and scratch-resistant.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a great choice for a natural stone countertop. While it is quicker to scratch and dent than most other options, fixing it is easier. A scratch can come out with a little bit of sandpaper and mineral oil. This type of countertop does not need to be sealed because the stone is so dense that nothing soaks into it, including bacteria. Heat is not generally an issue with this type of counter either. This material can be maintained by regularly rubbing the stone with baby oil. This will cause the stone to darken. Because this stone is made up of mostly talc, it is important to pick out the stone that is the hardest. An easy way to tell this is to look at the color of the stone. Stones that are grayer in appearance are generally harder than stones with greener shades.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has been popular in restaurants for a long time. There is a reason for this; stainless steel is resistant to stains, heat, and water. The surface is nonporous so bacteria and germs won’t stick around. The surface is easy to disinfect. The counter will remain cool in the warmer months, and any hot pot that is put on the counter will not warp the counter. The heat will be concentrated only where the pot was put. While the counter will not warp, it is possible to scratch it. Additionally, if the surface is hit hard enough, it could dent as well. Stainless steel is a material that will go with any décor, so incorporating it into a room is simple.

Let’s discuss your countertop options together. Give us a call at (440) 884-4600 or email at customerservice@littsplumbing.com.