Kitchen Counter Top Materials
By Chris Milller

Kitchen counter tops are one of the most used items in your kitchen. Whether you are preparing the evening meal, storing appliances, or just enjoying that first cup of coffee in the morning, kitchen countertops serve many uses. Aside from multi-uses, kitchen countertops are an important aesthetic element of the kitchen. There are a plethora of styles, types, edges, and materials for countertops. Selecting the one that is right for you can prove to be a challenge. An excellent starting point is to research online as well visit home improvement stores to determine what style, cost, and material fit your budget.

Kitchen counter tops are available in a wide selection of materials and finishes. One of the most popular materials is Formica counter tops. These are easy to clean and maintain, not to mention easy to install and even easier on the wallet. With a wide selection of color, Formica counter tops are available to match nearly all color schemes that a kitchen may have.

Granite counter tops are another popular type of kitchen counter top. Be prepared that granite counter tops cost significantly more than the Formica counter tops. Granite counter tops are more durable and even scratch resistant than Formica. Slabs of granite are used for the counter top. They are polished and generally available in a variety of edges, such as bull nose, blunt cut, or even knife edge. As you can see, granite countertops can offer more variety in the form of looks than compared to a Formica counter top.

A third option for a counter top is the tiled counter top. Similar to tiled floor, it is laid as individual tile and arranged in a number of patterns and color schemes. Installation of this type is more time consuming and difficult than the previously mentioned counter tops. Aside from installation, tiled counter tops can easily show dirt within the grout. It is important to seal the grout and tile after installation to help prevent the visibility of dirt and to allow for easier cleaning.

New kitchen counter tops are a great way to make a statement in your kitchen. With a wide range of pricing, materials, finishes, patterns, and more, rest assured you will be able to find a new counter top that is not only functional, but also practical. Be sure to shop around and compare prices when you are looking to make a purchase for a new kitchen counter top. In the end you will not only save money on your purchase, but you will have a new kitchen counter top to complete your kitchen.

The permanent link to this article can be found at http://www.countertops.ez-search.us/Articles/Kitchen_Counter_Top_Materials.php

As an author at eZ-search, Chris Miller contributes to the growing content found within the site and shares his knowledge about granite counter tops.

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Laminate Installation for Countertops
By Arturo Ronzon

The following instructions are intended to save you time, effort and money when it comes to installing plastic laminate or Formica on countertops.

Laminated plastics are available in many hardware and home improvement stores in a wide variety of colors, designs and patterns, and they have many applications, such as for countertops, tabletops and flooring among others. Sheets of laminated plastic are available both in dull or gloss finish, so you have a choice when preparing for a project. Laminated plastic is made from layers of paper that are injected with resin and bonded together under with a great deal of pressure and high temperature in order to form a strong, rigid sheet.

When preparing the surface- Laminated plastic sheets of 1/16” thickness are usually recommended when working on a flat surface. On vertical surfaces you should use 1/32” thickness sheets. Thoroughly sand and clean the surface where you plan to apply the plastic laminate, removing any paint, varnish, dirt or imperfections in the surface. Although many manufactured countertops utilize high-density particle board for their surfaces, regular particle board or plywood may be more ideal bases for plastic laminates.

When cutting laminated plastics- You can use a circular saw, saber saw, backsaw or utility knife to cut through plastic laminate. If you plan on using a saw, make sure that the saw blade is a fine-tooth blade. If you use a strip of masking tape along the cut line, it will help prevent chipping and make the line much easier to see while cutting. If you're using a power circular saw, or a table saw, cut on the back side of the laminate to prevent chipping. Cut at a low angle from the front side if you're using a hand saw to cut the laminated plastic. In order to allow for trimming, make sure to cut the sheet of laminated plastic slightly larger than what you will need. You may also consider using a straightedge or a steel square in order to create a smoother and even cut. You can use a utility knife to score the laminated plastic, then lift the shorter end and apply a slight pressure to snap the scored line. Make sure to choose the proper cutting implement based on the size of the job.

When Applying Laminated Plastics- You can usually use contact cement to apply laminated plastic. Epoxy adhesives can also be used but in general, contact cements are recommended. You should first roughen the surface using coarse grit sandpaper, but make sure to clean the sanding residue away with compressed air or a light brush to ensure that the surface is as clean as possible. Next, you will want to brush on the contact cement, applying it to both the counter surface and the back of the clean laminate sheet. After both surfaces have dried, you can lay the sheets of laminate down.

To finish Off the Job- Use a roller to apply pressure to the newly applied sheets of plastic laminate. Make sure to roll the entire surface thoroughly in order to eliminate any trapped air pockets, and to be sure that the plastic is attached firmly at all points. You can also use a wooden block and mallet in order to assure proper adhesion on the newly laid surface, by working out any trapped bubbles and pressing both contact cement layers together as much as possible. If there is any extra contact cement where it should not be, you can remove it with a special solvent, or with nail polish remover.

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Kitchen Counter Top Quickie
By Arturo Ronzon

Everybody will usually have a picture in their minds of what their ideal kitchen would look like. Then the time comes to actually flesh out those ideas and you get stuck at deciding what counter top is it that you see in your mind.

Granite is the most popular but most expensive counter top. A granite counter top is beautiful, very resistant to heat and scratches. It is solid rock so you can expect a granite counter top to last a very long time. The only decision is whether to have it installed as a single slab counter top or multiple granite tiles counter top.

Other natural stone also make good counter tops. Depending on patterns and colors, you have a wide choice of stone counter tops. A marble counter top is cool and smooth but requires some maintenance to keep it from staining. Slate is quite durable and comes with an interesting surface that could complement your kitchen design. Natural quartz looks quite similar to slate but is more stain and scratch resistant.

Tiling is another popular way to setup your kitchen counter top. The color, stain & scratch resistance all depends on the quality of tiles that you choose. Be mindful of the grouts though as this space between the tiles are the weak link when it comes to maintaining the cleanliness of your kitchen counter top. You can be a bit artistic and buy various sized and colored tiles to design a fashionable counter top too.

Concrete is another counter top option. It is heat resistant and can be polished to resemble a smooth stone counter top. Concrete is quite porous though so a sealing agent needs to be applied to it. The sealer will need to be waxed every so often to keep it in shape.

If you don’t really mind the industrial look, the stainless steel kitchen counter top offers a good low maintenance option. The surface is easy to clean and is quite heat resistant. Keep in mind that stainless steel counter tops can dent and could cost quite a bit to fabricate.

Wood counter tops are quite fashionable. Wood provides a feeling of warmth in your kitchen. Most hardwoods make good counter tops so choose one that complements your color scheme. Wood counter tops need a lot of tender loving care to keep them in good shape.

Want to learn more about Kitchen Counter Tops, feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutcountertops.net

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Counter Top Installation Tips 

When building or remodeling your kitchen, counter tops are a major consideration with a seemingly endless supply of options. This can be overwhelming and costly, so to help narrow things a bit, keep these points in mind: 

1. When deciding what type of counter top to select, ask yourself the following questions:
    
   
   • How long are you planning on the counter lasting? If the counter tops are going to see a lot of use and wear and tear you have to consider durability.
      
   • How tricky and difficult it will be to install the counter top?
     
     
   • How much are you willing to spend? Countertops can range from affordable to lavishly extravagant.  Know your budget and work within it, but keep in mind that a little more money now may save you more money down the road.
     
     
2. Counter Tops are priced on a few factors. They are priced by lineal or square foot, with TDI taken into account. TDI stands for template, delivery, and installation. Thus, the texture, color, pattern, detailed edging, number of holes, sink type, and seams will all play a factor in the price.
   
   
3. Some of the most popular types of counter tops are :
   • concrete,
   • engineered stone,
   • stainless steel,
   • stone,
   • wood,
   • solid surfacing,
   • laminate,
   • ceramic tile.

With such a wide range of installation factors and materials available, it is imperative that you do your research on the pros and cons of each, and match that to your individual household living factors.

Counter Top installation contractors may also provide the following services:

• Cabinet Installation
• Carpentry
• General Contractor
• Interior Design