Kitchen renovation is not cheap and energy-consuming. I would like not to miscalculate with the materials, so that you do not have to redo everything in a couple of years. And even months.
Someone says that the main thing in the kitchen is the stove, someone is the kitchen apron, but it seems to us that all the details are important in the aggregate. And that the kitchen is the main place in the house is pointless to deny. Repair is always expensive here. After all, cabinets, a sink, and a countertop can cost a lot of money. And if you save money, you will have to redo it. We have collected several options for materials for countertops with their pros and cons: before spending money, it is good to weigh the pros and cons.
Laminate
Perhaps the most popular material for countertops in Russia, if not all over the world. It has many advantages: many colors, patterns, you can create any design composition from the laminate. It is quite tough and can withstand external influences. Of the undoubted advantages – the price, laminate has been and remains one of the most budget options.
Of the minuses: the laminate does not tolerate high temperatures, you cannot put hot dishes on it, otherwise it will begin to crack and peel off. Laminate is also not very friendly with water, so you need to make sure that the surface is always dry.
Tile
The tabletop can also be tiled with tiles, and you can do it yourself: experts assure that this is not at all difficult with due patience and accuracy. The tile is very durable, it perfectly tolerates the effects of high temperatures, and it is philosophical about water. You can lay out any patterns from it: choose a large tile or very small, almost mosaic.
But there are also disadvantages: tiles are more expensive than laminate. And the weakest point is the grout. If the seams are white, they quickly lose color and freshness. They need to be updated periodically. It is important to choose a moisture-resistant grout so that it does not become porous, and to care for it – products without acids in the composition.
Fake diamond
An excellent option – the surface is resistant to temperatures and damage, and to cleaning agents. Artificial stone is very durable and relatively inexpensive. It is made from natural stone chips and acrylic resin. So at least 70 percent of such a tabletop is natural.
Over time, it can still be covered with scratches, fade, but will not lose its strength. Another disadvantage is the price. On average, a standard countertop costs 15-20 thousand rubles per square meter.
Terracco
Terrazzo is a material that has gained popularity in the market relatively recently. It looks like a stone with large splashes. The material consists of a cement mixture, stone chips – usually marble – and coloring pigments. The inclusions that diversify the color and texture are usually granite, brick chips, or even tiles. Terrazzo is a beautiful, bright, unusual and durable option.
Of the minuses – of course, the price. Marble, even in the form of chips, is never cheap. But its cheaper counterpart – a concrete countertop without adding stone chips will cost an average of 15 thousand rubles per running meter.
Tree
A timeless, timeless classic is wood. There is an opinion that a table or cutting boards made of wood is unhygienic, but now scientists argue that bacteria die on such a surface much faster than on any other. And in the kitchen, this is important. If the tree is covered with good impregnation and sealed, then it will last a very long time. Well, as for the price – the spectrum can be very wide, it all depends on the type of wood and the manufacturer.
Granite
Very durable natural stone. It will serve your family for generations. In addition, granite is resistant to scratches and temperatures. After all, granite, in fact, is frozen magma.
Its disadvantages are quite predictable: granite is not cheap. In addition, this stone has an increased background radiation. Not dangerous, of course, but it is there.
Marble
Basically, marble is a mixture of different minerals: calcite, graphite and many others. It is not particularly durable, rather even soft for stone, so it certainly loses to granite. In addition, marble is very capricious when it comes to cleaning agents: the acid eats away its surface instantly, leaving a dull stain. It is easy to scratch, but difficult to grind again. Moreover, the price is by no means small. But the view is luxurious, truly royal.