A primer of costs and characteristics
* TODAY'S HOMEOWNER FACES A PLETHORA OF CHOICES WHEN IT comes to countertop materials for the kitchen and bath. And since these materials usually represent a major investment of time and money the selections you make are especially important.
To help you find the material that's best for your functional needs, taste, and pocketbook, we asked Western designers, fabricators, manufacturers, contractors, and retailers about the costs and characteristics of the most popular materials used today. The chart on pages 98 and 99 reveals what we found.
Prices and installation fees listed here are approximate. Material and installation costs cannot be separated for solid surface products such as Corian, as they must be installed by certified fabricators. The lower range of prices for stone will be for stone tiles (usually costing less than $30 per square foot for the material); higher stone prices apply to slabs.
Designer tips
During our survey, we also queried designers for their best tips on shopping for countertops. They came up with a number of suggestions.
* Don't feel locked in to one material; combine different materials for looks and practicality. Consider placing utilitarian materials such as stainless steel in heavily used areas and putting luxurious but more easily stained materials such as limestone in locations where they'll get less wear.
* Consider your flooring when you buy a countertop. Do you want the counter to contrast with or match the floor?
* Ask how your countertop will look in a few years. Some age like fine wines, acquiring wonderful patinas. Others just look dated and worn.
* Take into account the long-term maintenance of your countertop when you select a particular material. Some require dedicated upkeep, including special enzyme poultices for stains or even replaning of scratches and gouges.
* Think about the visual impact of a countertop. In a cold climate, you may want to stay away from stones such as marble and granite, which tend to appear cold.
* A mantra for people with stone countertops: Seal, seal, and seal again Anything acidic will burn stone countertops, except those made of granite. Stone--even granite--should be sealed at intervals of six months to two or three years, depending on the softness of the stone and the amount of wear.
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