Custom Countertops:

Seems like an easy choice, huh? After looking at cabinet brochures filled with kitchens that were designed specifically to showcase every option offered by a particular manufacturer, it seems pretty clear. All of those beautiful kitchens used the most expensive countertops available. All you see are built-in trivets, recessed dish drains, compound profiles, odd cutouts, and the most original patterns imaginable. Of course, the kitchens pictured in cabinet brochures would cost you almost as much as an average split-level ranch.

Of course, in the real world, financial constraints are a force to be reckoned with. This doesn't mean that you are forced to settle than less than the best. You just have to set your priorities, and a little creativity doesn't hurt either.

Let's take a look at a few of the materials available, and weigh their characteristics in a different light than sales literature might.

Laminate.
Tile
Hardwood
Solid surface (plastic resin)
Metals
Concrete.
Quartz (reconstituted stone)
Stone (granite, marble)
Cultured Marble

Laminates

Laminate tops are ubiquitous. Since the 1950's, laminate has steadily taken over the world. In general, laminate tops are more affordable than other featured materials. Does this make it inferior ? Absolutely not. Most kitchens today have laminate tops for good reason, they are tough, durable, attractive, easy to clean, and available in a staggering array of finishes, colors, patterns, edge styles, thicknesses, and offer complete flexibility in design. Laminate tops in general also fit better than any other material. Ask yourself, how many people do you know who replace their tops with the same pattern solely because the laminate has failed? We've never had the occasion.

Why do laminates fit better? Because the core material is easily shaped, and will not shatter. This encourages the installer to do a better job of fitting because he/she is not afraid of damaging the piece. most other sheet or cast materials are brittle and any fitting work is pushing your luck.

Why is laminate more affordable? First of all, the actual decorative material is more slender than it's competitors. Also, it's been around for a long time, manufacturing processes are very efficient. Compared to tile and concrete, there is very little mess , and on-site fabrication is limited to certain bar tops. (fewer hours spent cleaning)

Many homeowners list exposed black seams in pie-cuts as a major offender. When a custom countertop is fabricated, it is often the case that these seams can be eliminated. If a seam is unavoidable, such as the rare case of a u-shaped kitchen without a stove, the seam should be as artfully disguised as those of solid surfacing, and filled. Black hairlines are never necessary, and are the mark of the careless workman. The major drawback to laminate is that the core is just as likely to swell and harbor mold in extreme humidity as the cabinets upon which it sits. Basement kitchens & baths, and any area likely to be flooded is a poor choice for laminate and for furniture board cabinets.

Laminate tops are fiscally & environmentally responsible. The core of a laminate countertop is recycled sawdust, there is very little precious material encapsulated within a laminate countertop. Most of your money stays with your local fabricator, for the time invested in building and fitting the custom top. A laminate top can look like a more pricy material, yet keep an extensive upgrade close to budget. Which would you prefer, a thick plastic top with a under-mount sink and obviously cheap cabinets, or strikingly beautiful cabinets and a countertop that looks solid, but isn't cold to the touch. By the way, materials that are "cold to the touch" like stone and thick plastic actually absorb heat away from coffee mugs and food dishes, cooling them and the food quickly. so quickly, in fact, that often a trivet is needed to keep the food warm enough to be palatable.

this is not a solid surfacing or granite top. Actually it's HPL The attention to quality doesn't stop once the cabinets are bolted down, RHR uses an exclusive ladder rail design in every one of our laminate countertops. We're not going into detail online, but we'll show you during a consultation. We have also implemented a unique reinforcement at the corners that you'll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. To improve durability, we bond the laminate under high pressure to the substrate, to make dead certain that you won't be disappointed, long after modern kitchen styling becomes unfashionable.

This collection of design improvements offers an unprecedented level of support for heavy loads while further resisting buckling and sagging. It's more work for us, but your happiness is worth it.

Tile

Tile countertops are an ideal choice for use with antique or fully custom cabinetry. It works best with heavy, chunky designs and rustic motifs. Tile can also be used to advantage in a mix with other surfaces, to accentuate a design characteristic. Tile countertops sometimes can be repaired if surplus pieces are retained from installation. Tile excels as a retrofit to compensate for less-than-perfect existing cabinetry. It also is the smart choice for adding a little texture to white countertops when paired with white grout and silicone sealer. Tile is available in a range of durabilities and colors (the two are often inextricably linked) and polished marble tile can be a clever alternative to solid marble. A drawback to tile is that it conforms to irregular surfaces at regular intervals. For example, after a countertop is built, the tile for the backsplash is laid. if a grout joint lay near the backsplash, any irregularity in the wall surface will be exposed as a narrowing or widening of the last tile. This can make it look sloppy. The first alternative is to cut the tiles nearest the nosing, with the intent of moving the grout joint away from the wall. If these be glazed ceramic tiles, though, the unsightly edges will detract more than help. The second alternative, using different sized tiles, isn't always possible in the same color.

Hardwood

Butcherblock is the only hardwood countertop that resists damage from cutting utensils. Hardwood countertops are excellent for use with painted cabinets and lend a farm kitchen feel to prairie styles. When paired with black lacquer cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, an Asian influence is immediately apparent. Although a traditional choice, regular maintenance and thorough cleaning is essential for a pleasing appearance and healthy food preparation. There is always a risk of splitting and delamination. Due to it's bulk, fitment is usually less than ideal, and seasonal movement must be accounted for.

Solid Surface

Often the first choice for homeowners planning a kitchen remodel, solid surfacing is found in the display areas of most home centers and finds a prominent place in cabinet brochures. Like the core of laminate countertops , solid surface is built-up from strips and sheets. although they appear to be slabs, the material is usually a fraction of an inch thick, built up with a grid work of support. The edges, the most popular aspect of their composition, is simply built up from strips, then sanded smooth, and cut to the desired profile. Back-splashes are usually thin, and are fastened to the walls, rather than the top. This increases the likelihood of a gap developing at the joint, and causing black mold to form behind the cabinets.

Solid surface is a natural for ultra-modern kitchens, very plain cabinetry, and any place you want an easy-clean granite look. Solid surface weighs less than an equivalent granite top, so light and airy styles benefit from this reduced load. Solid surface proponents tout it's repairability, but the repair is really just sanding it down, and re-polishing. This creates a depression in the surface.

Another aspect of solid surfacing is it's almost seamless appearance. Many homeowners yearn for this clean look. This is because they happen to currently have laminate countertops that were either improperly installed or improperly stored prior to assembly.

Metals

Metals, such as stainless steel, look great on freestanding counters. They are inappropriate for built-in cabinets. Stainless backsplashes cannot conform to undulating walls, custom-built stainless counters show purple casehardening at weld points. Stainless steel is antimicrobial, though. A kitchen with a decidedly urban feel would be comprised of freestanding stainless counters, a brick back wall, and stainless appliances. Hardwood flooring is a must here.