Countertops - Less Common Materials
Last week we covered the four main countertop materials, namely plastic laminate, solid surface, natural/manufactured stone, and wood. In addition, there are four other countertop materials that have been popular at one time or another, but are much less common these days. These are:
Concrete
Tile
Glass – recycled slab or high-tensile
Metal - stainless steel, zinc, copper, bronze
1. Concrete
Concrete countertops became popular, and even trendy, in the '90s, especially with its DIY potential. I’ve known a couple people who tried it with varying degrees of success. Personally I'd have a professional fabricate it.
The beauty of concrete is that you can customize it 18 ways to Sunday. Texture, colour, finishes, addition of additives like glass all contribute to making it a one-of-a-kind element in your space.
Pros:
Concrete is energy efficient and will capture the heat in your home, releasing it as the ambient air cools.
Can be shaped to any size or thickness.
Offers a unique look.
Heat resistant.
Modern looking.
For the most part concrete is uniform with no seams, regardless of the size.
Cons:
Must be sealed well to protect from stains and water.
Will show scratches even with sealers
Concrete is very heavy, and your cabinetry may need additional structural support. Especially if you are using a cheaper style from a big box store...
Example of concrete countertop
2. Tile
Different sized tiles made of materials like ceramic and granite are used as a low cost option that a DIY’er can install themselves.
Pros:
Second only to laminate for being budget friendly
DIY’ers can install it
Comes in a lot of colours and options and mix and match with design styles. Therefore, you can use basically any tile that you want.
Cons:
Grout is hard to keep clean and may be susceptible to bacteria
Look is kind of “cheap” and it may affect your resale
Tiles can chip and crack over time
I will fully admit that I have a hate-hate relationship with tile countertops. When we bought our first house, the kitchen had a tiled countertop with grout that had seen better days, cracked tiles, and an uneven surface. As a result, many glasses were broken.
Example of a tile countertop
3. Glass
Glass can be an effective design element, but is not overly common. Countertops made of crushed glass in acrylic are relatively new to the market. High-tensile glass can be fabricated for a kitchen application, specifically for your cabinetry or design. It can be back-painted, etched, coloured, and textured.
Pros:
Manufactured crushed glass in acrylic is considered eco-friendly
Has a lot of colour options,
All are pretty easy to clean
Durable
Stain & heat resistant
Non-porous making them very hygienic
Highly customizable
Good for modern designs
Cons:
Glass is prone to cracking or chipping if heavy objects are dropped on it.
Higher costs.
Example of a glass countertop
4. Metal
Historically used in commercial kitchens or bars, stainless steel is the one to most likely make the jump to a work zone residential application. Use the softer metals (copper, bronze or zinc) as accents at a wine bar area instead.
Pros:
Stainless steel is germ-resistant and easily cleaned
Copper/zinc/bronze are show-stoppers, develop beautiful patinas over time through age and wear.
Metal can be sealed, but I’d personally question why one would do so when the patinas are so lovely.
Unusual and evoke a luxurious design feel.
Copper is naturally antimicrobial.
It is easy to clean all of these metals.
Cons:
They are all fairly pricey and require custom fabrication.
They are prone to scratching and dents. Unless you want a countertop that develops “character” over time, these are probably not for you
Example of metal countertop
For more information, check out our podcast All Things Renovation at www.AllThingsRenovation.com . The second series of episodes focuses on kitchen renovations.