CHOOSING A COUNTERTOP

THREE KEY FACTORS: PRICE, MAINTENANCE AND APPEARANCE

- BRAD HOLDEN

Today's kitchens and countertops are used for more than just cooking. The kitchen is a living room, study, dining room and entertainment area rolled into one, which calls for a countertop surface that meets a lot BY  of needs. In this article, we will weigh the pros and cons of the most popular materials. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, and they all require maintenance and care.

Wondering what's on top? Plastic laminate still reigns for its affordability and color/pattern options.

HOW TO CHOOSE

To help you select a countertop, answer these three questions:

How much can you spend?

How much maintenance are you willing to do?

What material do you most like to touch, see, show off and work on?

PRICE 

You can spend $2 to $250 per sq. ft. for countertops. Surprisingly, there are few choices that fall between inexpensive laminates and pricey stone and solid-surface tops. Wood and tile tops fall in the middle, but of all the tops we looked at, these had the most critics. Regarding price, kitchen specialists follow a few rules of thumb:

The length of time you plan to stay in a house should help your choice the longer, the more durable and upscale the selection. The "cost per year" becomes a bargain as the years pass.

Tops and installation usually compose 10 to 15% of a kitchen remodel budget. Tops that fall outside this range may not look as if they fit.

Put your money where your heart is-especially when you're on a budget. If you love high-tech appliances or custom wood cabinetry, spend your money there.

MAINTENANCE AND USE FACTORS