People take their bathroom countertops for granted. In fact, many bathrooms do not even have one. They have a sink, a medicine cabinet, and a toothbrush holder, and that’s it. However, bathroom countertops are very useful, not only as a landing pad for all your bathroom paraphernalia, but as storage space. They can also make your bathroom a lot more appealing to home buyers, a big plus if you are planning to sell your home at some point.
If you agree with the importance of bathroom countertops, then the next thing you may be wondering is the kind of material your bathroom countertops should be. This will depend on many things. One is your personal preference. Another is your overall bathroom design. You also need to think about a budget. With these things in mind, let’s look at five possible contenders for this situation.
Granite
The first thing that comes to mind for most people for bathroom countertops is granite. It makes a lot of sense because granite is both durable and heat resistant. You want something that can stand a lot of use without having to worry too much about doing damage to it. Add to that the fact that it is a beautiful natural stone that goes well with almost any bathroom color and design and just dominate the room, and you have winner on your hands.
Some people balk at the thought of granite countertops for the bathroom because they think it is too expensive. That is not really the case. The cost of granite countertops ranges from $40 to $200 per square foot ($34.99 if you get it from KNC Granite), installed. Since the area of typical bathroom countertops is about 6 square feet, the total cost ranges from $240 to $1,200, depending on the granite you choose. If you have a small budget, go for the more common granite varieties to bring down your costs. Better yet, ask your granite specialist for remnant slabs, which are much cheaper per square foot than choosing from whole slabs. Remnant granite is perfect for small areas like bathroom countertops.
Marble
Another popular material for bathroom countertops is marble, and one many people believe will cost them an arm and a leg to put in. Marble costs about the same as granite countertops, so that’s one myth shot down. The problem with marble is that there are not a whole lot of choices when it comes to color. If you have a white, traditional-style bathroom, marble is your best esthetic choice.
From a functional point of view, however, marble is not ideal because it is quite porous and reacts quickly to heat and acids. It also etches white easily, so you need to keep any hard objects away from it. Marble may be a good choice for powder rooms, which does not take as much of a beating as your main bathrooms.
Quartz
Quartz stone is a major contender when it comes to functional bathroom countertops. It is durable, non-porous, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. The top quartz manufacturers also provide a wide range of colors and designs that will go with any bathroom design and color. Many quartz stones also mimic the look of your favorite natural stones, granite and marble, and that is a win-win situation.
Quartz countertops are slightly more expensive and heavier than granite or marble, so it takes an expert to install it for you. However, the main problem with quartz countertops in the bathroom is the fact that it is not heat resistant. This is also the reason it is less than ideal for kitchen countertops. In bathrooms, the heat source is not pots and pans but blow dryers and hair straightening wands. These give off a lot of heat, and quartz stone is simply not impervious to it as granite is. On the other hand, if you have none of these tools in your home, then you can rest easy. Your quartz countertops are safe from heat damage, and they will do very well in bathrooms.
Conclusion
Other materials such as ceramic tiles, solid surface, and even laminates have found their way into bathrooms. However, they do not have the same esthetic, functional, and investment value as the three materials discussed above. If you are going to spend money in putting in bathroom countertops for one or more of your bathrooms, you should choose one of these three materials. You will reap the benefits for a long time to come.
Hiring a professional to install bathroom countertops
Once you have decided on the material for your bathroom countertops, the next step is to find a reliable contractor to do it for you. Look no further than our very own KNC Granite in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. areas.
We have a large array of granite and marble slabs from which to choose. You can check actual slabs at our showroom in Lanham, Maryland and we will walk you through how we can meet your budget and still give you quality bathroom countertops for your home.
We do not only supply top-quality granite and marble stones, however. Aside from natural stones, we carry some of the top brands of engineered stone, including Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI, all of which come with manufacturer warranties.
We are also experts at fabricating and installing kitchen and bathroom countertops. We offer attractive packages for all your countertop needs.
Also we specialize in kitchen remodeling and bathroom upgrade projects, delivering on time and on budget.
Give us a call or email us for your free in-home consultation and quote.