There are a lot of investments you can make for your home. However, one area in the house that most people tend to forget about is one of the most functional rooms as well. We are of course talking about the kitchen. We always do a lot of stuff in the kitchen and yet, the only thing we invest on it are ingredients, new appliances, and even new knives. In reality, it should be more than that.
There are many ways you can upgrade your kitchen to something better than what it is now. One of the best ways to do it according to many is by getting kitchen countertops. These state-of-the-art countertops are more than just surfaces. They can do more for your kitchen than you think, which it’s why it’s important that you invest in it as well.
One of the reasons why people are so fearful of investing in a new kitchen countertop is that it sounds like an investment that can burn a hole through your wallet. As much as we’d like to console you, the truth is that kitchen countertops installation and maintenance fees can be expensive. You really need to save for it before you can get one.
While expensive, it’s still important to know exactly how much you should spend on it. How much is too much or too little for a kitchen countertop? The last thing you’d want is paying for something for more that you can get for less. As it is a major home investment, it’s only important that you understand how much you should spend on kitchen countertops.
In this piece, we are going to talk about the costs of getting a kitchen countertop. This includes the price you’ll spend for the material as well as the cost behind the installation fees for your new kitchen countertop. After this piece, you are going to be a better-informed buyer who can get a kitchen countertop for the right price.
Price Of The Countertop Material
The countertop material you choose will dictate the lump sum that you have to pay for your kitchen countertop. In general, you are looking to spend around $50-$250 per square foot depending on the countertop material you choose. Of course, the better the countertop material is, the more expensive it’s going to get.
The most expensive countertop materials are once made out of natural stone. These include marble, granite, and many others. The reason why they are so expensive is that it’s tough to source the material. Moreover, the materials used in such countertops are not man-made. They are usually cut from one large slab of stone. This means that each countertop that’s made of natural stone is unique.
One of the most expensive natural stone countertops is marble. If you want to get a marble countertop, it’s going to set you back around $150-$250. Is it worth it? Yes, it is. As a countertop material, marble offers the best in terms of durability and looks. Due to its price, it’s often found in luxury homes and mansions only.
Another good option is granite. Although made from natural stone countertops, granite is not as expensive. It can set you back around $80-$150. It’s often the best choice behind marble because of its quality and price. However, this countertop material is slowly starting to drop behind another form of countertop.
We are, of course, talking about quartz. Quartz kitchen countertops are basically a mix between natural stone and man-made countertops. Quartz countertops are made from pure countertops, it’s instead made from crushed quartz which is then mixed with resin binders and other artificial materials to give it the right feel and make it become viable as a kitchen countertop.
Quartz costs are significantly lower than other natural stone countertops. It is priced at around $75-$120 per square foot. Due to its price and competitive quality, quartz is currently the frontrunner for the best kitchen countertop material. If these are too much for you, you can opt for other options that are far cheaper.
Countertops can be made from other materials too such as resins, steel, and even wood. It all really depends on your preference. If these are the materials that you are hoping to get, then you are looking at spending around $50-$100 per square foot. However, we do have to warn you that with their low costs come various downsides.
You can’t expect the same quality countertop from one that’s priced $50 per square foot to one that’s priced at $200. However, if you really are on a budget, then getting these man-made countertops aren’t exactly that bad as they won’t burn a hole through your budget. Simply get these materials if you think you’re already good with their quality.
How Much To Have Kitchen Countertops Installed?
Of course, you’ll have to pay for the installation of the kitchen countertops as well. Like the materials, the better the contractors you hire, the better quality of work they can do. Contractors are usually paid either by the hour or by the square foot of the amount of work they do. Ideally, you are looking at spending around $500-$1000 for installation on your whole kitchen.
When it comes to picking a contractor for your kitchen countertop installation, we highly suggest going for the best ones. They can offer you big discounts on the countertop material but most importantly, you can guarantee yourself that they can only provide quality work for your kitchen and the upcoming countertop.
Keep in mind that your contractors can also do various edge finishes for your kitchen countertop. The more complex the design you want, the more expensive it’s going to be. Of course, not every contractor can do the most complex designs for a kitchen countertop. This is why we suggest only hiring the best.
In truth though, getting an edge finish for your kitchen countertop won’t do anything with regards to functionality. It’s all about design only. As such, if you are on a budget, we suggest going for simple edges instead. These will make it much cheaper. In total, you are looking at saving around a few hundred dollars by keeping the edge simple.
Overall Spending
Overall, you are looking at spending around $5,000-$8,000 for having a kitchen countertop installed in your kitchen. It’s a big investment as you can see, it’s going to be worth it. Kitchen countertops are a big addition to your home but they are something you use for various purposes. For their price, it’s worth every penny.
You also have to keep in mind that you may have to spend a little extra on maintenance fees too. If you have a natural stone kitchen countertop, you can spend around $100 for sealing services at least once a year. This is an important service that makes your natural stone countertop non-porous What this means is that no liquid or fluid will seep through the countertop material.
For other kitchen countertop materials, you no longer need to do sealing if they are already non-porous. However, you still need to clean the surface after every use. Kitchen countertops are actually very easy to take care of. The problem though is that they can get permanent stains that can really ruin the final finish of the countertop.
The good news is that you don’t need any complex cleaning agent or equipment to clean your countertop. Any mild dish soap or neutral detergent can already do wonders for your kitchen countertop. Just make sure that you don’t use any bleach or tough cleaning agent and you don’t have to spend more on a countertop again.
As you can see, this is the average price for getting kitchen countertops. Is it worth it? Of course it is, kitchen countertops are lifelong investments. While the price you pay for them upfront seems heavy at first, the truth is that it’s all worth it. These are kitchen additions that you’ll be using for the rest of your life.
Another good thing to know about kitchen countertops is that they can significantly increase the value of your home too. This means that if you are planning on selling your home eventually, you can expect to get your house at a higher price because of the countertop. Remember, some countertop materials add a lot more to the value of your house than others.
Kitchen countertops are going to be heavy first but it’s all going to be worth it. Whether you look at it from a functional or from a business perspective, a kitchen countertop is very valuable for your house. Remember, pick the perfect materials for your kitchen. Other than that, make sure to pick the perfect people to install the countertop as well.
If you need a free estimate or consultation, don’t hesitate to call our office today or visit us on Twitter anytime!