What is the best surface for kitchen counters
06-28-2015, 08:29 AM
#51
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
Being in real estate, I see so many older homes put granite in there kitchens and it does not increase the value of the home anymore than a nice laminate. If you do not plan on moving again whatsoever then maybe go with the quartz. Same way with a pool the only value in a pool is you have a pool. Value of the home doesn't increase that much but boy your liability insurance will. I would go with a really higher grade laminate or quartz. Sandygirl makes the very points I mention to buyers and sellers.
Laminates are very much "in style". They can mimic granite at 1/3 the price. How I determined what to use in my farmhouse kitchen remodel were these points: IMHO.
what is the current market value of the house?
My home is modest and the value is modest too. No way was I going to drop a bucket load of $$ on the counter tops for a house that that does not warrant the investment. I would CRY if I ever moved and I had to leave the counter tops behind! I love my granite look Formica. Believe me, I am ready to move on short notice! i miss the 'burbs! LOL!
what is the period of the house?
If you are trying to keep in the period, why not use a nice laminate? 1950's retro house can use the great laminate "period" looks still available, for example. Check out the website Retro Renovation for great inspiration. Lots of renovations on period homes and not all use the hard surfaces.
what is your budget?
keep in mind that all hard surfaces will price out at 3-4 times the cost of laminate. I would have loved to have put Silestone or Corian In my kitchen reno but frankly, I did not want to spend the money. We replaced the entire plumbing in this old farmhouse and that was not inexpensive. I would not have installed a dishwasher or laundry room without replacing the old crummy galvanized pipes with new. Those pipes left a rusty film on all surfaces. So worth the $$ investment. My mantra is that the counter top should not be worth more than the whole house! Lol!
we could have moved to a new house vs. spending the remodeling $$$ we have so far! DH is living his dream. And he is paying out the nose for that dream!
. ( waterproofed the basement, replaced windows, put in new sidewalks and patio..the bathroom reno is next year! Won't he be surprised!)
I am not a hard core cook. I am never going to use a counter top for a cutting surface. I am never going to seal a porous (granite) top. I am not going to set hot pots on top of the counter. I want and love lighter colors where I can see where to clean, etc.
Ultimately, it is your kitchen. Research the different pros and cons of each countertop option. You will be surprised at what each offers. better Homes and Gardens website has comparison info as does HOUZZ.
have fun! Post pics!
sandy
what is the current market value of the house?
My home is modest and the value is modest too. No way was I going to drop a bucket load of $$ on the counter tops for a house that that does not warrant the investment. I would CRY if I ever moved and I had to leave the counter tops behind! I love my granite look Formica. Believe me, I am ready to move on short notice! i miss the 'burbs! LOL!
what is the period of the house?
If you are trying to keep in the period, why not use a nice laminate? 1950's retro house can use the great laminate "period" looks still available, for example. Check out the website Retro Renovation for great inspiration. Lots of renovations on period homes and not all use the hard surfaces.
what is your budget?
keep in mind that all hard surfaces will price out at 3-4 times the cost of laminate. I would have loved to have put Silestone or Corian In my kitchen reno but frankly, I did not want to spend the money. We replaced the entire plumbing in this old farmhouse and that was not inexpensive. I would not have installed a dishwasher or laundry room without replacing the old crummy galvanized pipes with new. Those pipes left a rusty film on all surfaces. So worth the $$ investment. My mantra is that the counter top should not be worth more than the whole house! Lol!
we could have moved to a new house vs. spending the remodeling $$$ we have so far! DH is living his dream. And he is paying out the nose for that dream!
. ( waterproofed the basement, replaced windows, put in new sidewalks and patio..the bathroom reno is next year! Won't he be surprised!)I am not a hard core cook. I am never going to use a counter top for a cutting surface. I am never going to seal a porous (granite) top. I am not going to set hot pots on top of the counter. I want and love lighter colors where I can see where to clean, etc.
Ultimately, it is your kitchen. Research the different pros and cons of each countertop option. You will be surprised at what each offers. better Homes and Gardens website has comparison info as does HOUZZ.
have fun! Post pics!
sandy
06-28-2015, 09:22 AM
#52
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,330
Tessagin, very true. When we put the granite in, a real estate agent said it wouldn't increase the value of the house but around here would make it sell faster. We put it in for our own enjoyment never thinking we'd be moving. And moving we are and in the new house we are gutting the kitchen (smaller than this one) and putting in an IKEA kitchen with quartz. the new house is close to an IKEA which makes it very do-able and affordable.
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