31

Jul

Granite Vs. Stainless Steel Countertops

In our blog, we have compared many countertop options that have some similarities, such as granite and marble (both are natural stones), granite and quartz (two of the most popular countertop options), quartz and solid surface (two popular engineered countertop options), and many others. This time, we’re doing a quite unlikely comparison because stainless steel and granite countertops have very distinct appearances from each other. But there are many things to compare, like durability, heat resistance, scratch resistance, porosity, cost, and more. So, let’s get started.

A Comparison Between Granite And Stainless Steel Countertops

Composition

We’ll begin with what the material is made of.

Granite Countertops

Granite is an ingenious rock that’s composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, and other mineral crystals. It’s quarried from beneath the Earth’s surface and cut into slabs for countertops. It’s the most popular natural stone countertop option, as it’s known to work with any kitchen design.

Stainless Steel Countertops

As we know, stainless steel is a metal alloy that contains iron, chromium, carbon, and also nickel and molybdenum. This creates a rust-resistant, heat-resistant, and durable countertop surface. Highly preferred for commercial kitchen countertops, stainless steel countertops have a good reputation for residential kitchen countertops as well. This also makes stainless steel the most popular metal countertop material.

Appearance And Variety

Granite Countertops

This is where granite countertops shine. They are natural stone slabs. So, the colors, patterns, speckles, and veining you see are natural and unique. You won’t find two granite slabs to be identical.

Plus, the variety. You have a huge variety of patterns and veining and, of course, colors. This is why we mentioned earlier that granite countertops work for any kitchen style. Whether you’re going for a traditional kitchen, a modern and minimalistic kitchen, a farmhouse kitchen, or any other style, you have the colors and patterns that will look like they were specifically made for that kitchen style.

You have various kinds of slabs. For instance, you can use a slab with subtle patterns for a minimalist kitchen or a slab with dramatic veining to make it a focal point in a farmhouse kitchen. There are just so many variations and ways you can use them.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Well, there is silver! The color choices are limited even though there are methods used by manufacturers to bond color to the material at an atomic level. So, apart from the popular silver color, you also choose from other colors as well, such as champagne gold, bronze, brass, rich copper, charcoal gray, gunmetal gray, onyx, and more.

In addition to that, the finish can also impact the color and appearance. Whereas you have the classic mirror finish that is reflective and makes the color look bright (and shows fingerprints), you also have the brushed finish that is matte and diffuses light for a minimal look. Plus, you have the patterned or embossed finish that’s textured and can create multi-toned shadows of the chosen color.

However, the most common and popular color is the standard silver that creates a clean, modern, and industrial aesthetic.

The modern and contemporary style works well because you can also have the sink integrated into the countertop so there won’t be any sink seams.

Grades

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops have three grades:

  • Level 1 is an entry-grade. The thickness is around 2cm, the patterns are the common ones, and the surface is more porous than other grades.
  • Level 2 is a mid-grade. The thickness can be around 3cm, the patterns are more attractive and variable, and the surface is less porous than level 1.
  • Level 3 is high-grade. The thickness can be more than 3cm, the color and patterns are rare and exotic ones, and the porosity is less than the other two levels.

Stainless Steel Countertops

There are two common grades of stainless steel for countertops:

  • Grade 304: This is the standard grade for many commercial and residential kitchens. It has 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It doesn’t rust or corrode easily and works for 95% of kitchen countertops.
  • Grade 316 (marine grade): This is even stronger than 304 as it has 18% chromium and 10% nickel with molybdenum. This makes it completely resistant to corrosion and rust. But they are expensive and recommended only if you have an outdoor kitchen or you live in a coastal region.

Moisture-Resistance

Granite Countertops

Granite is a natural stone, so it’s porous. Moisture can seep into the surface, creating stains and bacterial growth if not sealed frequently. Although some granite slabs are less porous than others, all granite slabs require sealing to keep moisture from staining or damaging the surface over time.

Depending on the quality of granite and your usage, you may have to seal the countertops once every 1-3 years.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel is a metal alloy, and it’s completely waterproof. So, moisture, spills, or anything will bead on the surface, which you can simply wipe off. For a place like the kitchen where accidental spills are a matter of when rather than if, a waterproof surface is a big winner.

Heat-Resistance

Granite Countertops

Granite is basically solidified magma, so it’s highly heat-resistant. But don’t think that it’s indestructible or can withstand extremely high heat. The reason is that granite stone itself is very heat-resistant, but extreme heat and rapid temperature changes can crack the surface.

In addition to that, the sealer you apply to the granite surface has even lower heat resistance. It can get damaged by temperatures over 500°F (260°C). Once the seal becomes ineffective, the surface will stain and fade more quickly, unless you notice the problem and seal it again.

Therefore, granite is very heat-resistant, but you should still always use trivets and hot pads for placing hot items on the counters.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel is also highly heat-resistant. You can place hot pans from the stove directly on the surface and there is a lower risk of scorches or burn marks on the surface. However, the material is not completely heatproof. For cookware directly from an oven with temperatures ranging from 480°F to 570°F (250°C to 300°C), there can be heat marks or browning that would not look good.

So, you can place normal hot items from the stove on the surface, but very hot cookware can still pose a risk of stains. So, it’s best to use trivets and coasters.

Another reason for that is because, being a metal, stainless steel is a conductor of heat. So, the surface can get hot and it can cause burns or injury if the person near it is not careful.

Scratch-Resistance And Durability

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are very hard and can resist scratches very well. But you should still use a cutting board to keep the sealer from getting punctured.

Now, granite is scratch-resistant but can be brittle. An impact from a metal or a heavy item can crack or chip the edges.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel is very impact-resistant. If you have the 14-gauge (thicker) or 16-gauge (slightly less thick) steel countertops, the surface won’t budge from the impact of another metal or a heavy item.

However, stainless steel performs poorly when it comes to scratch resistance. Knives, metal pans, steel sponges, etc., can scratch the surface.

Maintenance

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are high maintenance because you have to be careful and use trivets to keep heat from damaging the countertops, use cutting boards to keep knives from damaging the sealer, and then also seal the surface every year or so to keep it moisture-resistant. Plus, you need to use a special granite countertop cleaner for cleaning the surface.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel countertops are very low maintenance. You don’t need to seal them and anything can be wiped easily. You can also use any mild detergent to clean the surface. Scratches can be an issue, but you can choose a textured finish or get accustomed to the texture that scratches form over time on the surface.

Cost

Granite Countertops

Granite is usually cheaper than stainless steel if you choose level 1 or 2 granite, which are the common grades chosen by homeowners.

Now, there are many factors that can impact the costs, but if we just do a general comparison, granite countertops might cost you 40-50% less than stainless steel countertops.

Stainless Steel Countertops

You have gauges and grades that determine the cost, along with fabrication. Even the common grade (304) and slightly less thick gauge (16-gauge) can cost more than level 1 and 2 granite countertops.

Conclusion

That’s it! If you want a material that adds value to the house, has a lot of color options that match with any home style, and has good durability and heat resistance, and you don’t mind high maintenance, choose granite countertops. On the other hand, stainless countertops are low maintenance, highly durable, and waterproof, but can scratch and are costlier. Get in touch with a granite contractor Potomac for more details.

25

Dec

10 Kitchen Countertop Materials That Are Not Recommended

You might have heard of different countertops being raved up and down. But there are also some materials that you need to keep at bay because of their qualities that don’t make them a good choice for kitchen countertops. Some mentioned here have a few great qualities but also have one or more flaws that make them a bad choice. For example, marble is one of the most beautiful stones but it’s a fragile one. This means it chips, scratches, and cracks easily. So, a better choice in place of marble would be granite countertops. Let’s know more!

Kitchen Countertop Materials You Should Avoid

Glass Countertops

When it comes to countertop materials, you want to choose something that won’t break, at least not at the slightest of impact. Well, this is where glass will disappoint you. Even though it is an amazing material, made out of recycled glass and is very sustainable for the environment, glass is still very much a fragile material that doesn’t do well in the kitchen.

Glass is not entirely heat resistant. It doesn’t prevent scratches and dropping anything heavy from a reasonable height will shatter or crack the glass before you know it. So, if you want to go for a material that will last long, then natural stones or even other man-made options are better.

Something like glass will be treated with kid’s gloves in the kitchen and that is the last thing you want to do when it comes to working in the kitchen to get things done.

Marble Countertops

Marble is a beautiful, elegant, and exceptional natural stone when it comes to kitchen countertops and it is also used in bathrooms, vanities and even making sculptures. Well, marble is also really heavy on the maintenance side of things.

When it comes to maintaining marble, the steps are just too many to keep count. First of all, marble is a non-porous material, so it needs to be sealed. Not only this, the material has to be sealed every now and then to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged by water.

Next comes the actual cleaning, which is very tedious. Marble, being a fragile stone, had to be cleaned gently, otherwise you can turn a cleaning session into something terrifying. Also, you can’t use sharp knives on the surface of marble, otherwise, it will leave deep scratches on the surface and that is not what you want.

Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel is an amazing material when it comes to getting something really easy to clean and manage in the kitchen. If you love industrial looks, then stainless steel should be the option to go for. So, what makes it so bad that you have to avoid it? Well, stainless steel can show fingerprints on the surface like it’s getting paid to highlight them.

There is just no way that you can properly clean a stainless steel countertop without leaving fingerprint smudges all over the surface. This is very frustrating about it and cleaning a stainless steel countertop will seem like going in circles and that is not what you want to do.

Travertine Countertops

Travertine is a beautiful stone that is derived from limestone itself. It is a wonderful material that has patterns similar to a cross between limestone and marble itself. However, it can also stain over time and it doesn’t lead to the best of results.

Similar to patina on marble, travertine can turn yellow as the years go by, but it won’t be pleasant. It will make the stone look old and that is not what you want. This is why you need to choose something else that won’t lose its original color as time passes by.

Wood Countertops

Wood is a beautiful and classic option and even though it is highly expensive, it is still something that people rave about. The higher cost is not the only concern for many people because you need to spend even more money to maintain wood countertops.

You need to seal it, tint it, polish it, and do countless other things to ensure that it stays in amazing condition. Well, that can be impossible at times and not everyone has time on their hands to do things like these, regularly.

Concrete Countertops

Concrete countertops are amazing. They’re heat resistant and they have a very rustic look to them. But what makes concrete a thumbs-down? Well, it’s the fact that it stains like there’s no tomorrow.

If you know anything about concrete, then you would know that it absorbs moisture and water like a sponge. So, you better believe that concrete will suck in all of the water available on the surface and then it will lead to stains. This is why it’s recommended that you go for something else.

Tiles

When it comes to tile, the look is sleek and effortless, but the main concerning factor is are grout lines. Even though you can hire the best of the best contractors for the job, you will still feel like making the grout look clean is harder than you can imagine.

This is why you need to skip tiles, because not only is grout a problem, but it can also get very dirty and the once-white grout can turn murky and black in no time, which sounds disgusting.

Laminate Countertops

Laminate is a material that is everyone’s dream. It is a reasonably priced material that can mimic almost all looks of stones, materials, and man-made things on Earth. So, why is laminate such a bad choice? Well, because it’s not the best quality. See, laminate is prone to discolor and fade over time and that is something that bothers a lot of people.

Also, it’s not the most durable when it comes to heat and it will lead to heat stains, which is very unfortunate because removing them is almost impossible. So, laminate might be easy on the wallet, but not so much on the eyes.

Limestone Countertops

Limestone is also a very good material for the kitchen, but there are a handful of things that don’t sit well with a lot of people. First of all, it is very high maintenance. It needs almost as much maintenance as any other natural stone.

If that wasn’t enough, then limestone also doesn’t do well with heat and it can lead to blisters on the surface that look very hideous. Lastly, limestone is a soft stone, so using sharp knives won’t be the best of decisions, if you don’t want scratches to become a permanent thing.

Bamboo Countertops

Bamboo is an amazing material on the surface, but not so much when it comes to design and creativity. It is a serious bummer for people who love wooden countertops because bamboo isn’t as versatile when it comes to design options.

There are a couple of options that you can choose from and that’s pretty much it. Also, bamboo needs regular sealing and maintenance because at the end of the day, it is a wooden countertop and it needs to be treated like one too. So, bamboo isn’t the greatest of materials.

Conclusion

These countertops are amazing, but there are certain things like fragility, price, maintenance, and other things that need to be considered and they don’t do so well in these departments.

Still, if you love a quality of a certain material like the beauty of marble, the durability of stainless steel/concrete, the cost-effectiveness of laminate, or the sustainability of wood/bamboo/glass, then you can choose that material but beware of the disadvantages as well. If you want an indoor kitchen countertop material with the least downsides, take a look at granite and quartz countertops or consult countertop replacement services Potomac.

21

May

Replacing Kitchen Countertops On A Budget? 7 Countertop Options To Choose From

If your countertops are damaged, worn out, or you want to revamp your kitchen or bathroom, you should contact countertop replacement services providers to replace the countertops.

If you have a large budget for the work, you do not worry as you can use any material you want, but you can only go with cheap materials if you are working on a tight budget.

Thinking about replacing kitchen countertops on a budget? There are several countertop materials you can go with. The most common ones being:

Laminate

Although laminate countertops were popular a few decades ago, you can still install them in your home at an affordable price. The beauty of modern laminates is that you can find countertops that resemble almost anything. Thanks to advances in technology, you can find laminate countertops mimicking stone, wood, and other materials.

The main flaw with laminate is it tends to easily scratch, so you need to be cautious when preparing your meals or cleaning so you don’t cause substantial damage. Thankfully, you can reduce the chances of scratching by sealing the countertops. When doing it, ensure that you use sealant materials specifically designed for laminate countertops.

Cultured marble

This is faux marble that resembles real marble but comes at a much lower price. The countertops are made from a mixture of polyester resin and pigments, marble dust and fillers.

These surfaces replicate the marble appearance, but they are more stain-resistant than the real marble, making them easier to maintain.

Paint

Many people use paint to revamp their walls, but did you know you can also transform your counters using it? The cool thing is you can easily paint the surfaces by yourself without requiring the services or contractor.

All you need to do is to find a color that will give your surfaces a brand new look you are looking for. You can paint any counter surface, so whether you want to transform tile, laminate, solid surface or any other surface, you can definitely use paint.

Bamboo

Bamboo isn’t the most popular countertop material, but it can give your surfaces a unique natural look when properly done.

Bamboo surfaces are known to be stylish, tough, and eco friendly. The only flaw with them is they require significant levels of maintenance. For example, you need to paint them or seal them, so they aren’t damaged by water.

Tiles

Are you looking for durable countertops, but you are operating on a tight budget? These are the countertops to go for. Besides being tough, the countertops are colorful, so they will significantly transform your surfaces with their unique colors.

To make the countertops more appealing, use them in conjunction with plainer, more affordable styles.

Wood

Wood or butcher block counters add warmth to your surfaces and give them a unique natural look. The beauty of wood is it’s cheaper than stone countertops, so you will save a significant amount of money by installing them.

Bamboo and maples are two of the most popular wooden countertop materials, but you can install any other wooden countertops of your choice. When you install them, you should note that the countertops require regular oiling to prevent them from wood-boring insects. You may also have to seal the surfaces to prevent them from water damage.

Stainless steel

Although a good quality stainless steel countertop isn’t cheap, a properly constructed custom made steel countertop can double as a kitchen island, meaning you don’t need to build a kitchen island, and as you can imagine, this saves you a lot of money.

The cool thing is many freestanding stainless steel counters provide plenty of storage space beneath, so you don’t need to construct storage cabinets for your produce.

Recycled glass

This is a new entrant in the market and has quickly risen in popularity. Recycled glass surfaces are made by mixing pieces of recycled glass with cement and other binders. At first look, the countertops are beautiful and easy to maintain, but this isn’t the case.

You need to be ultra-cautious when preparing your meals or placing hard objects on the countertops as they can easily chip or break. So like granite countertops Rockville and other countertop materials, you need to be careful, so you don’t damage them.