Ultimate Countertop Buyer’s Guide
Are you planning a remodel project that includes new natural stone countertops? Then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about buying new countertops.
Planning Your Remodel
Before you start tearing out cabinets or flooring, it's a good idea to organize your renovation goals and create a plan for how you’ll achieve them. Planning your countertop remodel starts by defining the scope of your project.
Outline Steps You’ll Take
It’s always good to start at the beginning, but with remodeling, how do you know where the beginning is? Here are the typical steps of a kitchen remodel:
Create your budget and set aside 10% for unexpected expenses.
Research and hire a general contractor or separate subcontractors.
Take measurements of cabinets, appliances, flooring, and countertops.
Request samples of countertops, flooring, trims, and backsplashes.
Order appliances before cabinets and countertops.
Pack up your space before contractors begin work.
Start demolition and construction of your old kitchen or bathroom.
Complete work on walls, painting, and flooring in that order.
Countertop and backsplash installation after cabinets are installed.
Install new appliances, fixtures, and lighting.
Complete finishing touches with furniture, curtains, and decor.
Enjoy your new space!
Once you make it through these steps, it's time to move into your newly renovated room!
Create Your Budget
It's tempting to dive into your renovation and start placing orders for new cabinets, countertops, and flooring. Before you do that, though, we recommend that you first spend some time on your budget. Without a budget and pricing research, your expenses can quickly get out of hand.
Create the kitchen and bathroom of your dreams without any added stress by using our budgeting tips:
Set a budget and method of payment.
Allocate a budget for unexpected expenses.
Find design inspiration.
Prioritize needs vs. wants.
Get quotes from contractors.
Budget for meals and lodging as necessary.
DIY to save some dough along the way.
Save and reuse old room furnishings that are in good shape.
Having a peaceful and exciting renovation (with no guilt or regrets) is easy if you spend some time working on your budget upfront.
Tips to Stay Organized
There's no sense in planning a big countertop remodeling project just to let it become disorganized and get off-track. Keep your project and your home as organized as possible by following a few steps to avoid a disorganized remodel project:
Design your space with a budget, timeline, and contractor.
Demolish and remove features you're replacing.
Rebuild and transform your new space.
Complete finishing touches on your punch list.
By focusing on these four phases to stay organized, you can keep your eye on the prize even when your project gets messy and loud. If you put in the time to plan and budget for your project upfront, everything else becomes seamless and low-stress. Before you know it, you’ll be hosting holiday get-togethers with your loved ones in your beautiful new space!
Keep Your Space Clean
Remember that no matter how big or small a renovation is, it can create a mess that easily spreads throughout your house. When you’re living in your home while work is underway, it’s understandable to feel stressed as you try to go about your daily life.
With just a little extra attention, the following tips will help you can keep your home organized and clean during your renovation:
Plan how you'll keep kids and pets safe during work.
Determine how long work will take.
Clean up at the end of each day.
Invest in a high-suction vacuum.
Block off your work area.
Dust your home every day.
Take shoes off in "clean areas".
Organize necessities needed during work.
Designate a temporary replacement space.
With these tips, your frustration will soon be a distant memory as you’re enjoying your newly renovated space!
Choosing Countertop Materials
Remodeling your countertops is an exciting process to set the tone for your space. Before you head to a quarry or showroom to start looking at stones you'll use, first spend some time thinking about what type of surface you prefer.
The best surface for your countertop is one that complements both your style and maintenance preferences, and it's exactly what you should look for when selecting a slab for your remodel. The right surface can bring out the best in all of the other design aspects of your space. Some of our most popular natural stone surfaces are:
Granite
Granite is one of the most popular stones for countertops in kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas. A uniquely chic appearance and high level of durability make granite a great choice for nearly any homeowner.
Granite is arguably the most popular natural stone for countertops, and with good reason:
High durability makes granite ideal for kitchens with lots of activity. Granite’s durability also allows it to stand up to scratches and high heat.
Maintenance for granite countertops is only necessary once per year. Granite is less porous than other stones and only needs an annual reseal.
Cost is always at the front of homebuyers’ minds before they decide on a countertop material they love. Granite can carry a higher price point than those of other natural stone slabs but has the reputation for quality to back it up.
Granite countertops can transform any room into an elegant space with a timeless appeal.
Quartz
Quartz is a manmade material that’s available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Popular among modern-looking kitchens, quartz countertops can bring out the best of contemporary and clean layouts in your home.
Quartz typically contains 90-95% ground quartz that's mixed with resins, polymers, and pigments. Some of quartz’s most appealing features are:
High durability, which means quartz is ideal for kitchens that see a lot of activity because it stands up to scratches, scrapes, and high heat.
Super low maintenance compared to other surfaces because it never needs to be resealed and cleans up easily with mild dish soap and warm water.
Moderate cost compared to other surfaces, making it attainable for nearly any homeowner. However, a lower price tag certainly does not mean that it compromises on quality.
This man-made material may not have the complex patterns and colors of certain stones, but it more than compensates with its high durability and low maintenance.
Porcelain
Porcelain has been popular in American bathrooms for decades, and it's becoming one of the next big things in kitchen countertops, too. Europeans have been using porcelain in their homes for years, so it's exciting to watch this durable, chic option gain popularity among homeowners in the US.
Porcelain is a non-porous clay that's mixed with kaolinite, silica, and other minerals to give it durability. It's then fired in a kiln at extremely high temperatures that result in a final product that resists scratches, stains, cracks, high heat. It also resists discoloration and deterioration from UV light. Some reasons to consider porcelain are because it is:
Maintenance-free! The sealing is baked into the surface, so it’ll never need a new coat and can be cleaned with any disinfectant of your choosing.
Non-porous and resistant to bacteria, so it’s a great option for high-use kitchens.
High heat resistance is perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas exposed to intense and regular heat.
Lightweight compared to other surfaces, so it’s uniquely suited to vertical applications, such as around a fireplace.
Since it’s manmade, porcelain comes in designs that can match any living area decor, blend in well with bathroom designs, and can turn your fireplace into a real showpiece.
Marble
Marble delivers a unique and chic look to any space. This stone is usually more expensive than others, but it deepens in color and retains its beauty when you maintain it properly. Although it’s more heat resistant than granite, marble is much more likely to stain, chip, and scratch. Due to its porous nature, this surface is particularly susceptible to stains from acidic liquids, so you’ll need to apply sealant at least twice a year.
Known for its beauty and elegance, marble is beloved by homeowners, but you should be aware of some unique features, such as:
High heat resistance can make marble a logical choice for most kitchens, especially those that seek a chic aesthetic.
Softness and porosity are higher than average and require extra care and attention to avoid scratches and stains when compared to other natural stones.
Cost is usually higher than other natural surfaces, but the cost brings with it an element of luxury that no other surface can beat.
If you’re looking for an elegant surface that will age beautifully to develop its own unique patina, then marble may be the material for you.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a durable and heat-resistant natural stone that works well in multiple rooms of a home. Caring for and maintaining quartzite is incredibly easy, so homeowners can quickly add value to their home by properly maintaining it and allowing it to develop a striking patina over time.
Its name may sound similar to quartz, but quartzite is, in fact, its very own material. Unlike manmade quartz, quartzite is a naturally occurring stone that forms when soapstone is exposed to extreme heat and pressure. This stone boasts impressive durability, beautiful patterns, and a range of vibrant colors that can enhance nearly any room in your home. Considerations for quartzite are:
Regular maintenance is essential to avoid stains and maintain a pristine condition. Clean your quartzite with mild soap and avoid solvents, acidic bleach, or ammonia-based cleaning products.
Patinas develop in quartzite which only tends to resonate well with certain homeowners if you decide to sell your property.
Cost is usually higher than quartz, less than marble.
Quartzite is well-known among homeowners and interior designers alike as the single hardest natural countertop material available on the market. It also sports a variety of shades, ranging from neutral white and gray to striking pinks, blues, purples, and even orange, so it can truly make your home stand out among the rest.
Soapstone
Soapstone is a naturally soft yet nonporous stone that’s perfect for countertops that need to stand up to high temperatures. With a naturally occurring patina, soapstone can provide a lovely contrast between its darker hues and any bright colors that pop in your kitchen, bathroom, or living areas.
Many homeowners love soapstone because it’s soft and smooth to the touch due to the talc minerals (like talcum powder) that it's composed of. Beautiful and striking, soapstone has excellent heat-resistant properties that make it a great choice for bathrooms with makeup vanities as well as busy kitchens that have a lot of heat exposure. A few reasons homeowners love soapstone are:
It’s easy to clean due to an extremely dense and compact surface that’s environmentally friendly and can be quickly wiped down.
Patinas develop in soapstone which will resonate well with certain homeowners if you decide to sell your property.
Inexpensive compared to other surfaces, such as granite and marble.
Soapstone’s aesthetically pleasing coolness, density, and heat resistance make it an agreeable choice for multiple types of spaces.
Edges and Finishes
Homeowners often painstakingly consider the material they’ll choose for their countertop, then breeze through their edge and finish selection. However, edges and finishes are essential for bringing out the best characteristics of your countertop!
Some of our most popular edge styles are:
Demi Edge — also called demi-bullnose, has a semi-circular shape on top and a flat bottom. A full demi edge, or full bullnose, is rounded smoothly from the top to the bottom of the stone.
Beveled Edge — the happy medium between sharp and rounded edges. They include a 45-degree slice from the top of the counter and are mainstays in elegant and contemporary kitchens.
Flat Polished Edge — mostly squared with slightly rounded edges. The curve can be on just the top of the stone or both the top and bottom. Flat polished edges complement nearly any style of interior design, from traditional and rustic to chic and modern.
Some of our most popular surface finishes are:
Polished Finish — by far the most common option for countertops, it gives the stone a lustrous, reflective shine that’s easy to clean.
Honed (Matte) Finish — specially brushed down to provide a gentle luster that soaks up natural light. This soft finish can mute the color and pattern of the natural stone but delivers a soft aesthetic in return.
Leathered (Brushed) Finish — brings out the natural textures of your stone with a rustic appearance and aesthetically pleasing sheen. This finish complements kitchens with a lot of personality and pizzazz.
Before you decide to settle for an average countertop edge or default to a glossy finish, consider how edges and finishes enhance the ambiance of your space. With a few finishing touches, you can bring out the beautiful natural characteristics of your stone and take your room to the next level.
How Purchasing a New Countertop Works With Us
Undertaking a home remodeling project is no small feat, especially if you're still learning about all the work that can go into it. Some parts of your remodel may seem perfect for you to tackle in no time at all, while others seem like they're best left to the professionals.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process, we’re happy to walk you through the design process or recommend some trusted professional designers that can assist you.
Countertop Design Meetings With Alpha Surfaces
Whether you spearhead your project or partner with a designer, our team of surface pros is ready to help you create the new countertops of your dreams.
If you're ready to set up your initial countertop design meeting with us, chances are that you're wondering what to expect when we first speak. Here’s what to expect at our countertop design meetings:
Meeting 1: We’ll get an overview of your project, learn what types of material you’re considering, talk about edges, finishes, and color, and all of the other exciting parts of the countertop design. Then, we’ll start working our magic to create a few different options for you.
Meeting 2: Our second meeting is when we discuss the countertop options we’ve created and the quotes for each. At this stage, we can continue to customize the countertop to land on something you love.
Meeting 3: Once we settle on a countertop layout for your space, it’s time to choose your stone! You can shop solo, with a member of our team, or with your designer. After you select your slab, it’s time for us to start templating. Then we can schedule your installation date.
What to Expect On Your Installation Day With Alpha
Before your countertop installation day, it’s important to finalize key selections and work:
Choose the exact slab that we’ll be using in your space.
Choose your faucet, sink, and stovetop and share the dimensions with us. We do the majority of our cutting in the shop to minimize the mess in your home, so we need these measurements before we can perform the installation.
Complete all painting, concrete, and tile work in the room in which your renovation takes place.
Unfortunately, we can’t complete our work until these steps are done. We’ll be in touch 24 hours before your installation date and will have to reschedule if any of these items are still underway.
Some other tips for making your installation day run smoothly are:
Prepare a meal or two that you can heat in your microwave if we’re working in your kitchen.
Clear all items off of your countertops and store them safely away.
Remove delicate and decorative objects from the work area.
Clear a path, if possible, for our team to use for quick access.
Remove drawers from cabinets in the work area.
Kickstart Your Renovation Today
Now that you know everything you need to know about countertop renovations with Alpha Surfaces, let’s get started! Click below to schedule your first design meeting today.