What is the best kitchen countertop? ｜KITCHEN DESIGN
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- Quartz, marble, granite, butcherblock...what is the best countertop choice for your kitchen. There are a ton of decisions to be made when designing a kitchen, and one of the most important is the countertop material and design. In this video we discuss the pro's and con's of the most common countertop materials and why they may or may not be right for your kitchen renovation.
Countertops 101: • Quartz vs Granite vs M...
If you feel stuck or want professional help in your next project, please head over to our design studio: www.thehomestud.com/homestud-...
Pinterest: www.pinterest.ca/homestud_stu...
Instagram: / homestud_studios
Even though this isn't a construction video, these are my commonly used tools (Affiliate links):
Router: amzn.to/3aqm7LU
Brad nailer (newer version): amzn.to/3gYjceN
Battery finish nailer: amzn.to/3n9mgr1
Battery Brad nailer: amzn.to/33m5soX
Compressor: amzn.to/2YOpsyK
Air hose: amzn.to/2yH7DGT
Speed square: amzn.to/2A5dwxY
Hammer: amzn.to/3nwqskx
Table saw: amzn.to/2SRn2vn
Track saw: amzn.to/3ra9WZC
Miter saw: amzn.to/3rbI8E4
Impact drill: amzn.to/2KiFbRt
Level: amzn.to/2K81Y2B
Planer: amzn.to/2ZRQHJg 
Развлечения
![KITCHEN DESIGN MISTAKES [Common design mistakes to avoid]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/__cRUrQ0WuM/mqdefault.jpg)
Looking for EVEN MORE on countertops!? This has you covered:
ruclips.net/video/M0egYWw4CuU/видео.html
I am an overall house designer and the kitchen is one of the major areas that need more attention to detail and functionality. I always incorporate a countertop that will just look good and blend well with the overall design of the kitchen. The things he mentioned are usually the things that sometimes are being taken for granted by the designers. Price, Functionality, Durability, and Maintenance. He even discussed some things about recommending a client a cheaper alternative for the countertop while they save up for their luxurious dream countertop. I will definitely recommend this video to my colleagues. Great work!💯
We are starting demo on our new kitchen and I’ve been binging your videos. I don’t know why, we’ve already picked out everything. I think it’s just nice feeling justified with my decisions that I labored over for so many months lol
Thanks for watching them! And I do the same…still researching about stuff I’ve finished or already bought ha
Stumbled across your channel and I've been pleased so I subscribed. I had just asked about concrete countertops but then scrolled down and found the same question and your response to that question. Thanks!
Thanks for joining the community! Stay tuned, I am diving into a whole countertop series right now and concrete will come up in a few weeks time.
Hi, great video, i like the butcher block but the mantainance its definitely a big downside. What you think about those epoxy countertops?
It definitely is a high maintenance choice. I just went through a whole countertop series on the channel, but didn't go into epoxy options. I can see where they would be useful or nice to have, but they definitely aren't a popular choice. I can't give you an honest opinion of them because I have never added them to any of my projects and havnt used them enough in person to really develop an opinion.
Hi, many american top tv interior designers started to use quartz and butcher block at islands. What's the proper ratio for these 2 materials for the island to look sleek kitchen and not cheesy. Thanks. 😊
TV is one thing...real life is another. There are no rules here, its a matter of finding a balance and a reason as to why you are doing it. If its a drop down baking zone (one of the main reasons I have split materials), then its all about how big you need that area to be.
Can you please tell me the name of the quartz countertops in your kitchen of your video? I love its veins and style!
Hi Christine- no problem. They are LG Viatera Calacatta Muse from the masterpiece collection. Though some bad news, I just took a look and they no longer offer this exact slab. I can't speak highly enough about LG Viatera quartz though. I have used it in 4 or 5 of my kitchen renovations and they still look fantastic.
@@hsdesignstudio thank you 😊
Thank you :) I am in the UK and thought that quartz wasn't heat resistant, does that depend on the quality of the quartz or is American quartz better? 😆
It definitely depends on the quartz and the amount of resin to quartz ratio. I know people that place hot pots directly on it, however, we always use a hot plate underneath!
@@hsdesignstudio thank you 😊 yes I need to get some hot plates, we have laminate at the moment and didn't realise you can't put hot pans on it! We have been doing that and I thought it had dulled a little bit :/ oopsie.
@@C_Ariss Get ceramic countertops then.
Your honest opinion on the Axstad thermafoil, our other choice is Lerhyttan light gray. Which one do you think is the best quality for the price?
I have installed AXSTAD in multiple investment properties, including one of my flipped homes (I don't cheap out in these houses, I typically invest more). You can see that kitchen here if you are interested :ruclips.net/video/MkTYnpyFewo/видео.html
So far I have zero complaints with the cabinets. I have designed kitchens for clients with LERHYTTAN, but have never installed them personally. That being said, I have not heard any complaints from those clients. I really like the thermofoil cabinets because they stand up to normal everyday use AND they are easy to wipe down and clean. My only complaint so far is with the EDSERUM in my own kitchen because the shaker edge has a joint to the middle panel. This joint takes a little extra effort to keep clean. If AXSTAD was available as an option when my wife and I renovated, we would have gone that route over GRIMSLOV.
Thank you for time and honest opinion!
@@allenprows4977You're welcome- I'm happy to help in any way I can 👍
I have a question. With solid countertops manmade is it as cold as marble. I ask this as I make pastry and marble is great for pastry making. However, I am looking for long-wearing water resistance with little maintenance so would not do all countertops in natural stone or wood. Love to hear what people think
The best counter top is without any debate a single piece of stainless steel that rolls up into the back splash as single piece. It may not set off the fashion for some but it is without a doubt the best. It is the choice in every industrial kitchen in the world. That is an endorsement no other material can claim.
In terms of functionality only, sure it is really hard to beat stainless steel. However, there is a myriad of other reasons I wouldn't want it as my home kitchen countertop.
@@hsdesignstudio If you get a good supplier you can make a really nice looking stainless steel counter top and backsplash combination in your kitchen. We threw caution to the wind a few years back and married it to cheery cabinets and the look is amazing. They also blend seamlessly with stainless steel appliances. The kitchen looks cutting edge and serious. We were very concerned we were making a mistake but everyone that sees it can't believe we made the plunge. It ended up being cheaper too but it has its own maintenance concerns so it is not perfect. We had ours anodized and we are pretty much impervious to anything now. If it gets scratched we just buff it out.
As someone who has to clean those commercial countertops, let me say that while they make it easy to sterilize (chemically or with steam/heat) the surface, THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO GET CLEAN. Use sparingly, like around stoves and/or sinks if at all. They also scratch, creating little pockets for microbes and spores to nessle in (heat is your best bet here, but THEN follow with a chemical and mechanically remove, then heat again... All for nothing because it just gets more gunk in it).
Where would soapstone or quartzite fit in in terms of pro/con?
Ditto!
I have soapstone countertop and a soapstone country sink.. It was quarried in Virginia. It’s beautiful, IMO. It’s anti-bacterial…remember your chemistry lab sinks?
Cons: it chips a bit, but can be sanded smooth. I didn’t have mine sealed, so I often scrub it with Bob Ami scouring powder & it looks gorgeous- dark gray with white veining. However, a few water or food splashes, it soon darkens it up. Many people simply oil theirs for a consistent look.
@@danbev8542 Thanks for the info! I have always loved soapstone (high school chemistry class! Did you find it hard to locate supplier? I"m near ST Louis.
I have soapstone countertop. It was my big splurge in an otherwise average kitchen remodel (2014). I still love it. It has a few chips in it where things fell out of the cabinet. Like Dan said, they can be sanded out, but honestly, they don't bother me that much. The installers did wipe a "sealer" on it originally to keep the color more consistent. I've not done anything more than wipe it down with soap and water. I have a tendency to to look back at past projects and wonder if I would change certain things, but my soapstone is NOT one of those.
We have them. Great, classic look. No maintenance. No stains, heat resistant. Can be cut with simple tools, so you can diy.
From being swindled, I have gone 2 months with out a kitchen. I have no clue on what to do, so I made my countertops of plastic shelf!
Sorry to hear about what I assume was nasty contractors. Sounds like you found a workaround until it gets sorted out though.
I bought a small bathroom vanity from a home improvement store. It was a floor model of a discontinued line and the store claims countertop on it is quartz. I wonder if it really is quartz or maybe a very cheap quality (?) because it scratches very easily , like from the glass soap dispenser , and I can’t get water spots off it . It’s basically dull scratched and dirty looking. What conclusions can I come to regarding this countertop.
Its either not quartz or a very very cheap version. The scratches are likely in the binding agents, not the ground stone itself, which leads me to believe there is a lower percentage of ground quartz (if its actually quartz).
@@hsdesignstudio okay. Thank you. We are planning to get quartz in the kitchen so I was nervous it would be like this vanity but your reply makes me feel better about it
@@melissaneugebauer113 I love my quartz, and it has been great in all of my investment properties. As long as it is a reputable brand and a good installer, you will be happy!
Thoughts on soapstone countertops?
I've never used them personally, and have only had 2 clients use them this year. They were both happy but I have no personal experience. They are highly durable but scratch easier than other options, heat resistant, and visually stunning. The downside is color selection, and how oils can darken the surface. The common suggestion is to use a mineral oil or equivalent across the whole slab to darken it, prevent later oily spots from showing up.
I was hoping you would talk about porcelain countertops. It’s new, and a lot cheaper than quartz or granite.
Yes definitely a new option. I didn't go into them because in many areas access to a distributor/fabricator and installer just isn't there. Its definitely a topic that will be addressed in an upcoming video.
Can you please talk more in details about corean countertops and US corean types? These are very common used at rental medium low income apartments within California. Thanks .
@@hsdesignstudioman I was just going to say this, I know this is a year old and your still right about fabricator installer and all that, but I think I’m going to do it anyway lol, I think it looks amazing
@@weldinggirl I actually have an entire video on Porcelain as well- ruclips.net/video/IKaR0mxefNY/видео.html
What model ikea door and drawer fronts do yo have in your kitchen?
The kitchen in this video is all GRIMSLOV door fronts. I also have EDSERUM door in another kitchen as well.
It looks grey, i thought Grimslov is off white or do you Canadians have different choices, new to ikea kitchens, have never seen Edserum. We’re probably going with Axstad white. Between you and Mark Tobin great videos 🇺🇸
We do have a few different choices, and yes you are correct, GRIMSLOV is off-white. It could just be my camera and the lighting. Mark has lots of great info- stay tuned we are doing a video together in a few weeks 👍
How about resin?
What are your thoughts on porcelain countertops?
I can't give any personal experience as I have never had them in my own space. I had a client use them in a reno last year and at the time were extremely happy with how they looked and functioned. They do seem to be gaining in popularity as well.
My suggestion is to always speak with a local installer/fabricator if you have the option- they will be the best source for direct information on the products they carry, because like all countertop options, quality can vary.
That might not have been the answer you were looking for, but hopefully it helps in some manner.
I remodeled my last house with granite, and I didn't like it at all. I suspect this is a problem with all natural stone, but I wouldn't really call it "cracking" . Its more like the different mineral deposits slightly separate, and the entire surface just ends up being covered in these tiny micro cracks.
I know exactly what you are referring to with the tiny fissures. However, I have also watched an entire slab of granite crack in half at a stress point that was missed during inspection.
@@hsdesignstudio Ohh, I have no doubt they crack. The one I got had a warranty for critical failures like that though. My concern was just the over all finished quality wasn't what I expected.
@@DHxJarsyl I can imagine it wasn't. It would be hard to stomach the bill of stone countertops only to watch them slowly deteriorate.
@@hsdesignstudio Well sir, the jokes on you then...because it wasn't that slow, lol.
@@DHxJarsyl that’s even worse.
Do you have any comments on other products for counter tops?
What exactly are you thinking about?
@@hsdesignstudio I’m just curious if there are other newer products that have been used recently.
@@stephsieben6137 Definitely a few other options available like Dekton or porcelain, quartzite is becoming more popular. But like any countertop it comes down to availability and fabrication/installation. This video was meant to cover the main options commonly used today.
@@hsdesignstudio Thank you so much!
What do you think about DEKTON?
Quite honestly, it is not something I am super familiar with. That being said, it seems like quite an interesting product and I will be doing a little more reading myself. I know it is quite popular in the European markets. They always seem to be ahead of us with the 'next big thing'!
@@hsdesignstudio it’s becoming very popular here in Montreal 🥰
@@laperrierenathalie9028 thats awesome- more choices is a good thing...most of the time 😄
What about porcelain countertops?
Many French contractors are steering people away from quartz and towards ceramic countertops. Ceramic countertops may scratch however. Because the designs are printed on the countertop, the scratches can't be buffed out. But that's so minor however.
I tried to steer my mom away from a laminate countertop toward a granite.
She said that granite looks like a tombstone, and chose a puke-yellow laminate instead.
The first time she ran the dishwasher, the countertop began to delaminate and the pressed and glued sawdust board started coming apart.
That's crazy. Did it happen to be a cheap laminate? I've seen laminate last for decades. I've also seen really gross mold filled laminate haha.
@@hsdesignstudio Home Depot. I disliked the color. Mom also applied a laminated wallboard almost the same color, like the skin over week-old pudding, countertop to ceiling throughout the kitchen.
I'm still in the decisions phase of my remodel, but I have to do some structural work in there and since the laminate and cabinets have to come out of one side of the galley, I have to do the other, too. New appliances, new sink, new floors, new windows, new rim joist....
Is quartzite significantly more expensive than granite? What’s the cost difference one could expect?
That is hard to say because it comes down to the slab- location of the quarry, and how difficult it is to source/work with, colors. In general, quartzite does tend to come out more expensive than granite.
Why did you not include quartzite?
I tried to focus on the more commonly used options today. These types of videos can get real long otherwise. That being said, Quartzite (and Dekton) are starting to gain some ground as more commonplace and are definitely options to consider if you are in the market for new countertops and have an installer who has worked with them in the past.
Sometimes I feel like I’m taking crazy pills because I’ve had several quartz countertops stain and etch, as have friends and family. And I’m talking the big brands too like Caesarstone and Silastone as well as others (I’ve moved a lot and have many friends with these countertops too). So I personally don’t see the point of them over natural stone, other than if you don’t want to seal them regularly. But I am from Australia, so maybe our quartz is different to the rest of the world? I do know that there is a strong push here atm to have them banned (or at least those with a high silica content), as it’s making our installers sick. But we seem to be the only country noticing this, so either our PPE isn’t as good as others, our quartz is different or other countries just haven’t noticed (or don’t care). Anyway, that’s my quartz quandary. Currently leaning towards natural stone for my next kitchen…
Thanks for the video. Your content is always helpful x
What's your take on concrete countertops? DIY in-place? Pro-installation? Colors and sealing options?
I love the idea and am dying for the right project to do a DIY install. I think one major key is forming them properly and then the finish work for smoothing and sealing. In the right space and design they are a great option.
There is a RUclips channel called Michael Builds. He does a lot on concrete counter tops and other things. It is interesting to watch
I was told that it was a bad idea. Concrete is basically man-made marble, but less durable! So concrete is porous and chips.
Slate?
Soapstone?
I didn't go into every option, purely on the sake of time. However, in the comments there is a discussion about soapstone countertops. This is a huge topic, and I think each option likely warrants a deep dive for its own video.
My mom does not like our current laminate countertops that the house came with and eventually wants to replace them so she doesn't mind if we put hot pots directly on to it because it's already ugly anyway.
I have forty-year-old laminate countertops my Mom had installed. The particle-board substrate began raveling and the surface delaminating the first time she used the dishwasher, the seams likewise after spills, the backsplashes are hideous.
I'm remodeling to age in place, and it's granite all the way.
@@5610winston - sounds like it will be a well needed upgrade!
What do you think about quartzite???
I think it can be a great choice. My understanding is it has many of the same characteristics as granite because it is also a solid piece of natural stone. As long as natural crack points are identified and the piece is structurally sound, there should be no reason not to use it.
@@hsdesignstudio thank you for answering!! 😊
@@claudiapimentel1373 no problem! I would still have a discussion with your supplier/fabricator/installer. They will have more information, especially when it comes to the different companies available.
The music is annoying…too loud.
Why not discuss quartzite? Seems to be the best of all worlds and doesn’t look fake like quartz, which looks dull.
I actually have a full video dedicated to quartzite: ruclips.net/video/ewzwNprR7Cc/видео.html
It is part of our full countertop series.
reduce background sound and improve yours pls
You forgot porcelain
I'll add that to the list of ones to make.
I forgot to mention: I actually have an entire video dedicated to porcelain! ruclips.net/video/IKaR0mxefNY/видео.html