Kitchen countertops get high-end treatment
Man-made, natural materials can stand up to everyday wear
There’s not a single surface in most homes that gets more daily use and abuse than the kitchen countertop. It’s here that food is prepared, and often eaten, small appliances are used, storage containers sit and and where we throw various household items — keys, the day’s mail and other knickknacks — instead of putting them where they belong.
To handle all that, countertops must be strong, durable, easy to clean and, of course, attractive to look at. Fortunately, there are any number of materials that meet those criteria, especially at the high end, including both natural and man-made materials.
While natural stone such as granite, marble, limestone and quartzite is durable, it may be prone to cracking and chipping. Because they’re also porous, they must be sealed properly and then resealed regularly to prevent staining.
Man-made materials, including familiar brands like Corian, Wilsonart and Staron, as well as quartz, glass and even concrete, are usually more affordable, resistant to scratches and burns and, especially in recent years, mimic the look of natural stone surprisingly well.
Here’s a look at what’s new in high-end kitchen countertops.
“A lot of what’s popular has to do with what people are seeing on HGTV,” said Shawn Baumler, owner of Sublime Custom Stone in San Antonio. He’s seeing an increased demand for white and other lighter shades and solid-color countertops after several years in which the speckled granite look was in vogue.
Perhaps the biggest news in kitchen countertops has been the takeover in the past three years of quartz, a manmade material made from crushed quartzite, a binding material and dye. Over the past few years, quartz manufacturers have gotten better at creating the material in a wide range of colors, greatly increasing its popularity.
Three years ago, for example, quartz accounted for only 10 percent of overall sales at Sublime Custom Stone. Today, that figure is 50 percent, according to Baumler.
Quartz starts at around $60 per square foot and can easily top $100 per square foot, including installation. The average kitchen needs about 60 square feet of countertop, according to Baumler.
For super high-end residences, most homeowners continue to demand natural stone, with prices that start at $80 per square foot and can go much higher.
“Marble remains one of the most popular materials for high-end kitchen counters, especially Carrera marble,” said architect Candid Rogers, referring to a type of quarried marble that’s been valued since even before Michelangelo selected it to sculpt his David. “It’s got that beautiful milky white look set off with faint tones of blue and gray.”
Another popular Italian marble is Calacatta, which is even whiter, with more dramatic veining. Prices for Carrera marble start at about $55 per square foot while Calacatta starts at about $120.
Marble, however, is softer and more porous than other countertop stone and is prone to etching if exposed to acids, such as lemon juice. While etching can be buffed out of marble, the problem can be minimized by honing, which involves grinding the surface to remove the natural shine, leaving behind a matte, or unpolished finish. This will hide any flaws or scratches, making any etching less noticeable.
But you don’t have to go to Italy to get quality countertop material. Limestone quarried right here in Texas is increasingly popular for its thick, chunky look, especially with a hammered or chiseled edge.
The material can be quarried to order, and for homes, it’s usually cut 2 to 3 inches thick at a cost of about $150 per square foot. Texas limestone is prized for its quality and can often be found with fossils embedded in the stone.
“We did a job for a gentleman who owns a wild game preserve in South Africa and was originally from Louisiana,” Baumler said. “Shipped it by boat and had to send two of our guys down there to install it.”
He said they sent 400 square feet of product and that the job, with everything included, cost about $250,000.
While rounded and S-shaped edges continue to be popular, mitered edges are coming into vogue for homeowners desiring a more modern look.
“We cut the material at a 45-degree angle and then glue them together for a contemporary look,” he explained. “You see it in a lot of commercial applications, but it’s becoming more popular for residential work, too.”
There are several other high-end countertop materials beside natural stone. Clear tempered glass countertops start at about $250 per square foot and can also be made in a variety of colors, but for a dramatic increase in price. Because of the price, glass countertops are often used as a highlight rather than as the main countertop surface.
Homeowners hesitant about making such a commitment can have LED lights installed along the outside edge that can be programmed to emit a rainbow of different colors. The surface can also be etched with swirls, geometric shapes or other designs.
Those who want to display their environmental cred can select a countertop made with recycled glass. Combining shards of recycled glass mixed with a binding material, the counters come in many different color schemes and have a distinctive speckled look, according to architect Paul Franklin.
“People who choose it like it because it’s considered a green product,” he said. “I’ve heard you can break a piece of the glass if you hit it the right way, but I don’t think that’s a big concern.”
Recycled glass countertops sell for about $120 per square foot.
And that’s the way to make a big splash in the kitchen.