How to choose and install a glass countertop
ne of the most exciting home improvement materials I’ve seen lately is glass — as in new glass countertop styles. A glass countertop gives a sleek, uniquely modern look to your kitchen or bath. It can also add color and sparkle.
Find out more about glass countertop styles, care, and installation below. Back painted. This consists of a glass countertop that has been painted a solid color on the bottom prior to installation. The color shines through and is given an extra depth and richness by the glass. Artistic glass. Artistic multicolored swirls and streaks are embedded right in the glass itself. The process leads to a very personal, strikingly unique countertop style. Recycled glass. Chips of richly hued, recycled glass are set in concrete or acrylic to create a luminous, terrazzo-type glass countertop material. These are available in a huge selection of patterns and colors. Waterfall Glass that covers your kitchen island and continues down the side will produce a glamorous waterfall edge countertop … but without the heavy appearance so often associated with this style. Textured. These countertops are formed of clear glass to showcase an intriguingly designed texture — perhaps crackling, dimpling, or swirling — or made to echo the natural look of water in motion. Integrated sink. A glass countertop can easily accommodate an integrated sink. (An integrated sink is formed as one seamless piece with the countertop, which it is set into.) When the material is glass, the integrated sink style is most often used as a bathroom vanity topper. LED lit. For ultra-modern excitement, glass countertops may be lit from beneath with numerous minuscule LED bulbs. This creates elegant drama in the kitchen or bathroom.
Tempered glass countertops are very strong and durable. In addition, solid glass counters are extremely hygienic, since the surface of the glass is non-porous and does not trap bacteria, dirt, or stains.
Due to glass’s excellent heat resistance, feel free to put hot pots down directly onto your countertop — you do not need to worry that it will scorch, melt, or warp.
Care for your glass countertop is simple. Just rub it down as needed with a cloth moistened in warm soapy water.
One common disadvantage of these countertops, especially the smooth, solid-colored versions, is that they do tend to show fingerprints.