MISSION STONE & TILE   BLOG

Counter Revolution – Innovative Countertop Alternatives

Looking to gain counter intelligence as upgrade the surfaces for your kitchen or bathrooms?   Here’s a review of leading edge products that may revolutionize what goes atop your counters, while counterbalancing your desire for fine materials with in a reasonable budget.

Granite Tiles
There’s no way around it; granite holds tight as a widely preferred and revered countertop material.  Though many interior designers bemoan this material as they long to work with all things new, the humble masses keep going back to have their countertop wishes granite.

One handy tip for those of you wanting the appeal of granite without the cost:  Consider granite tiles instead of slabs, and use matching chair rails as edging to recreate the look of slab material.  According to Mary Elizabeth Hulsey of Nashville’s Mission Stone & Tile, granite tiles can be very affordable, costing between $7 – $12 per square foot ($15 – $24 installed) compared to slabs that tally $45 per square foot.  Additionally, granite tiles are simpler to install than slab product, reducing labor costs.

Glass

Glass countertops offer a really sleek, contemporary look, and surfacing innovations have made them way more versatile and durable than you might imagine.  Many glass counters come in 1.5-inch or greater thicknesses, and decorative texturing aides in eliminating worries over fingerprints or minor scratching.  Glass is innately nonporous and heat resistance, and it cleans easily with typical window cleaner.  Costs estimates for glass countertops range from $85 – $250 per square foot installed.

Wood
Yes, wood can be used to make sturdy and beautiful countertops, and they’re presently gaining buzz in the kitchen design world thanks to their natural warmth.  And wood for counters can be very versatile, as it’s stainable, treatable to ensure long term durability and can be carved to create decorative edging.  A popular trend for today’s green conscious homeowners is to utilize reclaimed wood, giving new purpose to materials that might otherwise be discarded. Not surprisingly, wood countertops are investments, ranging from $45 to $150 for materials, plus additional costs for edge treatments and staining.

Concrete
If it’s good enough for exterior sidewalks, building enclosures and driveways, surely concrete can give you the countertop performance you need.  Concrete has been a designer counter topchoice for over a decade and is beginning to show up more in broader use.  Sealed concrete countertops can provide a clean-lined, sleek look, while unsealed variations show age and use much like an untreated butcher block.  Stained concrete opens a world of designer options. Installation requires highly skilled labor, as custom casting must be used to fit your exact specifications.  Costs range from $80 to $150 per square foot.

Tile
Porcelain tile is a durable, versatile option for counters, and innovations in grout are eliminating worries over staining that often hindered tile usage, especially in the kitchen.  Tile countertops offer great design options, patterns and creativity in installation; they’re also naturally heat and moisture resistant.  You can select from many size alternatives—mosaics or linear bricks to large format field tiles—while colors and looks are nearly endless.  Price range varies greatly, from as little as $15 to $100 for highly specialized looks.