Kitchen countertop options

Deep into a kitchen-remodelling project, I want to install kitchen countertops that are going to withstand years of abuse but that will still look beautiful when I’m ready to sell. I’m not prepared to settle on just any countertop material, though, and going against popular opinion, I’m steadfast in my aversion to granite.

 

Don’t get me wrong. Granite and other natural stones are great countertop materials. But it seems as if everyone is putting stone counters, especially granite, in their homes these days and what was once a material used to achieve a distinctive, high-end style has now become expected.

Solid-surface material and engineered stone don’t offer much more excitement. Instead, I’m considering countertop materials that few people know about and that even fewer are using in their homes.

If you’re looking for a countertop that will make a dramatic style statement instead of helping to create a kitchen that feels common, consider products made of glass, concrete, bamboo, or scrap metal. Besides being durable and beautiful, many
of these products promote sustainable building practices by recycling unlikely materials. They might not be the most popular products on the market or the most-classic ones, but that’s a good thing.

Bamboo is renewable and durable

It’s hard not to be impressed by bamboo. The material is actually a type of grass, but it’s 16% harder than maple. Bamboo reaches harvestable maturity in less than five years - as opposed to the 50- to 70-year growing period of hardwoods - and continuously replenishes itself by sprouting new shoots from an extensive root system.

With its warm natural appearance, and its ability to be easily cut and shaped with common tools, it’s no wonder bamboo is being made into kitchen countertops. Bamboo can withstand a significant amount of abuse, but should be treated like any wood counter. Trivets prevent burns from hot pots and pans, and an application of penetrating sealer helps to prevent staining. Water-based polyurethane sealers tend to leave bamboo looking dull, so manufacturers recommend the use of food-safe tung oil to seal all faces of the countertop, including the bottom.

Like wood, bamboo countertops are only marginally stable. Dimensional changes occur with seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Unlike wood, bamboo shouldn’t be stained because achieving an even appearance is often difficult.

A major benefit of using a bamboo countertop is that the entire length of its surface can be used as a cutting board. Any scratches or knife marks can be left or sanded away. A yearly application of proper tung oil will help to keep the countertop looking new.

Tones and textures can vary. Edge-grain bamboo counters tend to be slightly more monochromatic, while other grain orientations offer more visual texture. The darker colour of bamboo is achieved by heating the material, which caramelizes its natural sugars.

Solid glass is modern and easy to clean

Glass countertops bring a clean, modern look to a kitchen. Contrary to popular perception, they are durable and are extremely sanitary because glass is nonporous and easy to clean. Glass countertops can be installed in a variety of ways with edge treatments that range from polished to chiseled in appearance.

A glass top being fixed directly to a cabinet typically receives a coat of paint on its bottom surface prior to being secured with silicone caulk. The paint helps to hide the contents of the cabinet and gives the counter a finished look.

Glass can also be installed over an opaque substrate like melamine or suspended on piers so that it appears to be floating. Stainless-steel locating pins can also be used to keep these countertops in place.

Fabricators use three types of glass to create countertops:

Float glass, the material found in modern day windowpanes, can be used to make counters. Manufacturers often temper this glass to improve its strength and safety in the unlikely event that it breaks.

Slump glass is distinguished by its shapes and textures. Slump glass is simply float glass that is placed on top of a carved mould, then heated so that the glass relaxes and “slumps” into the contours of the mould.

Kiln-fired glass, also known as cast glass or art glass, is made of recycled glass fragments that have been placed in a kiln and heated until they bond back together. Kiln-fired glass is as strong as the other types of glass, if not stronger. Thick glass countertops are most often made of kiln-fired glass.

Glass-countertop fabricators are split in their recommendations for where their products can or should be used. But are in agreement that glass counters shouldn’t be used anywhere they’ll receive a significant amount of abuse. Glass tops
should be reserved for non-utility areas in the kitchen, such as accent pieces or island tops. Others say that glass performs like natural stone and can be used safely as a work surface. Fabricators agree on one point, however: Glass scratches. Although scratches and fingerprints are less noticeable on a textured or coloured top, repair or replacement of a glass counter can be expensive.

Concrete counters are easier than ever

Because they are crafted by hand, no two concrete countertops are ever exactly alike, resulting in a top that evokes a true artisanal feel. While the number of concrete countertop specialists has continued to grow, so too have the resources for first-time fabricators.

If you’ve been having trouble finding a durable countertop that has true custom appeal, there has never been a better time to build it yourself.

Recycled glass countertops

Although countertops made of cement and recycled glass have been around for a while, production has been low, and manufacturers have been scarce. These days, more and more companies are salvaging glass fragments, which are available in countless colors and shapes, and mixing them with cement or epoxy resin to make countertops. Recycled glass is a major component of each mix, making up roughly 75% to 85% of the finished countertop, depending on the manufacturer.

Fabricators shape and install these countertops like natural stone, with a similar selection of edge profiles. Sizes as large as 9 ft. by 5 ft. are available. Leaving a hot pot on the surface won’t result in burn marks on a recycled glass countertop, but it could affect the top’s sealer. For this reason, trivets are recommended.

Recycled-glass counters constructed with a cement binder are slightly different than those made with epoxy resin. Cement can be stained by acids in wine, vinegar, and citrus juices, so these countertops need to be sealed, maintained, and cleaned of spills with more diligence than counters made with resin. Resin, however, is not as hard as a cement-based surface and always requires the use of trivets and cutting boards.

Most cement counters come sealed but require resealing every couple of years with an impregnating sealer. Resin based counters don’t need sealing but should be polished with a paste wax to maintain their finish.

From the curb to the kitchen. When bottles and windows are broken, windshields fractured, and traffic lights decommissioned, some of this glass is recycled, and a lot of it ends up in the landfill. More and more of it, however, is being used to make unique, durable countertops.

Laminate never looked so good

Created in 1914 for use as an electric insulator, plastic laminate has long proven itself as a highly durable material. It wasn’t until many years after its creation, though, that people realized it would make an excellent countertop surface.

Laminate is nonporous, stain resistant, and warm to the touch. It also absorbs impact (which leads to fewer broken glasses) and requires little maintenance. When laminate is bypassed as a countertop material, it’s often because of a style threshold defined by shiny surfaces and poor imitations of stone and wood.

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Modern laminates, though, are better than they have ever been, thanks to higher-quality decorative layers, newly developed textured surfaces, and refined edge details that eliminate the telltale seam that marks laminate transitions. Just about anyone with basic carpentry skills can fabricate laminate counters, and with today’s products, they can create countertops that look anything but plastic.

Recycled metal countertops

As the green-building trend continues to grow, products made from recycled materials are becoming more popular. Of the nearly 3 million tons of aluminum that are discarded every year in the US, a small portion is being used to create countertops that can set your kitchen apart.

While not yet available here in South Africa, overseas fabricators are mixing aluminum shavings with UV-stable polymeric resin. The countertop material contains at least 60% post-industrial scrap aluminum, which conventional recyclers don’t use.

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Installed over a plywood substrate with silicone, these counters are easily worked by carbide-tipped tools and are maintained like ordinary solid surface materials. The products are an environmentally friendly alternative to metal countertops such as stainless steel and zinc and still have an easy-to-maintain, industrial aesthetic.