OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen countertops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Stainless Steel Countertop Installation:
Solid custom stainless backsplashes are a smart choice behind stoves or sinks as they protect your wall from grease and water splashes. Once you have the measurements for the area that you would like to cover with the stainless backsplash you can order it from a manufacturer or take the measurements to your local home improvement center and have them custom-cut your piece. Your kitchen remodeling contractor can then install your kitchen backsplash by “gluing” it to the wall with silicone caulking or by screwing it to the wall with stainless steel screws.
You can usually order a customized stainless steel countertop by sending your measurements to a company that manufactures counters. Just make sure you follow their instructions for measuring. There are different grades of stainless steel for various applications. For the most part, 14 or 16 gauge is what is typically used in a kitchen. The gauge of a metal refers to its thickness; the thicker the metal, the lower the gauge. You will need to have a professional contractor install your custom stainless countertop for you. Countertops either come with a wood backer or you can have your contractor install a plywood base under the stainless steel surface. The plywood acts as a sound barrier and gives the countertop needed support. Stainless tiles are ideal for kitchen backsplashes and come in the same thickness as regular tiles. As a result, you can mix and match these materials to create attractive designs. Ask the tradesperson installing your tile about pattern options. Stainless steel tile is installed just like ceramic tile with wall glue and latex or non-sanded grout. Instead of using a regular tile cutter a contractor will need to use a hack saw, a jigsaw with a tungsten carbide fine tooth blade, or a diamond tip circular wet saw in order to make needed cuts.
GREEN Considerations:
Environmental awareness is driving research towards eco-friendly products, which are not only more friendly for the environment, but also stronger and more durable in terms of materials.
When installing kitchen countertops look for adhesives and compounds that are toxic free and take care to dispose of any waste in the most environmentally friendly manner. Naturally, try to reduce, or encourage your installer to reduce, the total amount of waste materials.
