Kitchen Countertops and Backsplashes

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.

OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops:

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.

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.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Soapstone is quarried like Granite and Marble. It is a steatite stone and its primary components are magnesite, dolomite, chlorite, and talc. It can range in age from 300 to 400 million years old depending on which part of the planet it is drawn from. As talc in soapstone is soft to the touch, it gives the smooth feeling of rubbing a piece of dry soap. Thus the name was derived - "Soap" Stone. No. You can't wash with it. The best soapstone comes from Brazil, but it is also imported from Finland and India as well.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S., India, and dozens of other countries around the world, is one of the most popular natural stones on the market.

Tips for Selection: Granite is the countertop material of choice when there are no other things to think about - like money. It defines elegance in a kitchen. As the use of granite becomes more widespread, the price comes down.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock that is derived from sediments of clay and fine silt. The action of intense heat and pressure changes the original clay into new minerals such as mica, chlorite, and quartz. These natural processes transform the clay into slate. Slates can usually vary in composition, structure, and durability due to the alteration of the minerals being rather inconsistent.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Marble is a nonfoliated metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Metal countertops are not exclusively stainless steel. Copper is increasingly finding a place in the kitchen. While it’s not mainstream, copper does have its appeal for those who enjoy having something unusual.

Tips for Selection: Copper is a softer metal than stainless steel. In countertops, look for copper that is at least .060 thick. Copper of .080 provides added strength and performance.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Chopping blocks made of slender rectangles of end-grain bamboo glued into panels (usually 1.5 inches thick). Available in natural or brown.

Tips for Selection: Offered in many different grain patterns...check out Totally Bamboo for more information.