Selecting the Right Bathroom Countertop Materials For Your Bathroom
Countertop materials and colors really set the tone for your overall bathroom design. Many colors, styles, pattern and materials are available to choose from – each with its own special qualities. In addition to making a statement bathroom countertops can still be practical, providing additional workspace. Choosing a particular material can set the tone of the room
By customizing your bathroom countertop, you will be able to address all of your bathroom needs and add your own personal sense of style. You will need to choose for your bathroom design project a countertop that can accent your major fixtures like your shower, toilet, vanity, etc.
Bathroom countertops are made from materials that are durable and, and are also quite easy to maintain. Most countertops are constructed by combining a base of plywood or particleboard that then spans across the top of a cabinet and the finish surface material. Materials used in bathroom countertops also include any mastic, glue, mortar or grout needed to adhere the surface to the base and keep it impervious to water and stains.
While functionality is important in the kitchen since the kitchen countertops take more of a beating that bathroom countertops do, when it comes to bathroom countertops you are more able to consider appearance above all else. Since bathroom countertops are generally custom-made, you will find that the style and design options are wide open.
Bathroom countertops come in many types of surfaces and materials. These include: laminate, solid surface, ceramic tile, marble, and granite.
Laminate
Laminate represents the lowest installed cost and a wide choice of colors, patterns and textures. While laminate is stain and scuff resistant is can still be susceptible to burns and nicks.
Solid Surface
Solid surface bathroom countertops provide more design flexibility along with easy maintenance. These surfaces are easy to clean and sanitize. Scratches and most types of stains can be buffed out. Solid surface countertops imitate the look of natural stone such as marble, granite or slate. This type of material can be machined with standard woodworking tools, although you may find that you need a professional installer.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile has long been a top choice for bathroom countertops. It is known for its variety of styles, colors, patterns and materials. Prices range widely, depending on quality, and you may find that not all tiles are suitable for bathroom countertops. Tile is made of clay, shale, and porcelain. There are different types of tiles including glazed and ceramic.
Marble
Marble is know for its beauty, but because it is soft and porous and can stain easily. Nevertheless marble still remains a top choice for bathroom countertops, walls and floors. Marble is available in slab or tile forms and in a variety of thicknesses.
Granite
Due to its beauty and durability granite is a more high-end choice for countertops. It is less susceptible to scratching and absorption than marble. Granite bathroom countertops withstand heat and the high usage that a bathroom counter would be exposed to. There are a wide variety of colors available, as well as finishes, including high polish, matte and rough-textured.
Flooring – Laminate vs Hardwood
Laminate flooring has several advantages over hardwood flooring. This is why it is currently more popular among consumers. Laminate flooring is composed of four different layers. One of these layers is the design layer, which determines the look of the flooring. The design layer has a photographic image on it that allows laminate flooring to look very similar to natural hardwood flooring right down to its grain, color, and knots. Because the look of laminate depends on a photographic image on the design layer, laminate can have many more design options than hardwood. But there are still differences between the way the two look. The same grain patterns are repeated throughout the laminate flooring. In contrast, there is a little more variation in the grain patterns for hardwood flooring. This means that it is easier to find replacement laminate planks that will not contrast with the existing planks.
Laminate flooring is about twenty five percent cheaper than hardwood flooring. This means that you can get a floor that has the visual appeal of a hardwood floor at a much cheaper price.
Laminate flooring is much easier to install. The reason for this is because of the invention of glueless laminate flooring. Because it uses a locking tongue and groove design, you can install glueless laminate flooring by attaching the laminate planks together. This is much easier than using glue or nails to install hardwood flooring. It is also much easier to clean up after installing laminate flooring. Using a locking tongue and groove design instead of glue also means that you can immediately use your flooring right after the installation is finished because you do not have to wait for the glue to dry.
The installation of laminate flooring will also occur more quickly than with hardwood flooring. This is because the planks used for laminate are wider than the planks used for hardwood.
Laminate flooring is more durable than natural hardwood flooring. It is about fifteen times stronger. It is much easier to damage hardwood than laminate. Hardwood will not tolerate heavy foot traffic as well as laminate. This is why you will find that laminate often comes with a ten or fifteen year warranty. Warranties for hardwood are much shorter. However, if it is necessary, you can resand and refinish a hardwood floor as many times as is necessary. This will allow your hardwood floor to last for many years. Because of its design, you cannot resand and refinish laminate.
Another advantage of laminate flooring is that it provides ultraviolent (UV) protection. This gives laminate flooring the ability to block UV rays from the sun which will prevent the flooring from fading. Since hardwood flooring does not provide UV protection, you will have to spend a lot of money on maintenance costs to make sure that the hardwood flooring looks as good as it originally did.
Laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Since it does not trap any dirt, the daily maintenance of laminate would only require the use of a brush or dust mop. If any water gets on the laminate, you can clean it up with a sponge, paper towel, or mop. Cleaning hardwood flooring is more time consuming and usually requires the use of relatively expensive cleaning products.