One of the things you’ll have to consider when remodeling the bathroom in your Cape Coral home is the countertops.
Do you need them or not?
If yes, which material will best suit the needs of your family?
Some homeowners opt for matching their bathroom countertops to their kitchen counters.
But this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, the bathroom counters will actually have different requirements than those in the kitchen:
• Cost – Your new bathroom counter(s) will be far smaller than the ones in the kitchen. If you have your heart set on a material like granite, it will be much more affordable in the bathroom.
• Looks – In your kitchen, the countertops stand out. They’re in constant use for cooking and entertaining. This is less of a factor in the bathroom. In fact, you can do without bathroom countertops and opt instead for attractive pedestal sinks.
• Sturdiness – Kitchen counters can be expected to take some abuse, with chips and scratches caused by pots, plates and utensils, and the countertop material will have to withstand them. Again, this is really not a factor in the bathroom.
• Dirt and Grime – Countertops in your kitchen will require a lot more constant scrubbing and scouring than those in the bathroom. But, in the bathroom, you’ll have to contend with more moisture.
So, what are your options in bathroom countertop materials, and which one may be the best fit in your home?
1. Ceramic Tile – It’s easy to clean, durable and reasonably priced. Some designers think that installing ceramic tile in the bathroom could lower your resale value, however. Consider more contemporary options, such as granite or stone tile, if a single slab is too pricey. Increasingly popular are large size tiles with rectified edges (straight instead of beveled). Because there is minima grout space in between tiles, cleaning is much easier.
2. Laminates – Today, there are so many great colors and styles in laminates. They’re durable, moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and very economical. You’ll usually have to contend, however, with visible dark-edge seams. High humidity and moisture over the long term may cause the laminate to peel off of the material underneath it (plywood, particle board, MDF), and laminate is not as repairable as other countertop materials.
3. Solid Surfaces – These are generally manmade countertop materials, such as Corian. This category also includes cultured marble, cultured onyx and cultured granite, which are a combination of fillers and resins, but they’re coated for protection. Like laminates, they are impervious to moisture and easy to keep clean, but you don’t have to deal with seams. However, they can be scratched by abrasive cleaners or scorched by hot curling irons.
4. Natural Stone Slabs – Granite, marble, soapstone, Travertine, etc. are durable and won’t easily scratch or mar, particularly in a bathroom environment. Some are porous and need to be sealed regularly. Others, like marble, don’t react well to the acids in some cleaning solvents. Due to improvements in processing technology, the material is not as expensive as it used to be.
5. Concrete – This material has grown in popularity. It can be custom-fabricated to fit your space using the color of your choice. Although concrete can be unique and very attractive, it’s heavy, needs adequate support from the base cabinets, and requires sealing to protect against moisture and stains.
Before you get started on remodeling your bathroom, we encourage you to visit our showroom at 11220 Metro Parkway, Suite #2 in Fort Myers to find out what kinds of choices and options are available.
Sunrise Remodeling is ready when you’re ready to update your Cape Coral home, call us at (239) 246-9315 for a Free Consultation.
