The kitchen is known as the heart of the home.  It is one of the areas within the home that a good portion of the family activity occurs.  So the look and performance of the kitchen is very important to the value of the home.  Therefore, when you are looking for different materials for the countertops are sure to do the research before making any decisions.  You not only want the beauty of the material that you select but also the knowledge of the durability and maintenance of the material.  Use the tips below to help you find the perfect countertop for you and your family.

Image via: Kenny Grono

Determine your lifestyle usage:

If you have a large family or even a family that is busy and stays in the kitchen, then take into account how much work the activity can affect the countertop.  Plastic, low-cost and maintenance laminate material countertops may be the best solution for you.  If the situation were reversed and you have a small family that only uses the kitchen for special occasions then more higher end granite tops would be great for your situation. For homes that entertain a lot a center island with countertop that enables food preparation, serving and another bar for sitting can be ideal.

Image via: Alexandre Parent

Lifetime usability of your kitchen countertops:

For many homes, the kitchen countertop may not be replaced for 10 years or more, so lifestyle usability should be a large consideration. When you are going to select the materials for your countertops keep in mind the lifetime usability along with the costs.  Even though the price is affordable, that does not necessarily mean that the material will last in your home.  For more specifics on different materials and costs visit your local home and kitchen center or consider hiring a kitchen and bath professional to give you advice for your custom application.

Image via: Parkyn Design

Kitchen endurance to consider:

Another consideration you should look at is if the material is will be able to endure or resist the heat from when you are cooking.  When cooking you shouldn’t put pans that are hot right on the countertop, use a stand for the pot to rest on because certain materials do not hold up well with heat.  Such as ceramic tiles which will crack if too much heat is applied or plastic laminate materials that will have scorch marks left behind.  However, stainless steel that can endure heat and concrete countertops have a pretty good heat resistant build.

When selecting a kitchen countertop each aspect should be carefully thought through.  From the family usage of the kitchen, to the costs, to the longevity of the material will be the core determining factors of which type of countertop you choose for your home.  It seems like a lot but once you have that perfect countertop that you have been looking for it will be well worth.  So take some of the suggestions above and go find that desired countertop material that is right for you.