Bathroom Countertops

If you have ever wondered why you do not see more wooden countertops in homes and in home improvement stores, there is a reason for that. Between the shower, the sink, and various beauty products, there is a lot of moisture to be found in any bathroom. Wooden countertops are not nearly as resistant to moisture as they should be; this can lead to rotting and discoloration and the porous nature of such a surface can allow nasty germs to hide from even the most vigorous cleaning.

While a wooden bathroom countertop may sound like a thing of beauty, it is not at all a sensible surface for any bathroom counter or sink.

If you are looking for a lovely, yet pocketbook friendly option for your vanity bathroom countertop, consider laminate countertops for your bathroom. These are fairly inexpensive options in counter covering but they can be made in any color or made to appear like marble or granite.

One of the main drawbacks to laminate countertops is that they can be damaged by a great deal of heat. This means that if you are one of many people who use styling irons and hair dryers to beautify themselves, you must take great care not to set them down on your bathroom countertop. This can cause irreversible damage that can only be fixed by replacing the entire counter.

One of the beautiful things about laminate bathroom countertops that people fail to realize is that they can be painted—yes, painted! Of course you do not want to use the standard wall paint that you would use in other areas of your home, but there is a specific type of paint that you can use for this purpose. If you have a burn on your countertop and you do not have the money to replace it or you are just ready for a new look, consider the many benefits that painting your laminate bathroom countertops hold.

If you are looking for a more chic, stylish option in bathroom countertops, consider what marble can do for the look of your bathroom. For a bathroom, marble countertops provide a stain resistant, water resistant, rugged, and durable surface for any bathroom. This is great for homes with kids or even homes with just one bathroom that see a lot of traffic throughout the day.

For a bathroom, marble countertops are easy to clean and if they need repairs a little sanding is more than able to do the trick. A clear coat of protective wax can easily be applied to protect your countertop from damage or after sanding and repairs can be made to avoid further damage to the surface.

One of the beautiful things about marble bathroom countertops is that they age very well. Some people have the same marble countertops in their homes that were there when the home was originally built. They age very well and can last up to 100 years or more with proper care!

The main downside to installing marble countertops in the bathroom or anywhere in the home is that marble is extremely heavy, and the fact that it comes in ready-made slabs can make for an awkward carrying process into the home. Be sure to get as much help as possible carrying your marble countertop into the home and lifting it onto the cabinet; your toes will thank you later.

If you have watched Home and Garden television on the cable network lately, you may have noticed that on all of the home improvement shows, people are adding granite countertops to their homes. This is for a reason, and that reason is that granite countertops are what people want to see.

This applies to the kitchen as well as the bathroom. Granite bathroom countertops bring exceptional value to any home and can drastically increase the selling price of a home when implemented. It is a known fact in the home improvement and real estate industries that updates like granite countertops can bring a dollar for dollar return on investment, if not more than that.

Whereas tile countertops and laminate countertops were popular before, granite countertops are extremely popular these days and for good reason. They are the epitome of luxury in any bathroom. This is the type of thing that you see in upscale hotel rooms and luxury homes, and if you want that look then you want what granite bathroom countertops have to offer.

If you are looking for a low maintenance bathroom countertop that is easy to clean, Corian countertops may be the answer that you are looking for. This is a pricier alternative to some of the more commonly used countertop materials, but they are easy to clean and great for homes with small children or lots of people. They are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and they don't react to chemicals so they can be cleaned using virtually any of the cleaning solvents on the market.

Corian countertops can be purchased in a matte finish as well as a semi-gloss and high-gloss finish, all depending on the look you are going for. A scrubber or abrasive cleaner like Dutch Cleanser is ideal for cleaning this surface and has a reputation for restoring such a surface to brand new condition. It is important to take care to keep high amounts of heat away from Corian countertops as well, as it can react to extremely hot objects.

One of the more popular options in bathroom countertops that have always been popular is tile. Tile is used in many facets of the bathroom, and it is only befitting that they be used in tile countertops as well. This is a great material for bathroom countertops because it is durable and heat resistant, but it is also difficult to clean because of the grout that is needed to hold the individual tiles down to the surface and close to one another.

Many people choose to go with tile bathroom countertops because they come in such a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and textures. With tile countertops, it is easy to get the look that you are going for as the different varieties are so widely available. Tile for countertops can be purchased individually, which can cut down on the cost that can be associated with purchasing excess material. For builders or remodelers on a budget who are not necessarily looking for extreme dollar for dollar value, tile bathroom countertops are a wonderful option.

If Silestone countertops sound like something strange to you, that is probably because they are so brand new. Silestone is a man-made alternative to granite countertops and it has its benefits over these types of bathroom countertops. They do contain materials made of quartz, but one of the reasons why people love these new Silestone countertops is because they don't have the imperfections that come along with natural stone materials.

Believe it or not, Silestone bathroom countertops are out-selling marble bathroom vanity countertop options, granite, and other natural stones. They are not cheap at all; priced in the neighborhood of $100 per square foot, but they are completely uniform and many people love them for that. In addition, it is a bit easier to install for this reason, as slabs can go next to one another without having to look for discrepancies in pattern.

Another one of the benefits of Silestone countertops is that they are virtually maintenance free. There are no pores, so no scrubbing is needed and there are no germs to worry about. Just a simple cleaner and a rag can restore a Silestone countertop to its original, natural brilliance.

For those who are into granite and quartz bathroom countertops, concrete bathroom countertops may sound like something strange to even consider. It is an up and coming option in bathroom decor, however it does not offer the high end, glossy finish that those who are partial to marble or granite may be partial to. On the other hand, concrete bathroom countertops do have their advantages.

This is a great building material for those who are looking for a contemporary, high end look without the 'same old same old' that granite countertops can produce. When it is installed out of doors it can last up to fifty years, and that is under the worst of what Mother Nature has to offer—imagine how long they would last indoors when the worst damage they would have to undergo is a hot curling iron or a flooding sink?

If you are okay with the wear and tear that concrete goes through naturally, this is an excellent material for your bathroom countertop project. Best of all, you can install them yourself. If you have ever poured concrete out of doors, you already have everything that you need in order to install a concrete bathroom countertop as far as knowledge is concerned. If you never have, it is an easy thing to pick up on. One bag of cement can go a long way, so needless to say this is a very inexpensive option for a builder who is willing to learn what it takes. Although it is fairly easy, it takes a while to do and is rather hard work, so if you are not up for that, you may want to consider hiring someone to do the work for you. With all of the money you save on materials, hiring the labor won't seem so daunting.

A concrete countertop can be made beforehand and placed on top of the cabinet or poured right on top of the cabinets as you would pour a block of cement for a sidewalk.

Many people fail to realize that there is more out there in bathroom vanity counter top options than the standard granite, tile, or quartz. Depending on the look that you are going for and what your budget is like, you can really save some money or go all out on bathroom countertops.

Bathrooms are an important place in the home. Outside of the kitchen, they are probably one of the most important and well used areas in the home. It is important to have a bathroom countertop that can withstand everything that a family has to dish out against it, and be easily cleaned at the same time. If your bathroom countertop doesn't seem to be holding up against everything that you have to dish out against it, consider replacing it with a bathroom countertop that is made out of a different material.

The materials that you choose to use for your bathroom countertops are completely up to you. Know that you have options and you are not restricted to the standard granite and laminate countertops, however lovely they may be to look at. Whatever material you choose for your bathroom, be sure that is what you want as you will have to look at it until you get the remodeling bug in you once again.