Even if your countertops have been worn out and you are thinking about replacing them, it doesn’t mean you should simply go ahead and undertake countertop replacement—you need to consider several factors for your project to be a success. Which are these factors? Here they are:
The cabinets
Countertop materials sit on the cabinets, and to retain their look and structure, the cabinets should be able to support them.
The last thing you want is to install the countertops and only for them to crumble due to excessive weight.
To avoid this, ensure that your current cabinets can support the countertop weight. This calls for you to hire an experienced professional to inspect the cabinets and confirm that they can carry the weight. If they can’t carry the weight, first strengthen them. It would also be nice to find a countertop material of a similar weight as the previous material and install it.
Plumbing
Sometimes you have to reconfigure your plumbing, meaning you have to hire the services of a countertop installation professional and hire a plumber.
A classic example of when you may need to hire a plumber is when you want to replace a tile countertop with a solid surface or engineered composite surface. While the cabinets in such a case will stay in place, you may have to replace the sink, unless the existing sink is mounted under an existing stone counter.
As you can tell, the sink change will impact the faucet configuration, and you may also have to replace the faucet.
To avoid surprises, work with an experienced contractor who can foresee the project before it begins.
Your old appliances
When many homeowners think about replacing their countertops, their old appliances are the last thing on their minds. Unfortunately, they are an important aspect of the entire project as they have a significant impact on the look of the countertops once you are done with the project.
If your appliances are as old as your countertops, it would be nice to simply replace them, as leaving them as they are would be synonymous with wearing a new outfit with an old pair of shoes.
On the other hand, if you are one of the homeowners fond of replacing their kitchen appliances when they break down or feel they are getting too old, you have nothing to worry about, as the new countertops will blend just right with the appliances.
If you have to also replace the appliances to prevent them from looking out of place, work with a professional who will guide you on the right appliances.
Lighting
Similar to appliances, lighting can significantly affect the look of your kitchen. The situation is even dire if you have under cabinet lighting.
The reason for this is that under cabinet lighting causes an eye-straining glare when you aim it directly onto a highly polished stone surface. If you already have under cabinet lights and don’t want to remove them, find a countertop material that won’t cause too much glare.
Backsplash
Unless you are replacing the countertops with the same countertop material, you may have to replace the backsplash. This means that if you are installing a different material, factor in the cost of removing and replacing the backsplash.
Your lifestyle
Your lifestyle significantly impacts the type of countertop material you should go for. If you are single and home most of the time and don’t mind giving your countertops a little more care, you can get away with marble countertops Durham.
On the other hand, if you have small children, cook a lot, and don’t like countertop maintenance tasks, it would be nice to avoid countertops that might need care. This means you should stay clear of granite or marble counters. Some of the best materials for you are quartz or other easy-to-maintain materials.
If you aren’t sure of the right materials to go for, get the input of an expert.
When buying the kitchen countertops, don’t buy them from any store—take time and find a reputable store selling high-quality materials at a low cost.