The Top Kitchen Countertops in Ontario: A Buyer's Guide

Your countertop says a lot about your kitchen. The countertop is a central design element that coordinates with your colour scheme, cabinets, and backsplash. It acts as a focal point and creates a clear mood for the space.

Homeowners love exploring countertops and samples, and it's not hard to see why; they are stunning! It's fun to browse through images and play with style combinations.

However, choosing a countertop is more complex than you might think. The kitchen design market is full of different countertop materials, each one as unique as the other. Your countertop is your kitchen workspace, so you should research beyond aesthetics into the pure functionality of the countertop before making a decision.

Countertops are one of the specialties of the Happy Construction design team. In this article, we have compiled our professional insight into the many types of countertops available and their features.

Next, I'll discuss all the quartz, marble, granite, and engineered butcher block components. I will also cover their style, maintenance needs and cost in depth so that your next choice is the best one.

Find the right countertops to transform your kitchen or bathroom. Explore stylish and functional options to suit your needs: quartz, granite, laminate, Corian, wood or marble.

All kinds of countertop materials

There may be more than one perfect countertop for you, and you can have them all. Two or more different surfaces can work well together, for example, a solid surface for the main counter and a granite surface on the island. Consider different countertop heights, such as dining, work, and casual seating.

• Natural quartz countertops

Natural quartz is mainly a mixture of quartz with resins and pigments. Natural quartz resists heat, water, bacteria, and stains; unlike granite, it never needs to be sealed. Choose this material for its glossy look, natural stone feel, and low maintenance cost.

Customize your kitchen countertop by painting it. If you need to learn how to paint it, talk to Happy Construction experts.

Points to consider before buying quartz countertops

Unless you are an expert, you will not quickly know the difference between quartz countertops and natural stone quartz. Engineered quartz countertops are unnaturally artificial and composed of other materials.

I will explain the differences between pure and engineered quartz in the following. Pure quartz is extracted from the ground in the form of slabs. It is classified as a hard mineral and is colourless. Engineered quartz, on the other hand, is 93% fine quartz powder and 7% binder, cement or polymer. It is also made of epoxy resin.

Binders and resin are added to hold the crushed quartz powder together. The combination of the above ingredients qualifies the final product as engineered quartz.

Quartz has a granite-like surface that is very hard. It also has some additional pigments that are added to the stone by the manufacturer and give different colours to the rock. It makes quartz look like natural stones. However, the main difference is that they are more complicated and resistant than natural stones.

Quartz has several characteristics that are evident in marble and granite, both of which are natural stones. Looking closely at quartz countertops, you will see the similarities between streaks and stains. Quartz looks like this because of the way it is ground. If it is finely ground, it will have a smooth surface. But if it is coarsely ground, it will not have this smooth surface.

• Granite countertops

Granite countertops are smooth, durable and easy to clean. It resists heat, water, bacteria and stains but must be adequately sealed and stored. These are good reasons to have a granite countertop. It is better to talk to skilled Happy Construction consultants to learn more about granite countertops that are available for a particular order to buy granite countertops.

The style of granite countertops

Granite offers striking streaks that pop in a room. It's a bold and dramatic level that offers serious visual appeal.

One positive aspect of granite veins is that they tend to veil seams. Eye-catching patterns easily camouflage those pesky lines joining two boards together.

Maintenance of granite countertops

Homeowners tend to gravitate toward granite because of its heat, scratch, and stain resistance. You can cut directly on the granite. Granite is so complicated that doing this may slow down your knives. You can place a hot pan now on the granite. Aspiring chefs love the freedom to chop, cook and mess around in their kitchen without limits.

As a porous material, periodic sealing is essential to protect against granite stains. However, since granite is less porous than marble, you can seal it less frequently. One sealing per year is enough for your home.

You can use the sealant yourself. In general, granite is considered a low-maintenance purchase.

• Laminate countertops

Laminate countertops are made from plastic laminate sheets glued to plywood or chipboard. Like granite, laminate surfaces are easy to clean. This material is the least expensive option but may require repair or replacement sooner than a solid surface.

• Solid surface counters

Solid surface countertops are made of polyester or acrylic resins. This long-lasting material is resistant to heat, water, bacteria and stains. If you're looking for an alternative to laminate, talk to a Happy Construction consultant to learn more about solid surface countertops in various patterns and colours.

Types of edge therapy

Countertop edge profiles can be standard or customized depending on surface selection and budget.

Bullnose counter edges

Snout countertops have perfectly rounded edges, giving your kitchen or bathroom a traditional "softer" look.

Ogee countertop edges

Traditional Ogee counter-edge profiles have a square edge at the top and a curved slope down. Ogee edges come in many variations, including more rigid lines and wave-like curves, such as Roman Ogee.

The edges of the countertop are rounded.

Round edge profiles on countertops only have a smooth, dull edge on top. Unlike bullnose edges, it can still have a square edge on the bottom. It is a popular choice for modern spaces.

A tip from a kitchen designer: think long term

My hot design tip is to look beyond surface beauty. Of course, aesthetics are important, and you should like the look of your countertop. But the functionality of your countertop is so critical to the practicality of your kitchen that filtering your options with a long-term perspective is vital.

Be honest with yourself. Do you remember not to place hot pots and pans on the surface of the butcher block? Can you take good care of the marble?

Before making your choice, take the time to answer these questions honestly. Your kitchen and wallet will thank you for it.

Installation of cabinets and countertops by Happy Construction's expert team

We deliver a seamless renovation for your kitchen or bathroom from start to finish. Before installing your stunning new cabinets or countertops, we'll visit your home for free to confirm measurements. Feel free to contact our professional installation team for more information.