Cheap Countertops

Exploring the RelativeRangeof Prices for Kitchen and Bathroom Counters

Is there such a thing as cheap countertops? I would be careful about throwing out terms like "cheap counters" because it's a bit like talking about cheap new cars: some new cars are less expensive than others, but new cars are always pricey. Since everything is relative, let's talk about what's cheaper than another thing in the world of countertops.

Some types of countertop materials will literally break your budget, ensuring that nothing else in your kitchen or bathroom gets remodeled until you can put together more funds. Other countertop materials help you strike a better balance. Remember that it's not just about the materials; you've got fabrication and installation to think about, too. Often, it's the materials that drive the fabrication/installation costs up or down.

Let's start with the most expensive countertop materials and work on down to the cheap countertops.

More and more countertop materials are available to homeowners all the time. At one time, it seemed like the only choice was harvest gold Formica. Now you've got stainless steel, concrete, and many other choices--on top of the harvest gold Formica! Let's start with the simplest (and cheapest) options, working up to the most expensive.

·         Slab Granite
Slab granite typically ranks as the most expensive countertop material precisely for the reasons listed about. The material is pricey (it's usually imported). Fabrication is difficult. Installation requires professionals. Slab granite is never a DIY project.

·         Concrete
Again, high-end. Concrete countertops rank neck-and-neck with slab granite in terms of cost. Even though the material seems ordinary enough, it is usually tinted and treated to make it something more resembling a kitchen countertop than a backyard patio. But the real cost-driver is fabrication and installation. Not only must professional install concrete counters, but unlike solid-surface, laminate, and even slab granite, you won't find a lot of shops specializing in concrete counters.

Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops, even though they are man-made (out of mostly organic materials), still come at a high price. Quartz counters lately have become a favorite alternative to slab granite.Cambriaand Zodiaq are two popular brands of quartz countertops. If you can imported fromChina, I believe that you can control your cost.