Selecting kitchen countertops is a big decision that will affect the value of your home as well as the look and feel of your kitchen for years to come. When selecting the right countertop for your kitchen, you will want to consider the application and traffic that you will get in your kitchen and countertop. Then you can select the appropriate material for your kitchen. There are so many choices in the market. Define your use, and your budget will help guide you through the selection process.

Quartz is considered the best surface for a busy kitchen. It comes in a wide variety of colors; it is low maintenance, and it resists stains. Quartz is heat resistant, so it is less likely to be damaged or discolored if you set a hot pot on it.

Granite is a very popular choice when selecting kitchen countertops and we have found that, for new homes, it has become the new standard. Granite can withstand heavy use but needs to be resealed periodically and can stain. If you are selecting a natural stone like granite or marble for your kitchen countertop, you will want to visit the stone yard and select the slab you like as there are a lot of variations in natural stone.

In the focal point like a kitchen island, you may want to use an expensive material like marble that makes a statement. It may not be cost effective for you to use in your entire kitchen. It is not uncommon to mix and match materials in your kitchen. Do not be afraid to use one material for the island and another material for the other areas in your kitchen.

Another material that comes at a budget friendly price is Laminate. It is available in a wide variety of colors, patterns and designs. Laminate is excellent at resisting stains and heat damage. However, it does scratch easily with knives.

It's the small details that make a kitchen unique and often the biggest impact. Every small choice is built upon to create a finished product. Agonizing over these small details is what you may face, but in the end, the project comes together to create a beautiful space and ultimately, a sense of purpose. One of these details is selecting an edge profile for your countertops. If you are looking to save money, you may want to select a kitchen countertop with less costly edge treatments. Rounded edges are usually less expensive. Edges and corners tend to chip more with quartz and granite. Outlined below are some of the more common edge treatments:

• Square
• Round
• Ogee
• Bullnose
• Pencil
• Book
• Bevel

Selecting the right countertop for you and your family may seem overwhelming as there are many options to consider. Your B&T Kitchens and Baths Design Team will help you in choosing the best kitchen countertop for your design, style, use and budget. Visit our Virginia Beach Showroom and one of our kitchen designers can help you explore your options.