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Countertops

There are pros and cons to every type of countertop. Some shine because of their durability, some for their ease of repair, some for their price point, and some for their versatility. Below you’ll find our breakdown of the common countertop materials that are available for remodeling projects. You’ll learn what each countertop is composed of as well as the negatives and positives of each.

Granite

Granite is one of the most well known types of countertop used in remodels. It’s a natural stone known for its beautiful colors and patterns. Granite does require some upkeep, which should be kept in mind. It’s a porous stone that’s supposed to be sealed every year to keep debris from clogging the pores and staining the countertop. While granite is a hard material, it’s still possible for it to chip or crack if abused. If that happens, a perfect repair isn’t likely. Even though its popularity has decreased in recent years in favor of quartz, it’s still a perfectly viable option for your renovation.

Pros:
Durable
High Quality
Beautiful
Natural Stone
Good Resale Value

Cons:
Price
Requires Upkeep
Difficult to Repair
Is Porous

Quartz

Quartz is the gold standard for modern remodeling projects. It’s a man-made countertop composed of a mixture of ground up stone materials mixed with resins and dyes. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns and its durability is unmatched. It’s a harder material than granite, so it’s less likely to break or chip. On top of that, it is completely non-porous, so there’s no need to worry about anything seeping into the pores and causing a permanent stain. Quartz requires zero upkeep so there will be no need to ever seal it. The main drawback for quartz is its price, although it’s usually not that much more expensive than granite. Another negative is that just like granite, it’s near impossible to repair back to its former state if it does crack or chip. However, it’s durable enough for cracks and chips not to be a big worry.

Pros:
Durable
High Quality
Beautiful
Non-Porous
Zero Upkeep
Great Resale Value

Cons:
Price
Difficult to Repair

Corian

Corian is very different than the other countertops on this list. It’s composed of a mixture of acrylic resin and natural minerals that are derived from the same ore that aluminum is taken from. Corian is much softer then the other materials on this list and has a similar feeling to a very soft and smooth plastic. Because of the softness of this material, it is far more prone to scratching, burning, and damage from harsh cleaners. However, there are some benefits to Corian. The softness makes it easy for repair if it scratches or chips, where the harder materials on this list might not be able to be repaired. It’s also possible to integrate a Corian sink into a Corian top so that there are no seams whatsoever.

Pros:
Easy to Repair
Ability to Integrate a Sink Without a Seam
Doesn’t Get as Cold to the Touch as Other Tops

Cons:
Scratches Easily
Burns Easily

Laminate (Formica)

Laminate is the least expensive countertop material on this list and probably the most widely used because of that. It’s not a high quality material, but it is functional, decently durable, and inexpensive. Laminate countertops have absolutely no stone in them. They are made from paper dipped in resins and then glued to particle board. It too is available in many, many colors and patterns. You’ll find laminate in most builder-grade homes, condos, and apartments.

Pros:
Inexpensive
Reasonably Durable
Non-Porous
Stain Resistant

Cons:
Not Very Heat Resistant
More Prone to Scratches than Stone Tops
Not Good for Resale

Butcher Block

Butcher Block is a favorite for chefs. It’s made from straight pieces of wood that has been glued together to form a seamless countertop. It’s convenient if you’re into cooking as it’s essentially a large cutting board. Plus, it’s beautiful to look at and can really make a kitchen stand out. Butcher Block countertops are resistant to heat, so putting a hot pot on them won’t cause damage, especially of the top has been sealed. Speaking of sealing, Butcher Block countertops must be sealed with mineral oil every month if you want it to maintain any type of of germ resistance. Otherwise, they will become magnets to potentially harmful germs and bacteria. These tops can also be sanded down once scratches or stains have been built up, which means that they will last a very long time if well maintained.

Pros:
Like Having a Cutting Board for a Countertop
Beautiful
Heat Resistant

Cons:
Prone to Become Unsanitary if not Sealed Often

Choosing the right type of countertop makes a big difference when remodeling. We hope that this post has helped you understand the differences between the various countertop materials so that you can choose the right type of countertop for your remodeling project.

Considering a countertop remodel of your own? We would be happy to help you!


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Kitchen Remodel in Bloomfield Hills

Our clients came to us in need of a kitchen remodel in their Bloomfield Hills home. As part of the remodel, they also wanted us to renovate their half bathroom and laundry room as well as refinish their hardwood flooring.

We met with the clients for a series of design meetings to help them decide how they wanted their new kitchen, half bath, and laundry room to look. We helped them pick out materials, colors, and a layout that would give them the rooms of their dreams, while still keeping them within their budget. We carefully crafted plans and specifications that we would later use during the construction of their project.

We put down floor protection so that no damage occurred to hardwood flooring and then demoed the whole kitchen, half bath, and laundry room. We then had our electricians and plumbers run their wires and pipes through the walls and floors where needed.

We repaired the drywall where we had run the electrical and plumbing. We then installed the cabinetry, quartz countertops, and tile backsplash according to the plans and specs that we made during design. We also refinished the hardwood floors.

After all the construction was done, we presented the homeowners with their newly remodeled rooms. They loved them! It’s a night and day difference compared to what they used to look like. Everything now has a clean, modern look to and functions exactly as they needed it to.

If you have a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project of your own that you’d like to discuss, we would be happy to meet with you to show you how we can bring your dream project to life!

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Considering a Kitchen Remodel?

When contemplating a kitchen remodeling, it can be hard to know where to start. There are many things to consider that will have an effect on the final outcome of your kitchen. Things like changing up the floorplan of your kitchen, choosing a countertop material, adding an island, removing a soffit, etc.. Even if you plan to keep your existing layout and just want to update the materials, there’s still a lot to consider.

We start out by meeting with you in our showroom. At this meeting, we discuss your ideas for your project and give you advice on how to accomplish your remodeling goals. We also explain what it will be like to work for us and to come up with a ballpark budget for your remodel. After this initial meeting, we move on to the design phase of our process.

The design phase is where our on-staff designer will come measure your space and set up a series of design meetings with you. She’ll work with you to give you professional advice on how to make your kitchen look and function best while still sticking within your budget. She’ll give you options and suggestions all the way though the design phase and will make detailed specifications and plans for the construction of your project. We work hard to help you make all your choices during our design phase so that once construction starts, it will run smoothly and won’t be delayed. After everything is finalized in the design phase, we move on to the construction phase of your remodel.

At the start of the construction phase, we order all materials discussed during design and schedule our crews for the construction of your project. We also give you access to an online calendar so that you know what will be going on every day of your project. Once the materials arrive, we begin construction. We stick with you on your project all the way to completion and then present you with you newly remodeled kitchen.

Are you interested in setting up a meeting to discuss your kitchen remodeling project? We’d be happy to meeting with you!

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Shelby Township Double Bathroom Remodel – Part 2

Part 2: Her Bathroom

Before

The homeowners wanted to remodel two bathrooms in their home at the same time. One for their son and one for their daughter. They wanted a complete renovation of each bathroom.

We went through our design phase where we came up with a game plan for the construction of the bathrooms. This included crafting the layouts, selecting all materials, picking colors, and making detailed plans.

Construction

We demoed the daughter’s bathroom at the same time that we did the son’s bathroom. We did rough plumbing, electrical, and venting just after that. A new vanity was installed in the same location where were the old one had been removed.

We put in a new quartz countertop with an undermount sink. New tile was installed in the tub area and on the floor of the bathroom. We also installed a new mirror and decorative light fixtures.

After

Everything turned out so good! Gone are the small dated tiles, the pink tub, and the pink countertop. The bathroom now functions much better for their needs and looks so nice! They homeowners are very pleased with their daughter’s new bathroom.

If you have a project of your own that you’d like to discuss with us, you can reach out to us here. We’d be happy to discuss your remodeling project with you!

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Sink or Swim – Part 2

Picking out a kitchen sink can be a time consuming and frustrating event if you don’t know what you’re looking for. To help ease that tension, we at Lincorp/Borchert have put together a list of some of the various sinks available for your kitchen. We hope you enjoy.
If you haven’t read part 1 yet, it can be found here: Sink or Swim – Part 1 . 

Composite Granite

$200+

Composite granite sinks are made from a blend of materials that are highly compressed to form a solid material. It is this high-compression stress that gives composite granite sinks their long-lasting durability. They are strong, resistant to scratches and chips, and are cheaper than one would expect because they made of a composite of materials. They’re not just a solid piece of granite. The only real con for these sinks is that they are very unforgiving to glass. You must be careful with your delicate dishes.

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brown-composite-granite-sink
black-composite-granite-sink

Corian

$200+

Corian sinks are perfect for blending in your Corian countertop with your sink. Corian is a non porous material that offers a near seamless transition that many people find appealing. Corian is made out of a mixture of natural materials and acrylic polymer. While it is more expensive to have your sink integrated into your countertop, it offers a clean and unique look that helps your kitchen stand out. It’s important to note that Corian scratches and burns easier than most materials, but it’s usually repairable. Other materials can be much harder or impossible to repair.

white-solid-surface-sink
acrylic-kitchen-sinks-customized_acrylic_solid_surface_sink_beach_top_for_kitchen_
acrylic-solid-surface-sink

Natural Stone

$300+

Natural stone sinks are very unique. You won’t find one of these in just any home. Unlike composite materials, these are made out of solid chucks of stone. They vary wildly in pricing and come on many shapes, sizes, and types. Marble, Granite, Onyx, Limestone, etc. All of these materials have various pros and cons. Soapstone, for instance, is fairly resistant to stains while other materials may not be as resistant. If you’re considering getting a natural stone sink, we recommend doing a little research into the material that the sink is made out of so that you know what you’re getting before you purchase it.

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We hope that you enjoyed our list of kitchen sinks and their various materials. If you have any questions or would like to see a post about another material, give us a call and let us know. We’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, you can check out our Facebook page to see what we’ve been up to or look at our Houzz.com profile to check out our beautiful projects and read our reviews.

Have a great day!