Thoughts turn to home renovations as the weather warms, and for many, that means kitchen or bathroom fixes. According to moneycrashers.com, remodelling the kitchen is a top project choice to add value to the home, from creating an open concept space, to adding energy-efficient or gourmet-style stainless steel appliances, to re-fashioning the sink and faucets or installing an island/eating bar.
According to HGTV, kitchen remodels can recoup homeowners from 60 to 120 per cent of the costs, as long as you don’t go overboard or make the kitchen fancier than the rest of the house. Still, with the trend toward restaurant-style, contemporary kitchens – think rough hewn open wood shelves, industrial-style pendant lights and trough-style sinks with huge spray faucets – many homeowners are looking to make just this type of change to the busiest room of the home.
In the past, granite countertops were only found in high-end homes and kitchens, but the popularity of this most-favoured kitchen countertop material has meant home renovations of all budgets can consider using the material. Buyers can visit the local Home Depot or RONA store to pick up their own length, or talk to the kitchen consultant to match the granite colouring and quality with cabinet style and budget.
Costco offers free, in-home consultation for custom countertops too, whether a homeowner wants quartz, granite or acrylic surfaces in the kitchen/bath. Quartz is one of the hardest materials on earth and unlike other options, it never needs to be sealed or polished. This non-porous material is clean and hygienic, resistant to stains and scratches and stands up well to cold and hot temperatures. But the cost can be out of reach for the budget kitchen renovation.
Granite is a likewise hard natural stone, durable and heat resistant and quarried in large slabs, with each piece having a unique appeal, charm and warmth. Lovers of granite, which is probably the top choice in today’s countertop replacements, will want to know about a new product on the market – said to be half the weight yet twice the strength of granite, and made in Sturgeon County.
A few years back, Greg Sommers and wife Tiffany brought a product to Canada that they had only seen abroad. Today, Surface Concepts manufactures a glass fibre reinforced concrete product (GFRC) – architectural tiles and kitchen/bathroom countertops – that isn’t at all like the concrete we know: this is lightweight and can be designed with texture and colour, shape or size to fit into any design aesthetic, according to Greg Sommers. Traditional concrete, he says, is organic and strong, but is made thick, heavy and prone to cracking.
“Our technology is so far advanced, it offers a different way of shopping for a countertop. If you want granite, you pick whatever is available to match the colour scheme you’ve chosen in your home, but we can customize the countertop to exactly the one-of-a-kind colour you want. And unlike granite, which has travelled the world before getting here, there’s a big environmental benefit to our product: it’s locally made, with zero wastage. The cost is ten to 35 per cent less than quartz, and with ours at $90 per square foot (includes installation), we’re in the ballpark or even less than granite,” explains Sommers. Since much of the job involves designing the unique pieces, Surface Concepts has a $2,000 minimum job order.
“We don’t overbook, and it takes about 10-14 days from measuring to installation. I come from many years in the granite industry, so I know the pros and cons of each material,” he says. “I’ve got a busy home with teenagers, so the only thing I advise is to use a sealer (will last for five to 10 years) and a cutting board to avoid cutting directly on the material. It’s like a hardwood floor – it can get surface scratches, so you want to preserve your investment.”
“Technology keeps changing, but I think this is the future for stone countertops. The material can create architectural panels on a fireplace, or be a feature piece in a room, create shapes and corners unlike anything others in the countertop industry can provide – charcoals, creams, browns, contemporary or traditional, wet-look or matte – the versatility of this product is its true strength,” says Sommers.
See surfaceconepts.ca for product information.
LOVING LAMINATE?
Belanger Laminates offers the goods on this popular countertop choice:<br />• Laminate countertops don’t scratch or chip easily anymore. Today’s laminate is as scratch-resistant as many granite and quartz countertops.<br />• Laminate countertops won’t melt or scorch. They can withstand heat up to 275 degrees F for a short period.<br />• Laminate doesn’t offer options? Belanger says there are hundreds of colours and many edge profiles to match any dĂ©cor.<br />• Laminate is bad for the environment? False, says Belanger. Laminate is made from sustainable wood and recycled papers, and can be installed with low VOC adhesives.
