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Installing a new countertop is one of the easiest ways to revitalize your kitchen. If you’re looking to remodel or redecorate, you’ll gain an abundance of exciting new options – not just with your counter but with the entire room’s design.
As a showpiece item, choosing a new counter is one of the most important decisions that you can make for your home. Your instinct might be to make a choice that depends entirely on style and looks, but you shouldn’t overlook the practical side of an item that will likely see much use.
With this in mind, here are a few common problems that homeowners run into when choosing a new kitchen counter, along with tips on how to avoid them.
Rupture or Damage
One of the worst scenarios you can encounter with a new counter is finding a rupture in the material or any other damage. While a certain amount of general wear and tear can occur, depending on the materials you’ve chosen, no countertop should experience damage right away.
That said, it is probably easier than you expect for damage to occur during a poor installation, given all of the factors like proper levelling that must be observed with diligence. The best thing that you can do to prevent damage of this type is to hire a professional to undertake your installation.
Stains
A kitchen counter is likely to see more use than almost any other surface in your home. If you aren’t careful with food preparation and cleaning, it can be easy to stain some kinds of surfaces. Once a kitchen counter contains an unsightly stain, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to repair the problem without a total replacement.
While the best way to avoid stains is to practice proper care when in the kitchen, you can give yourself a bit of insurance by starting with a material like porcelain countertops that are highly resistant to food stains.
Scratches and Chipping
Some countertops will wear down quickly, while others are more durable, but no material is entirely resistant to any damage whatsoever. The best way to help ensure that your counter last as long as possible without blemishes from wear is to use a cutting board at all times.
Light Damage
Some surfaces are also susceptible to stains or fading due to exposure to UV rays from the sun. While you can try to avoid this problem by ensuring your windows don’t allow sunlight to hit your counters for long periods, it makes more sense to avoid the issue altogether by choosing a material like porcelain that is resistant to this kind of damage.
Professional Repairs and Installation
While a high-quality kitchen counter will carry a substantial price tag, skipping out on a professional installation is a bad way to attempt to lower your expenses. After all, if your counter gets damaged during your initial renovations, every penny that you’ve spent on the materials will be totally wasted.
When it comes time to have your countertop repaired or replaced, be sure to contact a professional company that can do the job right.