You should give your bathrooms as much attention as your kitchen when it comes to remodeling. They are every bit as important to your daily life, and any improvements you make to them can return value to your home as much as your investment. In many ways, a bathroom remodel or upgrade makes a lot of practical sense. If you have a limited budget for an upgrade, the one thing you should focus on is putting great-looking countertops on your vanity.
Not all bathrooms have a vanity, but they should. It does not even have to be anything custom-made. RTA or stock vanities are readily available in many designs and sizes suitable for most bathrooms. Slap on a stone slab on your ready-made vanity, and it will look every bit as good as a custom job. It will not cost you an arm and a leg to take that extra step either, as the average size of a bathroom vanity top is just 10 square feet.
You can choose practically any material for your bathroom countertops, including the most expensive ones. If you are looking for beauty as well as durability, then these are the best materials for bathroom countertops.
Natural stones
Many people still prefer natural stones for the home imply because they are natural. However, there are many types of natural stones, and only granite and marble have emerged as the best suited for most bathrooms. They are among the most popular natural stones in the residential market, and for some pretty good reasons.
Most people believe that marble is as delicate as it looks, but that is actually not true. With reasonable care and proper sealing, it can last for many years without damage, and will actually improve with age. It is also heat resistant, and of course, quite beautiful.
Granite is not classically beautiful like marble, but it is attractive in its own way, and much more durable. It is heat resistant, scratch resistant, and in some cases, stain resistant. With proper sealing, all granite countertops will last for many years without any signs of damage or age. Granite is also available in 100s of colors and designs to suit all types of bathrooms.
If you had to categorize, marble is ideal for traditional and luxury bathrooms, while granite is more suitable for modern and contemporary styles. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. Both of these natural stones will look awesome in any type of bathroom.
The one thing that might tell against granite and marble is porosity. When it comes to dimension stones, all natural stones have some level of porosity, with the exception of soapstone and quartzite. Generally, granite and marble countertops require sealing to make them more stain resistant. However, stains are not that big an issue, especially in bathroom countertops.
The cost for granite and marble countertops ranges from $60 to $200 per square foot, installed. For an average bathroom vanity, that comes to an investment of between $600 and $1,200.
Quartz stone
Right off the bat, you should know that quartz stone for countertops is not the same as quartzite. Quartz stone is an engineered or manmade product, while quartzite is a natural stone. They do not even typically look alike, although quartz stone might be made to look like quartzite. Between the two, quartz stone is the better choice for bathroom countertops because it is much more available in many more colors.
Even without considering quartzite, quartz stone is one of the best materials for bathroom countertops because it is so versatile. It is available on demand in many colors and designs, including products that look enough like marble and granite to fool most people. However, it has none of the inconsistencies of natural stones, so you will not have any surprises with the stone you choose. Quartz also comes in distinctly unnatural designs, which some people find very appealing.
Another thing that many homeowners like about quartz stone is the fact that it is non-porous. It will not stain or scratch, and you will not need to seal it at all.
Quartz countertops are also extremely durable if you choose from top quartz brands. They also come with warranties, so you will not have to worry about getting defective or poor quality products.
Homeowners might have two issues with quartz. One is that it is not heat resistant. It tends to discolor with exposure to heat, or even direct sunlight.
The other is the price. Quartz stone tends to cost more per square foot than most marble or granite slabs, which are not cheap in the first place. You can expect to shell out between $75 and $300 per square foot for quartz stone, depending on the brand. Silestone is usually more expensive than Cambria, Caesarstone, or MSI, but they are all very good brands. Given the excellent qualities of quartz, however, most people are willing to pay extra.
Conclusion
The best materials for bathroom countertops go beyond price. With the value added to the home by improving the bathrooms, it makes sense to stick with the most popular and durable materials available, which are granite, marble, and quartz.
You might want to consult with your local remodeling company to help you with this decision. Mimosa Kitchen and Bath can help you make the most of your remodeling budget if you are located in DC metro area, Columbia, Rockville, Bethesda, Jessup, Chevy Chase and surrounding areas.
At Mimosa Kitchen and Bath, we sell high-quality products manufactured by leading brands in the industry and expert remodeling services. When you purchase your products from us, we guarantee speedy delivery compared to ordering from big box stores. We will also customize the product according to your specifications and install it into your kitchen quickly and with excellent artisanship.
We sell a host of products, including but not limited to bathroom and kitchen cabinets, flooring, faucets and sinks, and vanities. Some of the brands we carry include Zodiaq, Fabuwood, Forevermark Cabinetry, Caesarstone, MSI, Kitchenmaid, Wolf Cabinets, Cambria and Hardware Resources. You can visit our showroom in Elliicott City, Maryland to see the many products and stone slabs we have available. This includes marble, granite and engineered quartz.
All of our products come backed with brand warranties. Contact us today to get a free quote for your kitchen or bathroom upgrade!
