About Bathroom Countertops
The countertop in the bathroom is one of the hardest working surfaces in your home. It normally houses at least one sink, so it is subject to moisture on a regular basis. Various cordless and corded electrical appliances such as curling irons, electric razors, make up mirrors, and pulsating toothbrushes will be placed on it. Chances are good that shaving cream, hand lotion, eye make up remover, nail polish and morning coffee will be spilled on it. Finding a bathroom countertop that can stand up to the abuse, clean up easy and still look good at the end of the day is not a difficult as you might think.
Considerations
When shopping for a bathroom countertop, the most important considerations are appearance, durability, maintenance and cost. Natural hardwood surfaces may look amazing, but because regular exposure to moisture can damage wood, it is not the best material for your bathroom countertop. Plastic laminates are popular in bathrooms because of their excellent water resistance, but they can be damaged by exposure to heat from an unattended hair dryer or curling iron, or scratched by a hard or sharp object, just as a razor or nail clippers.
Marble
Marble is a beautiful material from which to craft a bathroom countertop. It comes in a variety of colors and works with a number design styles. While natural marble handles moisture and heat with equal aplomb, it is subject to a problem known as crazing, a network of tiny hairline cracks that form just under the surface. An alternative would be cultured marble, which looks and acts like natural marble but is resistant to crazing.
Granite
Granite has become the material of choice for many upper-end bathroom designers. It naturally comes in a number of colors and can be polished to a high gloss finish or buffed to a satin sheen. Granite is harder than marble and less prone to staining. It can be easily cleaned with water and liquid detergent, although cleansers with abrasives are not recommended as they can scratch the surface of the granite countertop. Granite is also subject to breakage if it is hit hard, particularly along its edge.
Tile
Ceramic tile is a popular choice for bathroom countertops because it is tough, stain-resistant, handles heat well, is unaffected by moisture and can be cleaned easily. Ceramic tile also has the advantage of giving your countertop a custom made appearance. Ceramic tile must be properly installed and and the grout must be sealed to keep it from cracking. Tiny cracks in the grout can become a breeding ground for bacteria, so cleaning with an antibacterial cleanser is recommended.
Concrete
A relative new entry into the bathroom countertop race is concrete. Concrete is tough, surprisingly versatile, can be colored with special concrete dye or acid stained, accented with inlays, and molded into almost any design you can imagine. It bears up well against heat although constant exposure to moisture may result in discoloration. Because concrete is a porous surface, it will need to be sealed and may require polishing with a good paste wax several times a year.
Tags: bathroom countertop, Ceramic tile, Bathroom Countertops, , natural marble