Granite countertops are still the most popular choice among homeowners doing kitchen remodels. Even though many other options exist on today’s market, the natural charm and uniqueness of granite slabs continue to wow homeowners and potential homebuyers alike.
Whether you look to put your home on the market in the short-term, or are staying in your house for the foreseeable future, granite countertops are a solid choice to replace your existing counters. But are they the best choice for your Shrewsbury home?
According to Hanley Wood Remodeling’s 2015 Cost vs Value report for Worcester, MA, the nearest major city to Shrewsbury, many major kitchen remodels chose laminates as their counters of choice. However, for bathrooms, stone countertops are the more popular choice. With so many stone countertop manufacturers in and around Shrewsbury, this shouldn’t be a surprise. Laminates have come a long way in the past decade and are affordable. But there’s always going to be the desire for the real thing. Especially in bathrooms, granite has a stylistic appeal. According the report, major bathroom remodels typically choose natural stone, such as granite, marble, or engineered quartz. People seem willing to go a bit further with the material in the bathroom.
The major pro to laminate is that the style and color choices are numerous. Many style options can even resemble natural stone, including granite, marble or quartz, and even wood. They are also fairly durable, although they aren’t heat-resistant and they do tend to scratch easily. Laminate also doesn’t fare well after long exposure to UV rays which causes them to fade. However, it’s also extremely affordable. In some kitchens, laminate countertops are probably a fair option. Laminate is also a popular choice in bathrooms, as well, as long as they are properly installed.
With granite, you are getting a natural product, meaning you may not find exactly the slab you want in your kitchen or bath for your desired price point. However, when properly sealed and maintained, granite is extremely durable, heat-resistant and even scratch and stain-resistant. However, keep in mind that granite is a porous material and if not properly cleaned can harbor germs. This is an important point to keep in mind when choosing granite for the bathroom.
Another major countertop contender is engineered quartz. While it has a higher price point than granite, it doesn’t require nearly as much maintenance. It also has its own appeal due to still being a mostly natural product, but engineered using polymer resins to be incredibly heat, stain and germ resistant. Engineered quartz also has many style choices that you won’t find in granite. It offers only the best aspects of granite and laminate. While it can be a stress on the budget, it’s quickly growing as a popular counter choice, especially in kitchens.
Overall, we recommend engineered stone or granite for both the natural beauty, overall durability, design quality, and resale value for your home.
