If you’re redoing a kitchen area, you’ll need to make some decisions about the type of surface you’ll build the tops from. There are a plethora of options ranging from man-made to natural and the biggest determining factors will be the design and color of the kitchen area and the budget you have to work with.

You can easily spend several hundred to thousands of dollars just covering the top of your counters. This does not include the cost of the counters, but only the tops.

One of the popular options from a durability and cost standpoint is tile countertops which are easy to find, relatively easy to install or install, and somewhat cost-effective, especially if you’re doing a large remodeling project with a lot of floor space. kitchen countertop. .

One of the most attractive things about tile countertops is that they can be made very ornate with very intricate patterns. That means these can be made into very presentable countertops that can rival a piece of art.

Tiles come in various forms, with porcelain being one of the most popular. It is a thicker tile that is baked to a gloss and the color is baked all over the tile unlike other types of tile where the color just sits on top. This means that scratches will appear less prominently on china styles.

Ceramic, which is the other popular type of tile, is made by taking clay and firing it with other materials to make it stronger. The color is then applied as a glaze that is placed over the top of the tile. As a direct result, you’ll find that ceramic tile tends to show scratches, scuffs, and common wear marks much more easily.

The most important thing about obtaining and placing a tile countertop, whether porcelain or ceramic, is that the consumer must take precise measurements of the area to be covered and then make a clear plan as to what the pattern will be. it will be. This way you can make the cuts and get the correct tile sizes, making all the work flow smoothly and the final result is what you are envisioning.

When preparing the area for tile laying, make sure the entire surface is primed and rough. This is the only way you can be sure that the tile will adhere well to the surface. The person laying the tiles will start at the sink area and work outward. After laying the starter tiles and making sure they are secure, you need to fill the remaining holes so they have an even base to form a solid countertop with no undulations or open spots where moisture can penetrate and cause problems.