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Many Types of Kitchen Countertops |
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Not so long ago you could count on one hand the choices for counter tops, especially for the counters in your kitchen. Recent technological developments as well as consumers willingness to try new things has set the stage for the emergence of new types and styles. From concrete to paper each has its own distinct value and look.
Bamboo counter tops, paper counter tops, recycled glass counter tops are just a few of the new and funky ways to top off your kitchen these days. Bamboo is gaining popularity as it is renewable and very durable. Although technically it is not a wood but a type of grass, it is still 15% harder than maple wood (which is already a very hard wood). The growing cycle of Bamboo is very short compared to hardwoods (trees), over 10 times shorter in most cases. This of course makes it a popular choice among the environmentally sensitive crowd.
As crazy as it sounds paper actually also makes a durable counter top material. Of course it is not just plain paper, but rather paper combined with resins (glues) and pressed under high pressure to form a very hard stone like material. These counter tops can also be made of recycled paper, which tends not to be as uniform as when using new paper materials, but the environment benefits are obvious.
Concrete is another choice of many kitchen renovators these days. Concrete is cheap and can be molded to pretty much any shape. It can also be polished and coated to give a natural stone like appearance. Aggregates can be added to the cement mixture to give unique and stunning appearances. Concrete counter tops can get very heavy, especially when they are thick. This usually mean reinforcing your counters. Not all kitchens are suitable for concrete for this reason.
Whether its, paper or concrete, bamboo or granite, glass or stainless steel to name a few, the choices are many. Each has its own unique characteristics and appearance. Be sure to research your material of choice before you buy as each has its own pros and cons along with unique maintenance and precautions.
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