Category: Kitchen
Learn Your Countertop Options - Part II
Wood/Butcher Block

Butcher block tops offer a warm, natural look and are available in a wide variety of species including oak, maple, cherry and beech.
PROS:
- DIY Installation
- Relatively easy to clean
- Can be sanded and resealed
CONS:
- Requires oiling to maintain
- Mid range pricing
- Can be scratched and damaged by water
- Bacteria can be a problem if not maintained
Glass

Yes, you can have glass countertops! Often used as an accent as the colour, texture, and shape options are endless!
PROS:
- Unlimited design options
- Low maintenance
- Options for creative lighting
CONS:
- Expensive
- Can chip or crack
Concrete

Concrete countertops are an option if you’re looking for something truly unique and industrial. Be prepared – these are very heavy slabs!
PROS:
- Colour can be added with acid
- Scratch and heat resistant
CONS:
- DIY not recommended
- Very expensive
- Porous surface
- Cracking and crumbling can occur
Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel is a modern / industrial choice that could be the right choice for your space. You can have your sinks integrated into your countertop.
PROS:
- Impervious to heat
- Easy to keep clean
- Regarded as ‘luxurious’
CONS:
- Very expensive
- Noisy
- Easily scratched
Soapstone

Countertops made of soapstone have a beautiful soft, aged look. This material is often used in historic homes.
PROS:
- Rich colour
- Heat resistant
- Gets a “patina of age”
CONS:
- Must be professionally installed
- Easily scratched and dented
- Must be oiled regularly
Sintered Stone

This is the newest product on the scene. Brand names include Neolith, Dekton, and Geoluxe. Sintered stone is a man made product. They use 100% raw materials (no fillers or resins) that are compressed under massive pressure and heat to mimic what happens to create natural stones.
PROS:
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Scratch and stain resistant
- Heat and fire resistant
- 5x stronger than granite
CONS:
- Edges can be susceptible to chipping
- Must be professionally installed
- Comparable in price to quartz
- Pattern may only be on surface
Learn Your Countertop Options - Part I
When renovating your kitchen or bathroom you have many choices for new countertops. I’ve chosen the 12 most popular options and will share the pros and cons to help you make your decision. Here are the first 6 options.
Laminate

Laminate countertops are often referred to as Formica, but there are other popular brands such as Wilsonart and Nevamar. The most common type of laminate tops are called ‘Post-form counters’ which are a plastic laminated synthetics which is shaped and bonded to a particle board core.
PROS:
- Easy to maintain
- Low cost
- Many designs available
- DIY installation is possible
CONS:
- Visible seams
- Not heat resistant
- Can be considered too ‘cheap’
- Scratches cannot be repaired
Tile

Tile countertops offer so much creativity for design and layout, or the selection to keep it simple as the photo above.
PROS:
- Easy to clean
- Inexpensive
- Possible to DIY
- Unlimited design choices
- Heat resistant
CONS:
- Grout can stain and be difficult to maintain
- Tile can crack or break
- Surface can end up uneven
- Is not as valued as solid stone
Acrylic

Acrylic countertops (also referred to as solid surface) have been around for about 50 years. They are composed of acrylic and other resins that are pressed into sheets and other shapes. The most popular brands are Corian, Avonite and Swanstone.
PROS:
- Invisible seams
- Easy to repair
- Integrated sinks are available
- Stain resistant
- Many patterns possible
CONS:
- Easily scratched
- Not heat resistant
- Moderately expensive
- Must be professionally installed
Granite

Granite slabs are slices of natural stone cut from the earth, so each piece is unique. If you are looking to have a statement countertop, granite is an excellent choice. As there are so many different designs, there is a broad range in price for granite slabs.
PROS:
- Heat resistant
- Adds value to home
- Very strong and durable
- Thousands of natural designs
CONS:
- Requires sealing to resist staining
- Professional installation only
- More expensive
- Can have natural imperfections
Marble

Marble is a timeless and beautiful material and may be what you visualize when you picture a new kitchen or bathroom in your home. But marble is not the easiest surface to live with.
PROS:
- Beautiful veining
- Adds value to home
- Heat resistant
CONS:
- Easily scratched
- Easily stained
- Expensive
- Must be professionally installed
Quartz

Quartz countertops are comprised of up to 93% natural stone, the remainder being the colouring and resins that are proprietary to each manufacturer. Popular brands include Cambria, Caesarstone, Hanstone (Canadian), and Silestone. Quartz bridges the gap between natural stones and consumer wishes – the look of natural stone without the natural imperfections.
PROS:
- Easy to maintain
- Stain resistant
- Adds value to home
- Consistent and excellent patterning
CONS:
- Must be professionally installed
- Expensive
Induction Cooking
When you are choosing to renovate your kitchen, it is often the time you are also choosing to upgrade your appliances. New fridges are different sizes, new dishwashers are much more powerful, and there are new cooking technologies to consider. I am a big fan of technology, and always want to learn about the newest and greatest products for your home.
Let’s talk about Induction cooking. Now available in both ranges and stand alone cooktops, induction cooking is slows transforming the marketplace for several reasons.
What is induction cooking?

Induction cooking is when you are heating the cooking vessel itself (your pot or pan) instead of the electric we’re all used to where the elements heats the glass, which heats the pot or pan.
How does induction work?

When alternating current is passed through the coil of copper wire it creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field transfers the current to the nearby ferromagnetic materials (your pan).
This means that your pots and pans need to have iron in them – and it’s easy to check. Just take any magnet and see if it sticks to the bottom. If so, you’re good to go!
What makes induction so great?

Control – Temperature changes are instantaneous as you don’t have to wait for the element to cool down or heat up. Temperatures are precise, you’re not just guessing by the flame height, and you’re able to achieve a true low simmer which is not possible on most gas ranges.
Safety – As shown above, the cooking surface doesn’t get hot. The only chocolate melting is in the metal pan! This makes the cooking surface safer for both children and seniors. Also most units have a safety stop built in that will not even allow a pot to boil dry.
Efficiency – Induction cooking offers about 85% energy efficiency, compared to electric maxing out at about 70%. Gas cooktops lose a lot of heat and are only giving you about 40% efficiency.
Cooking area – Traditional cooking methods have set areas where you need to put your cookware. With some of the new induction surfaces, you can place the vessel, no matter the size or shape, where you wish!
Care & Maintenance – Because the surface doesn’t get so hot, it’s easy to wipe up spills as they don’t instantly burn to the surface. One of the vessels that loves induction is a cast iron pan, but you might be worried about scratching the cooking surface. No problem – just slip a silicone baking mat under your pan! This will keep your pan in place and prevent damage to the ceramic top.
What’s next?

There are new countertop materials being installed so that you will be able to integrate your induction cooking. The kitchen of the future is fluid and multi-purpose, and this is going to be a major part of this movement.
Is induction right for you?

Stop in at your local appliance store to learn more. Many of these centres will also have live demonstrations so you can try it out yourself!
Jackie