Countertops play both a practical and aesthetic role in your kitchen. Your countertops have to be hardy enough to endure the everyday wear-and-tear of meal prep and cleanup, while still giving your kitchen a sharp and clean look. Over time, even the strongest of materials will begin to break down, so you may be facing a simple repair job or a total replacement. Either way, there is much to consider before starting the work.

If it’s the former and your countertops are just a little worn, plastic laminate may be used. Replacing old countertops, while leaving the rest of the existing kitchen components intact, often makes the most sense. However, if you’re looking to have your kitchen completely remodeled by a contractor, MDV Remodeling can use its TruYouDesign™ process to make the upgrade streamlined, stress-free and affordable.

Whatever you decide, there are some important factors to consider when repairing or replacing your countertops. We’re going to highlight seven things to keep in mind about your countertops:

1. The Existing Countertop Material

Laminate countertops, or solid-surface materials like butcher block, screw into place so they are easier to change – especially if you are replacing the counter in order to sell your home. Quartz or granite, which is secured to cabinets by gluing the stone to a plywood base, can fall prey to cracks or pitting. Although difficult to remove, replacing damaged stone countertops may be the optimal choice..

2. The Cabinets

Despite the fact that a tired kitchen will get an instant facelift with new countertops,there is often more to consider. If you are replacing a plastic laminate countertop with stone, you may want to decide whether you are going to repair or replace your cabinets at the same time or at a later time. You may want to replace the cabinets at the same time as the countertops. Otherwise, you would have to pay a contractor to remove and reinstall your countertops later. Another major consideration is to ensure the cabinets, and your existing floor, can support the additional weight of your new countertops.

3. The Sink

When replacing a tile countertop with a solid surface, like stone or an engineered composite surface, such as Silestone, the existing cabinets may stay in place, but a sink will usually need to be replaced. The exception to this is when the existing sink is mounted under an existing stone counter.

4. The Backsplash

A new countertop means a new backsplash, too. These two elements go hand-in-hand in terms of design, and you’ll want to make sure the materials either match or coordinate harmoniously. The backsplash typically needs to be replaced at the same time as the countertop because it is usually mounted on top of the counter surface. When you’re budgeting for the new countertop, don’t forget to include the cost of the backsplash materials and installation.

5. Your Current Appliances

Before deciding to upgrade to new appliances, consider how your current appliances will look with your new countertop. If your appliances are relatively new and in good shape, even if you have a cooktop rather than a freestanding range, you should keep your existing appliances to save money. If your appliances are worn, outdated, or simply not working to full capacity, consider replacing them at the same time as the countertops.

6. Lighting

Many kitchens have under-cabinet lighting, which may seem easy to install. However, this lighting is much harder to install because of how the wiring is run. It’s worth notingthat under-cabinet lighting can cause eye-strainfrom glare when it’s aimed directly onto a highly-polished stone surface. This is something to consider when choosing countertop material and the position of under-cabinet lighting.

7. Shop Carefully

When shopping around for your new countertop material, be wary of low-cost, prefabricated stone surfaces because they are usually available in only a few common types. The slabs are pre-cut to standard cabinet depth but don’t take into account variances in walls or custom cabinetry (which you may have without even knowing it). It may be a little pricier, but choosing custom material and, of course, working with reliable remodeling professionals like MDV, is one of the most cost-efficient decisions you can make.

A new countertop will not necessarily make your kitchen more functional, but it can be a handsome and enjoyable improvement that will add value to your well-maintained, existing kitchen. If you are ready to get started replacing your countertops or remodeling your entire kitchen, we invite you to contact us for a free estimate. In our initial conversations we will discuss the various options in more detail and go over the TruYou Design™ process that sets up apart.

*header image courtesy of Granite Charlotte Countertops/Flickr