Bathroom countertops are just as important as kitchen countertops because not only they provide a functional work surface but a decorating surface as well. A good bathroom countertop is the right blend of aesthetics and durability that’s sufficient to meet the demands of how you live.
Vanity tops or bathroom countertops are not immune from a harsh environment, particularly in a full bathroom with a shower and/or tub. First, dealing with the moisture generated from showers. Second, dealing with all the stuff normally found in a bathroom such as toiletries and cleaning supplies. When you think about all the challenges can be faced in choosing your countertop, it is easy to understand that not only should consider about their beauty, but also their durability.
A particular type of countertop might look great but if it is not easy to clean and maintain. What we mainly concern is choose something which has a Good Style but Even Better Functionality. So our qualifications include a blend of:
- GOOD LOOKS
- LOW-MAINTENANCE
- WIDE AVAILABILITY
You have lots of choices. The first step toward making the right decision is to think and plan how you will use your bathroom. From there it is a matter of finding the right combination of material, style and budget. If choose wisely, you will be rewarded with a countertop that gives you good service for a long time.
What to Consider Before Choosing
The first thing comes to mind when choosing a bathroom countertop is to get something that looks nice. That is ok because as was mentioned earlier, they play a big role in the overall look and feel of the space.
But looks are not the whole thing because your countertops also serve a functional role. That is why it is important to stop and think about a few things other than how snazzy a particular vanity top looks.
Consider Your Lifestyle
The first step in any decision should be to think about how you use your bathroom on a daily basis and whether that will change in the near future. This will help you narrow down your choices to the ones that will make the most sense. For example, consider the following questions:
- What kind of bathroom are you planning – a low-use powder room, one for everyday family use or an over-the-top master bath?
Usually a powder room doesn’t experience the same kind of mess that a full bathroom does. Just think about all the substances you use there like the toothpaste, makeup, hairspray, blemish creams and lots of other personal items that will be splashed across your countertop. So, a good countertop choice is one that’s compatible with how it will be used.
- How many people will typically use the bathroom on a daily basis? Does that include children?
More traffic and users means more mess mostly if including children as they usually don’t have to clean. Choosing a durable, easily-maintained surface is a good choice in these situations.
- Does your plan call for a larger custom-installed countertop or do you just need a top for a smaller vanity?
Vanity tops are widely available at home improvement centers in a variety of sizes. Custom bath countertops installed over cabinets will need to be installed by a fabricator/installer. You’ll pay more for custom counters and the process of getting them is more involved than for a vanity.
- How long are you planning to stay in your home? In other words, is this upgrade for you yourself or for your home’s next owner?
If it’s for you then don’t be too hesitant to go with what you really want. If you’ upgrading to sell your home, get something with practicality in mind which looks good in everybody’s eyes.
Answering these kinds of question ahead of time can help you narrow down the materials that work best for your situation.
Bathrooms with a lot of traffic or families with children usually means the sink and countertop need cleaning more often. Easily-cleaned and less delicate surfaces make sense in these situations.
Few More Points to Consider
And speaking of practicality, here are few more considerations to think about before you lock in your decision:
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Don’t Forget the Sink
The type of sink you want or more specifically, how it’s installed, also impacts your countertop decision. You’ll need to know this so that your countertops are fabricated correctly, with consideration for whether your sink will be a drop-in, under mount or vessel style.
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A Good Plan Helps
There’s no rule against choosing a particular type of countertop before your plans are finalized, but having a plan in hand ahead of time is advantageous. When you have a plan you know how much counter space you need, which will help you compare costs among the various options. A fabricator is eventually going to need these dimensions anyway. Even if you’re only looking for a pre-fabricated vanity top you’ll still need to know the size of the vanity for your new or remodeled bathroom.
A Word about Vanity Tops
From a functional point of view vanity tops and bathroom countertops are essentially one in the same. They perform the same role and are made from the same materials. The only way they differ is in how you buy them and the amount of style options that are available.
Vanity tops are a classification of bath countertops that are pre-made. In other words, you don’t need a fabricator to come into your home, measure your space and custom-fabricate and install your countertop surface. Instead, you can buy vanity tops that will fit various sizes of vanities. For the most part they’re made from the same materials as custom countertops. You just won’t have the same breadth of style choices that you do with a custom installation.
The up-side of vanity tops is that they’re easy to get and install. Some vanities come with a top already included or you can buy just the vanity and shop for the top separately. You can also change the top on an existing vanity.
The point to remember is that it doesn’t matter whether you’re choosing a simple vanity top or a larger bathroom countertop. The range of material choices is similar and what you choose should be compatible with how you’ll use it.
Vanity Tops Choices & Their Pros & Cons
There’s no shortage of countertop materials and your biggest hurdle will probably be narrowing your choice down to just one. You obviously want to get something that looks good but just remember that there are other considerations to think about like ease of maintenance and durability.
Natural Stone
Natural stone countertops offer beauty and durability but the key here is to choose the right stone for your particular bathroom’s environment. The bathroom is actually a better location for a marble countertop than the kitchen because the bathroom doesn’t see the same “challenges” as a kitchen does with respect to foods and other substances that can damage that kind of stone. The point to remember is that some stones (more porous and/or calcite-based) need more care and maintenance than other types of stone and other vanity top materials.
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Engineered Stone
Engineered stone is a hard surface that’s a combination of crushed stone/minerals and resins, compressed into sheets under high pressure. One of the major players in this category is quartz surfacing. The benefit of engineered stone is that it’s non-absorbent (unlike some natural stone) so it doesn’t require any sealing or ongoing maintenance. There are plenty of colors and patterns available. Quantity of colors and styles have just continued to get better. Several makers of quartz surfacing have done a great job at mimicking the veined, marbled look of natural stone.
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