Counter tops provide
additional workspace in the bathroom. Wood is not
recommended for bathrooms as it can be damaged by the
moisture, so use synthetic material resistant to
water, moisture and dampness for bathroom countertops.
Bathroom countertops are generally custom made and can
be tailored to your bathroom design in terms of color,
pattern, size and shape. Thus, they usually take a
back seat in bathroom decorating and are made only to
provide a workspace near a major fixture such as
shower, whirlpool, bath tub or vanity sink. Plastic
laminates that are water resistant and are quite
decorative are quite popular for bathroom countertops
and come in many different finishes and looks ranging
from low luster to metallic to high gloss.
Plastic laminated bathroom vanity
countertops are generally available with recessed sinks with self
rims and under-mounted bowls. However, plastic countertops can get
damaged by excessive heat and can sustain scratches from sharp
objects or damages from ceramic or abrasive things dragged across
them and are not suitable for bathrooms that are accessible by
kids. They are easy to clean using soft, non-abrasive cloth and a
mild household cleaner but scouring pads, abrasive powders, steel
wool and sandpaper can scratch their surface. They can be easily
stained too and that too permanently by dyes and other staining
products and one needs to apply self cleaning wax periodically to
avoid such stains.
They are economical and may prove long lasting, if used very
carefully but water seeping in the seams and under sink edges can
cause the laminate to separate by damaging the substrate. Thus,
they may prove cumbersome to maintain. Bathroom marble countertops
look elegant, are functional and have wide range of colors and
styles. Cultured marble and cultured onyx is quite popular for
bathroom countertops. It has a rugged, hard, waterproof and
stain-resistant surface. They can be easily repaired and a little
sanding and polishing the countertop can make it glisten like new.
The common problem with bathroom marble countertops was crazing or
formation of hairline cracks, which has been solved by cultured
marble option.
It is easy to clean and polish
and a protective coat of wax provides the perfect finish to marble
countertops. Avoid using abrasives and scouring powders on these
countertops as they can dull its shine. Corian is one of the
expensive options for countertops and is made up of an advanced
blend of natural materials and pure acrylic polymer. It has a
smooth surface, comes in variety of colors, is nonporous, is
resistant to mold, mildew or bacteria and resistant to moisture
and stains. Corian bathroom countertops are easy to clean and
maintain, hypoallergenic, nontoxic and chemically non-reactive. It
offers three countertop finishes - matte, semi gloss and gloss.
However, heat-generating appliances or hot pans should always be
kept on a hot pad or trivet or it can damage its surface.
Corian countertops are easy to restore to its pristine condition
using an ordinary abrasive cleanser and a cleansing pad. Granite
is quite popular for a high-end and elegant bathroom vanity
countertop. Coarse grained pegmatite is stronger than sandstone,
limestone and marble and is more difficult to quarry. Granite is
very much durable and impervious to water but as it is a natural
rock, it can be chipped and broken and is very difficult to
repair. Any liquid detergent and warm water can clean granite
countertops easily but abrasive cleaners may scratch its surface
and dull the finish that can be restored by polishing and waxing
the countertop. White marble bathroom countertops are more porous
than granite and are easily stainable.
Vessel bowls installed on a glass counter look beautiful and elite
but they are difficult to maintain, easily breakable and can often
get blemished with fingerprints. They can be cleaned using any
standard glass cleaner. Tiled countertops are of course custom
made and ceramic tiles are installed on site. Their surface looks
attractive and is best for countertops. They are durable, easy to
clean, resistant to stains, heat and moisture and very easy to
maintain. However, the grout between the tiles may crack and
collect bacteria that can prove unhealthy but if tiled counters
are properly maintained and sealed well, they can offer good
service for a number of years. Counter vessels kept on beautiful
countertops can steal the show in a designer bathroom.
