The impulse to start a renovation job in your house is often uncontrollable. One day, you’re content with things as they are; the next, you can’t stand the looks of something and you start planning the replacement job. It’s only natural to want the best for your home, but with kitchen countertop replacement, you will want to move slowly and make sure you have the right plan in place before you move forward. Here are the five mistakes to avoid in the process.
1. Moving too quickly. We humans have a tendency to lie back and then pounce upon a project with a full tank of gas. Instead of rushing into a kitchen counter replacement project, you would be far better served by spending 2 or 3 weeks in study alone, so you know enough about the different options. As you’ll quickly learn, there is far more to a countertop than a pretty surface and exotic texture.
2. Choosing a surface which cannot endure the rigors you require of it. One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is overestimating the durability of a countertop surface. Even the most exquisite materials are vulnerable to scratching and heat damage, so get a clear idea of what you can and can’t do on top of the surface you choose. In some cases, regular refinishing and sealing will be part of the maintenance necessary to maintain beautiful counters.
3. Miscalculating your budget. No matter what type of project you are getting into around the house, it is all too typical to underestimate the kind of funds you’ll need to complete the job. Be more of a careful, pessimistic accountant than an overly hopeful one. Even after you are finished and think you can call it a day, there may be added costs due to cleanup or finishing the countertop surface you have installed.
4. Outclassing the rest of the room. Thinking big with your kitchen countertops is a great idea, but you don’t want to outclass the rest of the room in the process. Try to take at most a small step up in quality with your choice in counters. On the other hand, if you want to point out a new direction for your kitchen, you can certainly start here and let the rest of the room get up to speed with subsequent projects. This move is inadvisable unless you are totally committed.
5. Falling in love with simplicity. If your budget is limited and you are thinking about the least expensive option in countertops, you could end up going with the simplest synthetic materials. Nonetheless, you could be much happier with tiles – and not spend much more in the exchange. The simplest isn’t always the least expensive, or the ideal solution for your home, no matter what type of budget restraints you are facing.
