We get asked this question a lot! There are a lot of options in todays time, and a lot of factors come into play here. Let’s start with a few types, their pros, and cons.

Laminate:

Pros:

Price – Laminate will be priced the best. Usual pricing ranges from $8.00 to $30.00 per square foot for fabricated top. Fabricated means that it is cut to the sizes you need, the sink hole is cut out, edges are banded, and they will be build up underneath.

Color Options – Laminate offers hundreds of different color options, and finishes. We do stock about 20 colors that can be ordered and picked up within a weeks’ time. If you choose to go with a color that we do not stock it can take up to a month to get the tops ready for pick up.

Ease of install – Laminate countertops that are fabricated are very easy to install. We provide all the bolts necessary. Since the countertop is fabricated, it will be cut to the exact size that it needs to be. The sink hole will be cut out, the edges will be banded, and the build up underneath will be finished. Our fabricated pricing is close to the pricing of uncut laminate countertops from the big box stores.

Cons:

Durability – Laminate countertops are not as durable as stone countertops. You cannot put anything hot on them, you cannot cut on them, but if you avoid those two major items they will last as long as you take care of them.

Granite

Pros:

Colors – The biggest pro of granite is the beautiful color options. Granite is a naturally made stone. There are a lot of options for colors, but we do advise you to make sure that you look at the actual stone that you are buying. Each slab will vary in design, and shades of colors.

Durability – Granite is very durable. It will not scratch easily, and it is difficult to get it to crack. This does not mean that it will not crack. You should not put hot surfaces on granite.

Price – Even though granite is more expensive than Laminate, it is still reasonably priced. Most people look at the square foot pricing, but it is best to get an actual quote for your layout. Granite has a lot of hidden costs, such as polishing, hole cut outs, backsplashes, etc. The best part of granite is that it will increase you homes value.

Cons:

Maintenance – Granite is not a maintenance free countertop. It should be sealed regularly. There are a lot of different products on the market to seal the granite countertop, and we recommend speaking to your granite provided for which product will work best.

Porous – You may have heard of people talking about how granite is a porous surface. This means that it has tiny holes on it that bacterial can seep into. If the countertop is sealed regularly, this should not cause any problems.

Quartz

Pros:

Colors – Quartz offers a lot of color selections. Each brand of Quartz has their own mix, so finding the specific color that you are looking for will be possible.

Durability – Quarts unlike granite does not have to be sealed. This is because Quartz is 90%+ a natural made product, the remaining percentage is manmade. This means that the product is nonporous. Quartz is stronger than Granite.

Cons:

Price – Quartz is going to be more expensive than Granite. Just like Granite, Quartz is sold per square foot. Be sure to have the Quartz priced out based on your layout.

Outdoor use – Quartz is not the ideal product for an outdoor kitchen. Long exposures to direct sunlight/heat can cause damages to it.

There are more options on the market, but these three will be the main ones. If you are interested in a different type of countertop come see us, or go see Carolina Custom Surfaces! They will be glad to help you make the right decision!

The idea of a new kitchen is exciting, but the idea of the cost factor comes into play. This is where we see a lot of our customers coming in and asking us for our opinion if they should just resurface, or fully replace their cabinetry. There are a few key factors to consider. One is the condition of your current cabinet boxes. Are they damaged? Are they sagging? Have they encountered any water damage through out their life? If you answered yes to any of these, then you should fully replace them. If the cabinet boxes seem to be in good condition, then you must consider the type of wood the frames/doors are made from. We bring this point up because if they are Maple, or Poplar then they will work fine for resurfacing. If they are made from Oak, then once they are resurfaced, they will show the grain through the finish. If you are doing a natural finish this will not cause any issues, but if you go with a solid color the grain will still be present. Now comes to the part of the doors, you have the option of going with new wood doors, new MDF paint grade doors, or thermofoil doors. Another valid point to consider is the features (Soft close drawers/doors/Material thickness) that your current cabinet offer. To retrofit the features will add additional costs to you resurfacing project. To do the resurfacing correctly will take close to a week, and it is expensive. To get new cabinets you will spend a bit more, but you will end up with new boxes, soft close doors, and drawers, and fully plywood cabinet box construction. In the end we usually recommend getting new cabinets, especially if you plan on living in this home for a while. Please reach out to us to get us to price out your new kitchen before you decide to resurface, you might be surprised how close the actual pricing is!

For starters, we have spent the past year fully remodeling our main location (1005 Greensboro Rd, High Point NC 27262). This remodel has changed our entire appearance! We went from having six full kitchens on display to having over 15! We believe that it is important to see, touch, and feel the product that you are interested in putting in your home. To accomplish this we went and created various layouts that will show the cabinets, giving you ideas of what is possible! To help you decide what will work best for you we have displayed various brands of Quartz, Granite, Solid Surface, and laminate countertops. Along with the new showroom, we have a new and improved website. Please stop by to see what all has happened over the past year, and to see how we can assist you with your remodeling projects!