Bathroom Countertops
You are your own boss when it comes to bathroom countertops. The main reason for this is because most of the countertops will have to be custom. So be sure that you investigate you options thoroughly. You will find tons of different colors and materials that you can choose from. Some of the best materials that you can use would be granite, ceramic tiles, marble, porcelain or laminate surfacing. These options will offer best protection against abuse that bathroom countertops can take, and will also be able to withstand the constant moisture that will be in the room.
Plastic laminate is by far the cheapest way to go with your bathroom countertop. This option is also going to come in many different textures and colors, so you won't be limited at all when you start your search. Formica, Pionite, Wilson Art and Nevamar are all different manufacturers that you could turn to for this project. Each company has hundreds of styles that you can pick from as well. You can even pick out a custom color and texture if you want to, but you will pay a little more for it. It is also incredibly easy to get clean since it is a flat, hard surface.
Ceramic & Porcelain Tile is known for being the very versatile when putting together a custom countertop. The reason for this is the tiles come in more colors and styles than you could ever look at and will fit almost any theme or style already in place. They are also very easy to cut to give you exactly the shape you need for your countertop. The one downside to this style of countertop is the grout. You need to work hard at keeping the grout and spaces between the tiles clean. It takes a lot of work, and almost constant attention.
Corian and Solid Surfacing is generally an acrylic material, but also can be a polyester blend of some kind. The material is made to somewhat resemble stone, without the higher cost and more difficult installation. Most will be a flat color, but some will come with small fleck of other colors mixed in as well.
Granite is easily the most expensive way to cover a countertop. Of course the weight and type that you decide on will change the price quite a bit. It is a great material, easy to clean and look amazing, but the pocket book may not like it. If you love the look, but not the price, you can always take a look at granite tile as well. It has the same look at a fraction of the cost, but you will have to work a little time cleaning the spaces in between.
Composite Stone has started to challenge granite as the countertop of choice. This new material is going to look very similar to granite or stone, but it completely man-made. Because of this you won't have to worry about the minor imperfections that you might find in a granite countertop and it can be made in almost any color or style. Composite stone has been a great alternative to granite and, if done right, is often basically indistinguishably different in appearance.
Wood tends to be a very elegant and classy look that many people like. It is also fairly inexpensive and can be easily shaped to the look and feel you want in your bathroom. The downside of wood is it isn't warp-proof. This means after time it will start to bend and twist from the moisture. It also tends to hold on to stains and absorb odors. If you like the look of wood, your best bet may be to look into a laminate that resembles the type of wood you want.
