Can you spot the signs to replace your kitchen countertop? Some are more obvious than others.
Is your countertop falling apart or becoming a health hazard for your family? Do you find yourself backing out when it comes to inviting your friends over for dinner because your kitchen countertop looks drape?
Pay attention to your inner voice. The below are the tell-tale signs to replace your kitchen countertop.
Cracks and Structural Damage on the Kitchen Countertop
Cheap countertops or countertops that are shabbily manufactured are prone to damages. Of course, even certain premium countertops may show signs of wear and tear when you accidentally overlook the steps to care for your countertop.
Repetitive and forceful activities such as slugging a bag of ice cubes or even pounding away with a pestle and mortar may damage your countertop. If your countertop is unable to bear the brunt of activity, it may chip, or crack.
Cracks are not only unattractive; they also often compromise the countertops hygiene. How? Food particles and dirt can easily lodge within the crevices, making them hard to clean. As a result, germs start to breed.
Also, a cracked or chipped countertop resulting in jagged edges may be a danger to everyone in the household. Young children may get hurt if they accidentally graze these sharp corners while being curious in the kitchen.
When it comes to visible signs like this, it is time to get a countertop replacement, pronto!
Scratches and Etch Marks on the Countertop
Do you sometimes catch yourself cutting and slicing away without a chopping board? While granite stone countertops may blunt your knife, a wooden countertop or solid surface countertop may scratch easily.
Also, etched marks and burnt marks are equally an eyesore. Marble countertops are very sensitive to acidic substances. When citrus juice, vinegar or anything that is acidic base is left on the surface for too long, the acid will start to react with the stone.
While etch marks are just not pretty on a polished surface, scratches on the other hand may make cleaning your countertop difficult. It is easy for food and grime to get stuck in between the fine grooves. This makes your countertop less hygienic in the long run, and it takes more effort to clean it.
Colour and Water Stains on the Surface
A countertop full of unremovable stains, just like the cracks and scratches on it, is unsightly. You’d always doubt the cleanliness and hygiene of the countertop because it perpetually looks dirty.
Permanent stains may happen when the spills and smudges are left too long on the countertop. Food and drinks such as wine, coffee, turmeric, and fruit juices can leave permanent-coloured stains if not wiped up immediately.
The coloured pigments may somehow find their way into the pores of the countertop. This happens when a countertop has not been maintained for a long time.
Similarly, moisture may also seep into the pores creating water stains that refuse to budge. When the countertop fails to repel water, bacteria may also start to breed because of the trapped moisture.
Natural stone countertops require sealing because they are porous. Without undergoing their regular sealing schedule, there is a risk of exposing the surface to such stains.
Outdated Countertop Design
Is your kitchen countertop old fashioned to the point it lacks even the minimum old-school charm? Perhaps it was a trendy design a long time ago, but the tides have turned. This is the risk of riding the trend wave. Hence, what was once a novelty, is now outdated in the modern kitchen scene.
If you start resenting the design, not wanting to reminisce the 80s, it is time to replace your kitchen countertop with a more modern and timeless piece. Quartz, solid surface, granite, marble and Dekton are some of the countertops that boast evergreen designs and colours.
Lack of Working Space
When it was just you and your spouse, the kitchen countertop seems adequate for a family of two. However, as your children come along, you will realise that you need to prep meals more often, and it requires more space.
Don’t let the lack of working space at your kitchen countertop stop you from pursuing your love for cooking and baking. More so when you spend more time working from home, you’ll find yourself cooking more often.
If you are not enjoying the cooking experience because of space constraints, it is a sign you should change your countertop.
Competing to Sell Your Home at a Good Price
Do you have plans to sell your home? Put yourself in the shoes of the prospective buyer. Would they be wowed when they step into your home?
It would be a shame if they entered your kitchen and bathroom, and their excitement dwindles because of the unappealing appearance in these two areas.
Selling your home or even renting it out is not as easy as you think. With many BTO and resale units out there, there is huge competition for buyers to choose from.
If you are already iffy about inviting guests over to your home because of how your kitchen looks, imagine trying to impress prospective buyers!
Upgrading your kitchen with an elegant new countertop can work wonders to increase your home value. When your home looks outstanding and ready to move in, you can command a better price for it too.
Watch Out for Signs to Replace Your Kitchen Countertop
Some signs to replace your kitchen countertop are more obvious than others. If your inner voice is starting to scream each time you see your forlorn countertop, it’s time to make a change.
When it comes to structural defects, compromised hygiene and safety, and work inefficiencies, these are compelling reasons to upgrade to a newer and more durable countertop immediately.
If you are looking to replace your countertop for any of the above reasons, check out Aurastone’s collection of pretty quartz countertops. Best of all, our quartz countertops are NSF-certified, anti-microbial and super hygienic, a perfect plus point for your family’s well-being!
Head over to Aurastone and make your kitchen dazzling again!
