Choosing the right countertop is crucial for your bathroom’s aesthetic and will determine the usability and storage space available to you. A countertop is a space for setting up your toiletries and allowing you to prep in the morning. Sufficient space is key to providing a comfortable work area, and the material needs to be durable to handle a busy bathroom. Let us look at what you should consider before choosing the right bathroom countertop:
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Countertops come in 4 main types which will determine your available space:
Regular countertops are large slabs of stone, typically marble, quartz, granite and any other suitable material. These countertops function as large storage areas for toiletries and have no other function. They require a strong foundation to support the extra weight.
A sink countertop is designed to house a sink. A drop-in or undermount sink can be attached to this countertop to provide more functionality. These countertops can either be installed in the kitchen or bathroom as their design is flexible. These are a popular choice if you want a sink in your bathroom but don’t want to opt for a vanity.
Vanity countertops are incredibly popular as they integrate a functioning sink with a large cabinet. Vanity countertops have a large amount of customization ranging from single-bowl, double-bowl or no sink at all for a more seamless look.
A double sink houses enough space to fit two sinks. While the counter is quite large, the available space is small as it is shared between two sinks. Double sinks can increase your home’s marketability as it is an attractive fixture that isn’t very common in most homes.
When it comes to countertop materials there are quite a few to choose from. Here are some of the most popular options on the market today.
Manufactured quartz is made up of 93 percent crushed quartz mixed with a bonding resin. The result is a material that is dense, non-porous, and visually attractive. They are very heavy, so they will require a professional to install and account for the additional weight. In terms of maintenance, quartz is easy to clean, durable and doesn’t require sealing. Quartz generally costs $110-250 a foot.
Pros of Manufactured Quartz
Cons of Manufactured Quartz
A high-end material, granite is a widely popular molten rock that cools deep underground. The cooling process produces qualities such as unique color variation, deep veining and mineral flecks of copper, silver, or gold. In addition to it’s unique aesthetic appeal, granite is extremely durable with strong anti-bacterial and heat-resistant properties, making it one of the best countertop materials for either the kitchen or bathroom. The primary drawback to granite is that it is one of the most expensive materials on the market and will require professional installation. Granite will cost $90-200 per foot to install.
Pros of Granite
Cons of Granite
Laminate countertops bond plastic or composite surfaces onto particleboard or plywood. The desired material is then printed on top to mimic any desired material. Printing technology has advanced to provide realistic wood, stone, marble or whatever look you desire. Laminate is an ideal counter top material if you want the look of luxury materials but don’t have the budget for them.
They are ideal for guest bathrooms or spaces that don’t see heavy use. Through use laminate will eventually dull and lose it’s color over time and you will need to replace the entire countertop making repairs more time-consuming. Laminate will cost $50-100 per foot to install.
Pros of Laminate
Cons of Laminate
Tiles are square or rectangular coverings manufactured from a variety of harder materials such as ceramic, stone, clay, or metal. They are fixed in place to cover a specific area, such as a countertop, and can range from simple tile patterns to more complex designs, such as mosaics. The tiles are glazed on top to increase durability, with grout covering up the spaces between the tiles.
The primary benefit of tile for your countertop is that it is easy to install and repair, making it ideal for DIY jobs. Tiles will require routine maintenance and cleaning, although this can be done with detergent and warm water. Depending on the design and material, expect to pay anywhere from $8-80 per tile.
Pros of Tile Counter Tops
Cons of Tile Counter Tops
A very traditional and classic material, marble countertops are made by cutting large slabs of natural marble and cutting the right size for your countertop. Marble results from limestone that has metamorphosized, creating a wide array of swirls and vein patterns that blend perfectly into a bathroom setting. Marble can last up to fifty years and can withstand heavy temperature spikes, especially the high humidity found in most bathrooms. Marble countertops cost $60 per square foot.
Pros of Marble
Cons of Marble
Wood countertops are made using a special wood that is then sealed to prevent moisture flow from leaking in. The result is a unique countertop, easy to install and has a strong natural look. If you are in the market for a rustic countertop, wood is the material for you. Wood countertops cost $60-100 per square foot.
Pros of wood
Cons of wood
Choosing the right countertop colors can be tricky as the wrong color can clash with your existing space. Here are the three most popular countertop colors and what they offer to your design:
Black is strong colors that provides a sleek aesthetic that is ideal for a modern space. Black can make a small space seem bigger and hide any blemishes that may exist. Stone such as granite, marble, or quartz pair well with a black backdrop as they will not detract from the original color and their natural qualities can provide meaningful accents that add character and color.
White bathrooms are popular as they pair well with any countertop style you want. The color reflects light well, making your bathroom appear larger and more spacious. However, white fades the most out of all other colors and any blemishes will be much more noticeable than other colors. Granite, quartz, pewter or wood are great materials to pair with this color as their natural qualities are amplified.
Grey is similar to white in providing a luxurious and noble look that compliments the clean aesthetic of your bathroom space. Grey pairs well with any color or style, making it very attractive for classic or modern-looking bathrooms. Compared to white, grey can provide a similar look without straining the eyes.
There are a few things to consider when choosing your countertop, so here is what to look for to save yourself headaches down the road.
Budget is very important for choosing your countertop. Before you begin, you need to consider the weight of your countertop, the style you want, and how you intend to support it. Depending on the material you select, your countertop can quickly exceed your budget, so you need to plan accordingly. A durable, high-quality material is initially costly but has lower maintenance costs, whereas a cheaper material is very affordable upfront but may have harsh maintenance costs.
Similar to budget, you need to consider the total size you have to work with. The larger the countertop, the more expensive it will be for the materials and the supporting counter space. However, larger counter spaces can also provide much-needed storage space compared to smaller counters, so it’s key that you balance these factors before deciding.
Does your countertop match your bathroom’s aesthetic? ‘In addition to material, your countertop should compliment the overall look of your bathroom. Color and accents can make your bathroom appear more cramped and small if done incorrectly. Choose a material carefully and craft a complementary color scheme around it.
When choosing a countertop, be prepared for the total weight of the selected material. Ensure you have a strong foundation of supporting vanities/cabinets to hold your countertop before purchasing. Granite is a common countertop material that is very popular but very heavy, so consult a professional if you are unsure that your cabinets can support the additional weight.
A bathroom countertop may not seem as critical as a quality bathtub or toilet, but it provides accent and color to help tie your bathroom together. A countertop helps tie in the look of your sink and keep your toiletries organized, so ensure that you select a reliable material for your bathroom’s countertop.
Eric is the founder and president of Badeloft USA. He has been the president of Badeloft’s US division for over ten years and oversees all marketing and branding aspects of Badeloftusa.com.
His expertise lies in small business development, sales, and home and bathroom industry trends and information.
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Evelyn complained to me, “Mike, when will these bathroom selections end! Yikes. I thought choosing a bathroom vanity would be simple and NOW you tell me I’ve got to figure out the right countertop as well?”
And I wish I could tell you Evelyn is the only person who struggles making selections in a bathroom remodeling project. However, bathroom products can be downright mind-blowing. And because the bathroom vanity is the only furniture piece in this space, you (just like Evelyn) want to get it right.
The question becomes first, what are the key factors in choosing a bathroom vanity countertop? And second, which of these factors are most important to you?
And while I can’t help you with the second question, I will provide 11 key considerations to find the best vanity top for your new home or remodel.
Let’s check them out.
Isn’t this always the question? If only Bill Gates or Elon Musk had adopted you, and money was no object. However, since this is NOT the case, and because budget is important to you, it’s smart to differentiate between low cost, mid-priced and luxury (‘er high-priced) vanity countertops. Here’s a breakdown of popular choices and where they fall on the vanity top cost scale.
Low priced vanity tops – Laminate vanity tops can be a sound choice when you must keep costs down. And laminate bathroom tops are a smart selection for a fix and flip home in a lower value neighborhood. If you want them to fetch big bucks in resale, you’d better think again and choose another option than laminate.
Mid-priced vanity tops – Cultured marble and cultured granite are popular mid-priced tops. They’re readily available and durable – and won’t set your budget back too far. Another mid-priced option (although they’ll be higher priced than cultured granite and marble) are solid surface vanity tops. While they’re more understated in the fashion department, they’re durable and reasonably priced.
For more information, please visit Custom Quartz Vanity Tops.
High-priced vanity tops – This is where the fun (and opulence) begins. Options like engineered quartz, concrete, marble, granite, glass, and even wood and recycled glass will give your bathroom the interior design magazine look (assuming you’ve got the budget).
If only you had a maid or butler to do all your cleaning. But your home – while nice – isn’t the Ritz-Carlton where the bathroom’s going to clean ‘itself (or should I say the staff cleaning the vanity top will take care of it when you leave)!’ And if you’re the ‘lucky one’ (sarcasm intended) who gets to maintain your bathroom, you want to spend as little time cleaning your countertop as possible. In addition, you want to feel comfortable the top is stain-resistant.
And if low maintenance is what you’re looking for, STAY AWAY FROM are porous tops. They’re not only a pain to clean but can be a breeding grounds for bacteria (and if you’re worried about these factors, don’t use vanity tops made from tile with those water-absorbing grout joints).
If you’re looking for tops which are simple to maintain, smart choices include engineered quartz (yes- they’re pricey, but also simple to clean), solid surface, cultured marble and laminate (on the lower price end). And what’s an uber-cool factor about cultured marble, solid surface and engineered quartz is it’s possible to find prefabricated tops where the bowl and top are made as one piece.
When it comes to bathroom vanity tops, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. And if you’re one who loves the movement created by veining through your tops – a natural stone like marble can provide the pop and interest you’re looking for.
On the other hand, if you like a more subtle, yet still stylish look – the flecks in a granite vanity top can be an intelligent selection.
For a monochromatic look – consider granite, cultured marble, or laminates (which are available in the widest array of colors).
Do you want to make an impact with your bathroom vanity countertop? Do you want it to be THE ‘showpiece’ of your bathroom? If so – here’s a few choices which WILL blow the mind of people lucky enough to use your bathroom:
Image Source: Vetrazzo Blog
Maybe you want a classic look for your traditional home and need to find the right vanity top.
If so – on the lower end of the price scale, you’ll find cultured granite vanity tops.
Climbing up the price ladder a sound choice is a porcelain tile vanity top.
And on the tops for look (and unfortunately for price as well) would be natural marble top like a classic white Carrara marble vanity top.
For those who HATE, HATE, HATE making selections and want everything to match so you can be done making choices, a vanity top which matches your shower pan can be the ‘bomb-diggity’ as my son Parker used to say.
And while this ‘matchy-matchy’ strategy ‘ain’t happenin’ if you choose a glass, wood, or laminate countertop (those aren’t popular materials for shower floors – ha! ha!), there are smart choices where you can ‘kill 2 birds with one stone.’ (And as a side note, don’t you just HATE that saying? Who wants to kill birds anyway? Especially killing 2 at the same time! However, I digress).
Materials where you can match your shower pan with your countertops include cultured marble, cultured granite, and solid surface.
As you might have guessed not all tops are the same when it comes to ease of installation. If you’re looking for a top which is simple to install, ask the following questions of your potential vanity top supplier:
Now this is a benefit of a bathroom vanity countertop I’m sure most people don’t realize is a possibility. But when you use a glass vanity countertop you can actually light it with LED. The top becomes a vehicle to add light (and certainly ‘wow factor’). You’ll have a one-of-a-kind bathroom.
OK – I’ve got a question for you. How many people ever used the term ‘supply chain’ before the pandemic? I’ll bet less than 10% (in my ‘unscientific survey’) even knew the term 3 years ago. And now…. UNFORTUNATELY…. all we hear about is supply chain problems, at the grocery store, at the department store, you name it.
And even if you find God’s gift to bathroom vanity tops, if you can’t get the product timely (either because the custom lead time is too long or there’s very few people who make them) and it’s going to delay your job, then the top may be a bad choice for you.
It’s nice to know there are in-stock bathroom vanity programs where you can get over 4,000 vanity cabinet, top and bowl combinations shipped in 1 to 2 days. It’s nice to know if you need a stylish top in a short period of time, it’s not impossible to get the best of both worlds (quality and a timely delivery).
So – if lead times important, make sure you know you can get the top in a reasonable lead time BEFORE you hand over your credit card.
While there have been many advances in ‘faux products’ (like faux laminate tops which look like marble, granite and even leather) – they’re still faux and NOT the real-McCoy.
For a realistic look, you’ll want tops made from natural products. And although natural products have their weaknesses (they require more maintenance and tend to be softer than man-made materials), they also have their charm. For wonderful natural look options include:
Who wants a top which can be dinged (wood), or chipped (laminate) or is more porous (limestone).
If you’re looking for tough tops, ‘man-made’ countertops like engineered quartz or solid surface rule the day. They’re repairable, they’re durable and highly resistant to scratches.
I hope I didn’t blow your mind looking at the 11 key factors in choosing a bathroom vanity top. However, if you’re still struggling selecting the right top, I’ll give you two pieces of advice:
And lastly if you’re struggling to find a bathroom remodeling contractor outside of Ohio, ask for a referral through our contractor dealer network.
Thanks for reading (and putting up with my wackiness)– Mike
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If you want more advice follow me on LinkedIn @MikeFoti.
And if you’re a bathroom remodeling contractor interested in being a dealer of unique shower wall panels, shower pans and glass shower door systems or purchasing our quality shower kits, call 888-467-7488 and ask for Mike.
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