Is your kitchen countertop a source of pride or stress? The right countertop enhances your kitchen’s look, functionality, and home value. With countless options, the process can feel overwhelming. At Granite Selection alone, there are over 14,000 unique slabs of stone from which to choose.
There’s no set way on how to buy countertops, but there are some tips and tricks. In our buying guide for 2025, we offer tips to help you avoid common mistakes and make informed decisions about your future countertop.
As a leading countertop provider in Chicago, we’ve seen many customers choose aesthetics without considering their lifestyle. It’s essential to think about how often you’ll use the countertop and your cleaning habits. From material selection to finishing touches, careful planning is key.
Your budget is a critical factor in determining the type of kitchen countertop that best suits your needs. Prices can range from as low as $25-$50 per square foot for budget-friendly materials like laminate countertops to $100-$250 or more per square foot for luxury or custom options like marble.
When planning your budget, don’t focus solely on the material cost. Additional expenses such as installation, edge detailing, sink cutouts, and reinforcements for heavier materials can add $10-$30 per square foot to your total costs. Always request a quote to capture all associated costs and leave room for a contingency fund to cover unexpected expenses.
Planning your project details in advance ensures a smoother process and avoids unexpected costs. Determine whether you’re replacing an existing countertop or starting fresh as part of a full remodel. Here are the key considerations:
When it comes to budgeting, it’s important to know the details and full scope of what you want, as this will help our fabricators to assist you better and make recommendations based on your project’s needs. Always budget for a little more than expected as labor costs of granite, for example, will increase the price. On average, 10% of your kitchen budget should be put aside for kitchen countertops.
Most struggle to choose between granite, quartz, or marble — three of the most popular kitchen countertop stones. Due to their significant variances in color and pattern, virtually any look and feel can be accomplished with all three stone types. Each option comes with its own unique beauty, including pros and cons.
When buying a kitchen countertop, staying updated on the latest trends ensures your choice is both stylish and future-proof. When planning your project, consider 2025 design trends that offer options to suit every homeowner’s taste:
Are you curious about the best ways to pair your kitchen cabinets and countertops in 2025? Discover the latest trends for stunning cabinet and countertop combinations this year in our detailed article!
Transform your kitchen into the space of your dreams with a countertop that’s both stylish and functional. Visit our product page now to discover our range of materials, styles, and designs.
Contemporary interior trends allow for a less uniform approach to interior design. Not every bathroom, kitchen, and wet bar countertop need to be congruent. Some have the same color scheme flowing throughout their house, while others have alternating hues for every room.
You might decide to utilize marble in a guest bathroom as it’s used less often, quartz in a busy kitchen, and granite outside because it’s the most durable. There’s no rule stopping you from having a mix and match countertop with one part of concrete and other quartz, for example.
Once you’ve decided between granite vs. quartz vs. marble, your fabricator will want to know your preferred countertop edge style, which is something first-time buyers don’t always think about. Nowadays, square edges are standard and decorative edges like ogee, bevel, and bullnose are a bit pricier.
These are four common edge types:
View the seven countertop edge options we offer at Granite Selection.
The average countertop height is 36 inches, but if you’re thinking about having a kitchen island-cum-bar countertop, then you’d increase it to 42 inches. Design ergonomic basics imply that all kitchens should be designed to achieve tasks in the most efficient way, countertop height included. Those with limited mobility might decrease their countertop to a height between 28-34 inches. It absolutely depends on you and your family’s unique needs.
If budget isn’t an option, and you’re still uncertain how to choose countertop material, you might want to consider the sink. A drop-in sink is the most conventional type of kitchen sink. It has a visible lip around its perimeter that rests flat on the countertop and is compatible with all countertops.
As opposed to being dropped into a pre-cut hole in the countertop, undermount sinks are installed under the counter, so there is no rim between the countertop and the sink. Given their weight, quartz, marble, and granite work best and are highly compatible with undermount sinks.
When customers require advice on how to buy kitchen countertops, we always recommend them experiment with take-home samples. It’s a good idea to place the samples next to your cabinets and walls to see how they read. If you’re building cabinets and countertops from scratch, you should test different countertop and cabinet combinations together. We also recommend sampling one or two options your dead-set against — for all you know, you might even land up changing your mind.
While stone countertops are hard-wearing and long-lasting, you should still make sure your purchase comes with a warranty. New countertops are a significant investment, and you want to ensure the workmanship you hire is of a high standard.
At Granite Selection, our 1-year warranty ensures your countertop is free from material and workmanship defects and meets strict quality standards. While it doesn’t cover misuse or poor maintenance, we guarantee seamless installation and trust our clients will value and care for their investment.
Investing in the right kitchen countertop transforms your space into a functional, stylish, and valuable part of your home. From budgeting and selecting materials to staying on top of 2025 trends, let our guide equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision. From luxurious marble to low-maintenance solid surface countertops, there’s a perfect option for every home.
Ready to upgrade your kitchen with a stunning new countertop? Let our Granite Selection experts guide you through the process and help you find the perfect match for your style and budget. Contact us today to schedule your free in-home estimate.
Do you have questions about granite or quartz countertops in Chicago?
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