After being steamed and splashed, good countertop materials still come up shining because they're moisture resistant (or better yet, waterproof). The best materials are less likely to scratch or chip.
What are your choices?
Plastic laminate, ceramic tile, solid-surface acrylics, and stone are the four major countertop materials in current use. Synthetic marble, popular in past years, is losing ground to solid-surface materials. Wood is sometimes used for countertops, too; but to prevent water damage, the surface of wood bathroom countertops should be finished with a sealant.
When shopping, you probably won't be able to compare all the materials in one place. Some dealers with showrooms are listed in the yellow pages under Countertops or Kitchen Cabinets & Equipment; they'll probably have tile, plastic laminate, solid-surface products, and maybe wood. Large building supply centers carry plastic laminate, synthetic marble, and wood. For other dealers or fabricators, check listings in the categories Marble Natural; Plastics; and Tile. Designers and architects can also supply samples of materials.
Backsplash fever
These days, bathroom designers are also using the backsplash the wall surface surrounding the countertop proper to make an aesthetic statement. A good backsplash also has practical advantages: if properly installed, it seals this vulnerable area from moisture, and it makes the wall a lot easier to keep clean.
Just a few years ago, the average countertop, usually laminate, included a 4-inch lip on the back. Today's backsplashes are higher and often feature materials found there alone. Geometric or hand-painted accent tiles are popular choices. Stone tiles make an economical alternative to solid granite or marble. Solid-surface materials are a natural here, too. Glass block and mirrors are other options.
Need more inspiration? The photographs in "Case Studies" present a wide variety of treatments to consider.
Comparing Bathroom Countertops
Plastic laminate Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. You can choose from a wide range of colors, textures, and patterns. Laminate is durable, easy to clean, water resistant, and relatively inexpensive. With the right tools, you can install it yourself.
Disadvantages. It can scratch, chip, and stain, and it's hard to repair. Conventional laminate has a dark backing that shows at its seams; new solid color laminates, designed to avoid this, are somewhat brittle and more expensive.
Cost. Standard brands cost $1 to $3.50 a square foot; premolded, particleboard-backed tops in limited colors are $5 to $10 per running foot. Installed, a custom countertop with 2-inch lip and low backsplash costs from $40 to $90 per running foot (more for solid-color materials).
Ceramic tile Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. It's good-looking; comes in many colors, textures, and patterns; and is heatproof, scratch resistant, and water resistant if installed correctly. Grout is also available in numerous colors. Patient do-it-yourselfers are likely to have good results. Disadvantages. Many people find it hard to keep grout satisfactorily clean. Some designers recommend using less grout space (Me inch versus the typical 6 inch), though the thinner joint is definitely weaker. You can also buy grout sealers, but their effectiveness is disputed. A hard, irregular surface can chip glassware. High-gloss tiles show every smudge.
Cost. Prices range from 50 cents to $50 per square foot. Choose nonporous glazed tiles, which won't soak up spills and stains. Installation costs vary, depending on tile type and size of job (generally, the smaller the countertop, the higher the per-foot price).
Solid-surface Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. Durable, water resistant, heat resistant, nonporous, and easy to clean, this marble-like material can be shaped and installed with woodworking tools (but do it very carefully, or cracks can occur, particularly around cutouts). It allows for a variety of sink installations, including integral units like the one shown on page 69. Blemishes and scratches can be sanded out.
 Disadvantages. It's expensive, and requires very firm support below. Until recently, color selection was limited to white, beige, and almond; now imitation stone and pastels are also available.
Cost. For a 24-inch-deep counter with a 2 inch front lip and 4-inch backsplash, figure $100 to $150 per running foot, installed. Uninstalled, it's about half that. Costs go up for wood inlays and other fancy edge details.
Synthetic marble Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. This group of man-made products, collectively known as "cast polymers," includes cultured marble, cultured onyx, and cultured granite. All three are relatively inexpensive and easy to clean. Many colors are available. Cultured onyx is more translucent than cultured marble. These products are often sold with an integral sink. You can color-coordinate a synthetic marble top with tub, shower, and wall panels.
Disadvantages. Synthetic marble is not very durable, and scratches and dings are hard to mend (the surface finish is usually only a thin veneer). Backings are typically porous. Quality varies widely; look for Cultured Marble Institute or IAPMO certification.
Cost. A cultured marble top with 4 inch backsplash averages about $25 to $30 per running foot. Figure $35 per foot for onyx, and add another 25 percent for cultured granite. Sometimes an integral sink is included in the price; sometimes it's extra.
Wood Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. Wood is handsome, natural, easily installed, and easy on grooming accessories and glassware.
 
Disadvantages. Untreated, wood will discolor, warp, stain, and decay if exposed to water. If you use wood, thoroughly protect it on all sides with a good sealer such as polyurethane. Pay particular attention when sealing the joints so moisture won't cause hidden damage underneath the wood.
Cost. Maple butcher block, the most popular ready-made top, costs about $12 to $16 per square foot for 0.1- to 1%-inch thickness. Installed cost is $50 and upper running foot, including miters and cutouts. It's sold in 24-, 30-, and 36-inch widths. Edge-joined oak, redwood, sugar pine, and teak are also used for counters.
Stone Bathroom Countertops
Advantages. Granite and marble, both used for countertops, are beautiful natural materials. In most areas, you'll find a great selection of colors and figures. Stone is water resistant, heatproof, easy to clean, and very durable.
 
Disadvantages. Oil, alcohol, and any acid (even chemicals in some water supplies) can stain marble or damage its high-gloss finish; granite can stand up to all of these. Solid slabs are very expensive. Some homeowners and designers use stone tiles including slate and limestone as less expensive alternatives.
Cost. A custom-cut marble slab costs $40 to $70 per square foot (with granite about $60 and up) polished and finished with a square or slightly beveled edge. Decorative details add more. Installation costs about $75 an hour. |
