Your kitchen renovation project is a serious investment, and you want to make sure to choose just the right materials for every aspect, from floors and faucets to cabinets and countertops. You want each of these heavily-used surfaces to last for a long time. They need to be easy to clean and durable. They must look fantastic for years without looking dated or worn. They need to resist spills, staining, scratches, heat, fire, water and moisture damage, etching and all the other kinds of things that can happen when you’re actively using the kitchen from day-to-day. As one of the most heavily used (and frequently visited) areas of your home, materials matter! At Corvallis Custom Kitchens and Baths, we can guide you through the process of choosing the best materials for your Benton County kitchen remodeling project. Look through our favorite kitchen materials below to get some ideas, and then schedule a consultation to discuss different options with our kitchen renovation experts.
The Best Kitchen Cabinet Materials
Kitchen cabinets are the storage workhorses of your kitchen, and they need to work well for keeping all of your tools and ingredients organized, yet out of sight when not in use. And because they cover so much of your kitchen area, they need to be aesthetically pleasing as well as durable and easy to clean. The following are some of the best options for kitchen cabinet materials, and what you can expect from each of them:
1. Hardwood
Hardwood kitchen cabinets are the classic, premium standard because they last for a long time and come in a wide variety of grains and hues. While maple and hickory resist dents and scratches, softer woods like pine or walnut don’t fare as well under heavy use. Keep in mind that hardwood cabinets can sometimes expand and contract with changes in temperature and moisture in the air. Real wood weighs more than some of the manufactured options too, so you have to have an architecture that supports its weight.
2. Plywood
Plywood is a great, affordable option for kitchen cabinets. Select the highest grades for the best durability. It’s a manufactured wood product combining thin layers of wood and glue under pressure and heat to increase strength and remove the warping concerns of natural hardwood.
3. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Another popular option because of its smoothness, MDF is another manufactured composite made out of resins, recycled fibers, and wax sealed together under high pressure. It’s much more durable than particleboard and is easy to paint or stain. If you are worried about formaldehyde gas emissions from manufactured materials, however, keep in mind that MDF emits at a higher level than other manufactured wood materials.
In addition to these cabinet materials, know you have the additional options for wood veneer, laminate, thermofoil, bamboo, aluminum, and even glass. Each has its place in the right kitchen design.
The Best Kitchen Countertop Materials
A lot of kitchen business happens on the countertops, so they need to be tough and easy to care for while looking amazing with your other materials. These are some of the countertop materials for kitchen renovations Corvallis, Oregon homeowners love:
4. Quartz Composite
Also called “engineered stone”, quartz composite countertops are made of quartz mixed with resins that come in all kinds of colors and patterns. It’s incredibly durable, resists stains, knife scratches, and hot pans. It might chip on the edges, so rounding the corners is a good move.
5. Natural Stone
Granite is still popular because of its durability. Fabricators will seal it when they install the countertop, but you should seal it annually to avoid stains. Marble is much softer and susceptible to scratches and stains but is an excellent surface for making pastry and pasta. Soapstone, limestone, slate, and travertine are also natural stone options with their pros and cons, so be sure to do your homework and chose a natural stone compatible with your kitchen habits.
6. Wood
Natural wood countertops are common in professional kitchens, and their antimicrobial powers are formidable. Of course, they can be nicked and stained, so more maintenance is involved, but they do create a sturdy, ideal work surface for active chefs.
There are some other great kitchen countertop materials, each with its own list of benefits and drawbacks. You can use everything from very durable laminate, concrete and recycled glass to stainless steel or ceramic tiles for your counters.
The Best Kitchen Flooring Materials
As with all of the other materials, form and function need to blend seamlessly here too. Some of our favorite flooring options for the kitchen include:
7. Engineered Hardwood
While natural hardwood floors can warp with the changes in heat and humidity that happen in the kitchen, engineered hardwood is manufactured using resins that make it more durable and stain-resistant.
8. Tile
Natural stone, porcelain, and ceramic tile are perfect for the kitchen area. There are so many colors, patterns, and styles available depending on the look you’re after. While it may take a little more care than luxury vinyl flooring, epoxy grouts have made it so much easier to maintain these floors.
9. Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Not your grandma’s vinyl, LVF is extremely durable, easy to clean, and comes in patterns that look like real wood or stone. This flooring is very pet and family friendly, so if you’re looking for something that can handle everyday life well, it’s a great option.
Of course, you also have the option of using natural stone, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, and even bamboo kitchen flooring, depending on the look, ease of cleaning, and comfort level.
Kitchen Renovations Corvallis: Call the Experts
As Corvallis' kitchen renovation experts, we've worked with all of these materials and more. We can also advise you on the best kitchen sink and faucet materials, backsplash materials, lighting options and everything in between. We want your Corvallis kitchen remodeling project to be a dream come true. So, be sure to check out our kitchen design portfolio to get some ideas. And to narrow down your choices to the best ones for your style and needs, schedule a personal consultation with our Benton County kitchen renovation experts today: (541) 758-6141.
