Stainless Steel and Copper Countertops

The newest rage in kitchen countertop material is stainless steel and copper.  Both metals give the home kitchen a professional-look.  In addition, both stainless and copper have natural antibacterial properties, are extremely durable, and are easy to maintain. 

Stainless Steel Countertops:

Stainless steel countertops provide a contemporary look to any kitchen.  They are also very easy to clean, and are antibacterial making them grate for food preparation.

Stainless steel comes in various grades, which are used for different applications.  There are over 150 grades of stainless steel; however only approximately fifteen are most commonly used.  For example, 316L is used for jewelry as it can be re-finished by any jeweler and does not oxidize and turn black like silver.  Residential stainless steel countertops for example, has a better stain resistance are usually fashioned using 304 stainless steel.  This grade of stainless steel has higher nickel content than lower-grade stainless steels.

For kitchen countertops, most manufactures use a 16-gauge stainless steel, which is a rolled metal product that is welded, ground, and polished.  Never soldered joints product that will be used for food-preparation as the flux used could contain led or another toxin that could contaminate food. 

As wonderful as stainless steel countertops maybe, they still have some disadvantages.  Stainless steel can stain and can corrode if not cleaned with the properly product.  Cleaning products, which contain bleach can and will harm stainless steel countertops if not thoroughly rinsed with clean water.  In addition, foods that contain acid which are left for long periods on stainless steel countertops will stain the surface. 

For daily cleaning and overall general maintenance, you want to use a sponge or soft cloth and warm soapy water to clean stainless-steel kitchen countertops, then thoroughly rinse using clean water and finally wipe dry to prevent water stains.  If your stainless steel countertops do happen to become stained, you can easily remove most stains by using a soft abrasive cleaner such as Comet, or Ajax.  Because any abrasive cleaner can scratch, when scouring make sure that you scrub in the same direction as the finish, this will minimize the appearance of any scratches that may occur.  Stainless steel countertops are available with a brushed appearance, which will help camouflage scratches and wear that will occur over the years of use.

Scratches will occur with use over time as objects are placed upon them, slid across them, and even occasionally dropped on them.  Using either 180-grit sand paper can blend in most minor scratches.  Make sure that you sand in the same direction as the existing brushed pattern.  When blending in scratches that run across the brush pattern, it is possible that you will create an area that stands off from the rest of the countertop.  You can help less this effects by using light, feathering stroke.  For severely deep scratches, it may be necessary to contact a fabricator for recommendations on how to remove or lessen the appearance of the scratches.  

The price of stainless steel countertops is approximately $50 to $75 per square foot.  However, this does not include the cost of installation, cutouts, or backsplashes.  Some contractors will include an integral sink of their choice.  It is important to understand that this is usually a SPECIAL offer and not usually included in the base price.  If you plan to order a stainless steel countertop, make sure that you interview several fabricators and inquire about their experience with residential applications and installation.  You also want to make sure that the fabricator belongs to the National Kitchen and Bath Association and is in good standings with them.  All members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association are aware of residential industry standards.

Copper Countertops:

In the last few years, copper has increasingly been showing up in kitchens, from copper vent hoods, to copper sinks, copper cookware, and now even copper countertops. 

Copper countertops add both character and warmth to any kitchen.  In addition, with age and use, copper gentle patinas, adding more character and charm.  In addition, copper is a biostatic, which means that bacteria will not grow and thrive on a copper surface, making copper ideal for kitchen use.  Another benefit of copper is that it cleans up very nicely with soap and water.  The only maintenance needed to keep copper looking great, is occasionally waxing it with beeswax or butcher's wax to reduce the appearance of fingerprints and to preserve the finish.

One characteristic of copper countertop, which some consider a benefit and other a disadvantage, is that is more unpredictable and vulnerable than stainless steel, in that the developing patina can range from shiny copper to green to a charcoal brown.  In addition, most owners of copper countertops do not attempt to mask or hide scratches, as most owners feel that the scratches are simply part of the aging process that adds to the natural patina and characteristic of the copper.