Kitchen Counter, the Precious Workspace

After checking the kitchen appliances and the kitchen cabinets, your next interior home checking schedule involves checking the kitchen counter. What kind of kitchen counter is it? Is it against a wall with a sink and garbage disposal? Is the kitchen counter on top of a kitchen island in the center of the kitchen? Such kitchen counters double as dining tables, as well.

The kitchen counter faces the maximum wear and tear – after the kitchen floor. You must ensure that the quality of the kitchen counter is commensurate with the kitchen cabinets. If the quality does not match, or is of a cheaper quality, obviously, you may wish to change it. This, of course, is an expensive proposition.



Countertop Material

Is the kitchen countertop made of laminated material or granite? If the countertop is laminated, is it fixed properly or are there any loose areas. Can the loose areas be fixed? Otherwise, you will have to put in a new laminated material. If the countertop is made of tiles, check to see whether the tiles are broken, cracked, or chipped. You need to check whether you can get matching tiles readily available in the market or not. Find out how old is the kitchen counter. The style of the tiles may be outdated and you may need to install a new kitchen counter.

You will need to check the condition of the grouts between the tiles. Over long-term use, they become stained and start to look shabby. These can be corrected and brought back to their clean condition.

Kitchen countertops are made of granite, too. You need to check the condition of granite. Granite does not, over time, change color or loose its brilliance. Granite is heat resistant and will normally not scratch, blister, or crack. However, wine, oils, and acidic chemicals, etc leave a mark on them. Check to see whether there are any stains or cracks in the granite. Certain stains are permanent and cannot be removed. Cracks, obviously, cannot be filled to look like new. Some residual marks will always be left behind. If you wish to replace a part of the granite slab with a new one, keep in mind that the color will never match.

Granite countertops can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap. Granite soaks in moisture and needs to be resealed, about twice a year, with non-yellowing paste wax. Check to see whether the seller has been maintaining his granite kitchen counter in this way.

Inspect the kitchen counter thoroughly so that you may not land up in a situation where you may have to put in a new kitchen counter that will cost you a bundle.