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With Anvil Cabinet and Mill, virtually any countertop is available. We specialize in both the exotic as well as the practical. Due to the variety of choices, we feel it is important for you to understand the "pros" and "cons" of them all.
Solid Surface Pros: Solid Surface is the countertop material of today. It has become a status symbol, in a way, signifying the quality that has been chosen by the owners for their dream home. It is considered to be a very durable and reliable product. It is available in a wide variety of colors and patterns many that imitate granite and some of the other natural stones. An integrated sink is available with solid surface, which helps with clean up as it eliminates any lip in the sink area and is considered one of the main "pros" of solid surface. Solid Surface is also non-porous, keeping your kitchen clean and safe from bacteria. A variety of edges are available, (most at no extra cost). There is a very high creativity possibility with this product by doing inlays, unique edges, and adding built-in accessories such as towel racks, dish drainers, etc. We at Anvil deal in the upper end brand names consisting of Avonite, Hi-Macs, and Corian. These are the ½" thick acrylic and/or polyester material and are better products than the ¼" or 1/8" veneers. It adds a custom look to your kitchen and puts it in another realm as far as the overall kitchen package appearance. Solid Surface is considered seamless. Scratches and dings can be sanded out rather easily by the owner, renewing your kitchen. A video is provided with all Avonite products to help with and to familiarize you with the how to care for it. Solid Surface carries a 10-year guarantee but will last long beyond the ten years. We guarantee that you will be 100% satisfied with it at installation or your money back. Cons: Heat is an enemy to solid surface. However, it resists heat up to 350°. For pots and pans off the stove or items near the 350°, a matching cutting board/trivet/hot pad is provided. These are available in shapes such as an apple, a goose, a pig, a fish, or even a kokopelli. Our professional and licensed installers ensure that the proper distance of this product and the stove is maintained. Cost can also be a con as solid surface can cost 4-6 times more than laminate. Granite Pros: One of the biggest pros of Granite is the level to which it puts your kitchen package. It has great visual appeal and adds another dimension of nature to compliment your wood cabinetry. It won't scratch and is virtually indestructible. It is considered to have some degree of porosity, but is sealed which takes that level to a minuscule amount. Water has no effect on it and heat, no matter what temperature, will not bother it. It is easy to clean, especially if the granite is one of the lighter choices. Cons: Price. This is one of the most expensive choices. The edges available for other Granite aren't nearly as diverse as with other countertop material. Insets of other material are not an option with this product. It also takes some maintenance as this product must be sealed and polished to look brand new. Ceramic Tile Pros: This is thought to be a fairly durable product. It is available in many different sizes, colors, and designs. The creativity possibilities are high with tile as you can add mural, pictures, or hand painted tiles. It is head resistant up to 500° Fahrenheit. It is also moisture resistant. Cons: The biggest con being the grout line. It is said to be quite porous even after being sealed which makes the countertop susceptible to stains and water. It should be noted that most of these stains could be bleached out or removed by scrubbing. Plastic Laminate Pros: This is the oldest and still most popular countertop material available. It is available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and types. By choosing Anvil Cabinet & Mill, your countertop will be a "custom" laminate countertop. By this we mean that we lay the decking down first (a 1 ¼" high density particle board material), and then after sanding and filling, the plastic laminate is attached. By using this method, we avoid the big, long joints in the corners of the countertop that tend to separate and stain, which are found with postform countertops. Custom countertops allow for a more custom fit that matches with your home. The thicker substrate material better supports overhangs found on bars etc. We use solid wood for the front of the countertop (nosing) which holds the laminate found on the nosing more securely than if just glued to the particleboard. Plastic laminate has been time tested to hold up quite well, especially as it is a fraction of the price of some of the other countertop options. There is a 4"-1/8" backsplash, a 4"-3/4" backsplash, or a full backsplash available. On the nosing, a myriad of edges are available, the most popular being a wood chamfered/beveled edge. We deal in Formica and Wilson Art brands. Cons: This material is quite susceptible to being chipped and dinged, more especially on the edges. If chipped, the only repair is replacement of that piece, which is a costly process. Even with our Custom Countertops, you will still more than likely have at least one seam, usually in the sink area, where it will be most easily hidden. Heat will also damage laminate if a hot pan is placed directly on the countertop. Depending on the color and the finish of the laminate scratches can be more of a downfall and the lighter products tend to stain more so than the darker products. Natural Marble Pros: This is a cool smooth material that works well for pastry and other similar baking ventures. It adds to the kitchen another natural element that compliments the natural wood. Works best as an inset in a countertop. Cons: Marble is a softer material and is not recommended for a whole countertop. The more veins that run through this material the weaker it is. Because it is so soft it also has a high porosity rating and therefore stains quite easily. Cultured Marble Pros: As looks go, this is an appealing product. It can be custom manufactured so to have the sink molded into the countertop. This means it has no grout lines like a tile countertop would. This countertop is very affordable and can be done to match the shower and tub surrounds. Cons: Cultured Marble is mainly a two-step process. First the countertop is shaped out of a compressed, white clay substance. After drying, a thin topcoat is added to make the surface. This process makes scratched more visible as the countertop is not one solid piece. Scratches are costly to buff out and the process of removal can still be seen after the repair is finished. Depending on the product, heat can be an enemy. Curling Irons have been known to burn many products. It is porous and will stain after five to six months. This product carries no product warranty. Butcher Block Pros: Once again this is a natural product that serves as a warm compliment to wood cabinetry. Hard Rock Maple is the best product to use due to its tight and fine grain. The Maple is pieced together, which provides an excellent area to prepare food that will not dull knives. The piecing together adds to the look of the block. Cons: This countertop is not good with water. It is used as an inset or island top that is away from the threat of water. Butcher Blocks need to be periodically maintained with either vegetable oil or pure tung oil. Metal Pros: The most common, though still unusual metal countertop would be the stainless steel material. It gives a unique, commercial look to the kitchen. Stainless steel is impervious to stains and/or water, hence the name, "stainless." It is also unaffected by the high temperatures. It is most commonly used as a compliment to other countertops, being used in unconnected areas of the kitchen such as an island. It cleans up easily but will show water streaks unless completely dried. This product is unique and is not used often, therefore making your kitchen standout. Cons: The metals used for countertops are a veneer. This makes the product somewhat soft and more apt to show scratches and dings. The dings become permanent and cannot be buffed out. |
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