Turning Houses Into Homes: A Home and Garden Blog

Tips To Help You Shop For Your New Home's Kitchen

There are a great number of features to consider when you are shopping for your next home. The kitchen and bathroom features and amenities are important when you shop around. And whether you choose to keep the home as it is or upgrade some amenities within the home, you want to make sure you pick what will work for you and will last for many years. Here are some tips to help you choose features in your new home's kitchen that will look great and last. 

Look For a Great Countertop

The countertop you choose for your new kitchen, whether you are installing one in a new home or selecting one for your current house, can have some features that will make it more long-lasting and durable. In addition to choosing a countertop that is made of beautifully colored stone, make sure it is sealed. A sealed stone countertop with withstand staining and other damage from water. For example, water left standing on your stone counter can absorb into the pores of the stone and leave a water stain. You can ask the previous homeowners if they have applied a sealant onto the countertop and how long ago it was applied. 

Also, look for a stone countertop that has rounded edges. The cut of the edges of your counter can make it more durable, so look for edges that are rounded versus square-cut edges. The thickness of the countertop also makes a difference. For example, stone slabs can be cut anywhere from 3/4-inch to 1 1/4-inch thick, but the thicker they are the more they will hold up with time. 

Last, look for any joints in the countertop stone slab. If your countertop is made up of one continuous piece you are better off, but if your counter is a larger space and needs to be made of more than one piece, make sure the joints are sealed with a silicone sealant to hold up better over time.

Choose Upgraded Appliances

Another important quality in a home is the type of appliances the home comes equipped with. For example, in the kitchen, you might want to look for a gas range versus an electric cooktop. If you do a great deal of baking, you might look for a double oven with an optional convection oven. 

It can also be of benefit when updating your appliances to select appliances with a stainless steel finish. These match any color scheme in your kitchen and are easy to keep looking great for many years. Just be sure you don't use any harsh cleaners to wipe down their surfaces to avoid scratches.

For more information on stone countertops, contact a company in your area like Artisan Granite & Marble.


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