Changing the kitchen top: when is it convenient and what are the costs? Is there a less invasive alternative to total replacement? Here’s what you need to know before changing the top: when to do it, how to choose it and what are the prices of the various materials.
The top floor of the kitchen it is the part most subject to wear weather. Its maintenance requires constant care but, due to contact direct with food, detergents and various utensils, tends to discolor or even get ruined, forever changing its appearance.
Being the most exposed part of the kitchen, you get the feeling that with a ruined top the whole environment loses some of its aesthetic appeal; at that point becomes need to face a restyling complete: but is it possible to limit oneself only to replacing the worktop?
The answer is yes: the kitchen countertop can be easily replaced with a new worktop. But be careful, because its replacement it must be entrusted always to professionals, able to install it correctly so as to make it unassailable by the action of external agents.
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In this article we will address all the issues related to changing the kitchen top: when is it convenient to change it? How to replace it? But most of all, how to protect the new top from the wear of time? Finally an overview on market prices, according to the material chosen.
When is it convenient to change the kitchen top?
The replacement of the kitchen top can take place for different circumstances. In fact it is a protagonist element of our kitchens, and its aesthetic effectiveness has a huge impact on the rest of the environment.
Changing the top can be a good way to renew the look of the kitchen, without upsetting the furniture: in fact, it is enough to replace it with a new one, perhaps even of a different color, to immediately notice a big difference.
But also when its surface begins to discolour due to the weather, changing the top is the only one way to recover the general aesthetic result. Not only: replacement of the top sometimes it is also required in the event of a move. With a different arrangement of the kitchen, the size of the worktop also changes, which therefore needs to be adapted to the new furnishing scheme.
Finally, the worst case scenario: a top that has burnt stains impossible to clear away, or swelling caused by the action of liquids; in this case, it can only be replaced with a new worktop. So let’s see what to do in case of replacing the kitchen top.
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How to replace it?
The top can be replaced with any type of material, but it is important to install it correctly, to ensure that appliances are not damaged by infiltration.
In particular, it must pay attention to flatness of the plan, which must be approached perfectly to the wall and finished with a splashback, an angular profile in material water repellent, which has the task of avoiding the infiltration of liquids.
Finally you have to pay attention also correct installation of the sinks and hob, which are blocked inside the top thanks to the special gaskets included.
The top must integrate perfectly to the new profile of the kitchen, to constitute a single plan together with the other elements. So better don’t rely on DIY, but always contact qualified professionals, able to correctly install the new top.
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Cover the ruined top
In addition to the total replacement, there is a less invasive alternative for kitchen tops that are only partially damaged. It is about cover the worktop with a coating in microcement, which allows not only to hide the imperfections of the top, but also to refresh the whole environment through a targeted and extremely customized.
In fact, the microcement coating can be easily combined with all materials, through the choice of a texture and a color capable of enhancing the style of your kitchen. The thickness of the coating is 3 millimeters and guarantees one perfect fit of long duration on any pre-existing surface.
But in addition to the aesthetic advantages, microcement also offers undoubted practical advantages, because coverage has costs remarkably lower than a new top; the price of a microcement coating is around between € 50 and € 100 per square meter, but the cost fluctuates a lot based on the customizations required.
However, if we consider that the total replacement of the old top involves the disassembly and reassembly of the new top, we must take into account not only the expense of the new top, but also the installation costs.
How to protect the new top?
To protect the new top from the wear of time and infiltration of liquids, it is necessary prevent deformation and discoloration of the surface, adopting a maintenance targeted to the type of material.
But the only really valid way to avoid burning the kitchen top remains the trivet, that protects any surface from the heat excessive steaming pots and pans.
Finally, attention also to cleaning of the top: acid detergents and abrasive sponges can undermine the shine and color of the top, even before the action of time takes its course.
Top prices based on the material
Prices vary according to the choice of material, size, finish and thickness of the top. Certainly, the variable which affects the most on the price is the type of material chosen. However, on the market it is possible to find economic solutions that still offer a good compromise between quality and price, guaranteeing an effective aesthetic result.
Generally the prices of a laminate top they go from 60 to 80 € per meter, while for i finest materials, such as granite marble or quartz, prices they can even reach € 400 per meter. On the cost the final the type of collection also affects of household appliances. The choice essentially depends on the effect you want to achieve.
The proceeds stand out in three categories:
- above: the appliance rests on the top through made-to-measure openings. It is the choice more common and cheaper, valid for any type of plan;
- flush-mount: the appliance is positioned flush with the worktop, by means of a hinged door. It is a more refined aesthetic solution, ideal for quartz and Corian worktops;
- undermount: and the solution built-in more expensive, but also the one that offers a better aesthetic result. It is possible to choose it only with the most valuable types of materials.
Changing kitchen countertops: images and photos
Are you thinking of changing the kitchen worktop or covering it with a microcement cover? If you don’t know which style to adopt, take a look at this photo gallery: here you will find lots of really good examples, from which to immediately take inspiration.
