Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom can seem challenging, with many small details making a significant impact. After finding the perfect stone, choosing a color and deciding on the vein pattern, you also have to decide on the countertop edge. Selecting the right countertop edge can bring a room together and create a unique focal point that suits your space.
Pick a countertop edge that suits your kitchen cabinets and the interior or your room and home. This guide will discuss popular edge choices and explain how to choose the edge for your kitchen. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about countertop edges.
How Are Countertop Edges Created?
Modern countertop edges follow the process of cutting and polishing the stone slab. Equipment with cutting tools shapes the slab into your desired look and feel. A combination of water jets and routers will shape the slab to your needs, and the slab will then receive a polishing. Complex edge designs can take days or weeks to complete, while simple designs require much less time and result in lower fabrication costs. After completion, a fabricator will ensure all degrees meet your preferences and are uniform.
Popular Countertop Edge Profiles
The material you choose for your countertops can dictate which profiles will look best in your home. Quartz and granite are the most popular stone materials for countertops, and there are a variety of edge profiles that complement both.
Many companies will also offer custom edge designs so you can get creative and design the kitchen or bathroom of your dream. However, these options can bring a higher price tag as more details require additional time and effort. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are the most popular granite and quartz countertop edge profiles:
- Polished: Polished granite or quartz edges provide a modern look. This profile is clean and simple, with flat or eased edges that work well with shaker-style cabinets. Although this profile provides a crisp, square look, the edges are not sharp, and the corners and sides undergo a slight smoothing finish that protects from chipping and injuries.
- Rounded: This profile is an excellent choice when you want a rounded, softer look for your kitchen. Many manufacturers will offer a radius variation you can explore for this option. The result is a clean, simple look that strengthens the countertop and prevents injuries.
- Bullnose: The roundest granite or quartz countertop edge profile option is the bullnose. This style has a fully round surface from bottom to top. This stone edge profile option can make your countertop look thinner and is often an excellent choice for families with young children. You can also choose a half bullnose where only the top of the edge is rounded.
- Beveled: Many beveled edges are 45 degrees, but anything below 90 degrees is a beveled edge. This option provides and angular look that can enhance contemporary or traditional kitchen aesthetics. It can create a beautiful focal point and a sleek touch to your space.
- Ogee: Traditional kitchens often feature these edge styles. With this option, your counter will have a gentle s-curve that can give you a detailed look that stands out to you and your guests. This edge option can be more challenging to clean as crumbs and dust can build in the grooves, but the elegant look is a worthwhile touch for your space.
- Chiseled: If you love the look of natural stone, chiseled edges are an attractive option. These granite and quartz countertop edge styles offer a rustic and natural appearance.
- Waterfall: When you opt for waterfall edges, you extend your counter to its ends. Contemporary and modern kitchens are excellent spaces for this design. The material looks like it’s flowing to the floor, giving your room an elegant and beautiful touch.
How to Choose a Countertop Edge
Now that you know the most popular types of countertop edges, it’s time to find the right one for you. Here’s how you can choose the right countertop edge for your home:
Set a Budget
Always begin your search by setting a budget. The larger your budget, the more intricate designs you can consider. The size of your countertop will significantly affect your budget, so you have to consider whether the stone, size and edges you want will fit within your budget.
Consider the Design Intention
Although you might love the look of a particular countertop edge, you must consider how it will work with your other kitchen elements. Additionally, some materials will offer more versatility than others, so detailing your design intention can help eliminate or highlight certain materials, making your search easier.
Choose a Material
One of the most significant considerations you’ll need to make for your countertop is the material. While you can find intricate edges for quartz countertops, others like laminate have more limitations. If you’re looking for the perfect edges to enhance your kitchen, you’ll need to consider the materials. Popular countertop materials include:
- Granite: Natural stone options like granite come from all over the world. Granite offers smooth surfaces and an inherent hardness. This is a top choice for adding dimension to homes through tiles or countertops. Its durability makes it one of the best countertops and its resistance to stains makes it one of the easiest to maintain.
- Quartz: Many bathrooms and kitchens feature quartz countertops because it offers easy maintenance, scratch resistance, aesthetic appeal and durability. The elegant appearance provides a timeless look, and the low ownership cost makes it an excellent investment for your home.
- Corian®: Corian solid surface edges and countertops combine resin and minerals. It has the look and feel of a solid surface with more design and installation flexibility than natural stone. The versatility makes it an excellent choice for those with a specific design in mind.
- Marble: This material is typically a high-end option that can elevate your space, and the unique veining draws many homeowners to it. This material is resistant to cracking and does well against heat, but it is prone to staining and scratching.
- Laminate: This material is inexpensive but doesn’t offer the versatility of other materials. It has a lightweight design and offers many colors and patterns with a nonporous surface, preventing bacteria and mold buildup. However, you must be careful when placing hot dishes and other items because laminate peels and suffers from heat damage.
Evaluate the Maintenance
Whether you want to stay on trend with the most popular edge for quartz countertops or get creative with eye-catching grooves and divots, you must consider what that means for your cleaning and maintenance schedule. Edges with intricate grooves can be more challenging to clean, and you may have to choose between easy cleaning and those eye-catching edges you love. The extra work is worth the beauty of these designs, but you must decide how these elements will affect your home and lifestyle.
Choose Henry H. Ross & Son, Inc. for Your Countertop Edges
When you need help finding the perfect countertop edge for your space, you can rely on H.H. Ross to help. Our journey began in 1956, and we haven’t stopped growing since. We now fabricate more than 50 surfaces so you can always find the best fit for your home. Contact us today and we’ll help you find the right countertop edges for your space.