What Are the Pros and Cons of a Glass Countertop?

The choice of the type of kitchen countertop to install might be an issue when remodeling or building a new home. Sometimes the type of countertop in the kitchen may also be a consideration when looking for a new apartment or home. A glass countertop is a relatively modern type of kitchen countertop that may not be as ubiquitous or popular as the other types of kitchen countertops that include materials like marble, granite and wood. Even though a glass countertop is not as common, it does have some befits, in addition to certain disadvantages. Some of the advantages include good aesthetics and better health qualities, while the disadvantages include high costs and eventual degradation.

One of the advantages of a glass countertop is the fact that it is quite stylish and can blend in perfectly with modern designs, even lending the kitchen a sort of futuristic appeal by its mere presence. A reason for its appeal is the ability to adapt itself to any type of design, including different choices of colors, tints and texture. Some people might find this sort of versatility appealing and may choose to opt for a glass countertop based on this attribute. On the other hand, this sort of versatility also often comes at a dear price, mainly because such specific designs and colors are usually custom-made to fit in with the tone of the décor in a home, particularly in the kitchen. This contributes to the more expensive price of glass countertops in comparison to wood, ceramic, laminate or other cheaper materials.

Another advantage of a glass countertop is the fact that it is more hygienic than other types of countertops due to the quality of the glass material itself. Since glass does not have the nooks and crannies that other countertop materials have, germs and bacteria do not thrive as much on this type of countertop. This advantage may be canceled out, however, by the damage that will occur on the glass countertop material with the passage of time, especially in areas where the countertop is subjected to a lot of usage. Cuts and scratches from knives and other objects will create crevices where the germs can grow and multiply. Apart from creating an ideal place for bacteria to grow, the cuts and other forms of defacement reduce the aesthetically pleasing qualities or value of the glass countertop.