Stainless Steel and Copper Countertops

Costs and Installation Stainless-steel counters cost $50 to $75 per square foot, not including installation, backsplashes, integral sinks, and cutouts. If you plan to order a metal countertop, interview fabricators and ask about their experience with residential applications. Metal fabricators that belong to the National Kitchen and Bath Association are aware of residential industry standards. You, your designer, or your contractor will need to take the necessary dimensions and determine whether your walls are straight. Once the countertop is fabricated, it is attached to wood backers. If you plan to install the counters yourself, keep in mind that with its backer, it will be heavy. Once in place, the counter can be fastened with screws or, only if necessary, glued to the cabinet cross braces. Stainless-steel countertops can include a variety of popular edges as well as backsplashes. Embossed or patterned backsplashes have seen new popularity. Homeowners are also mixing and matching with stainless steel, having perhaps one countertop or just the sink in stainless steel and other countertops in other surfaces. Copper Countertops A copper counter brings character and warmth to the kitchen. Copper’s gentle patina comes with age and use. Photo courtesy of SpecialtyStainless.com. Metal countertops are not exclusively stainless steel. Copper is increasingly finding a place in the kitchen. While it’s not mainstream, copper does have its appeal for those who enjoy having something unusual. Copper is a softer metal than stainless steel. In countertops, look for copper that is at least .060 thick. Copper of .080 provides added strength and performance. A copper countertop can be more volatile and susceptible to changes than stainless steel. Some homeowners consider this part of the developing patina as it moves from shiny copper to a charcoal brown. Scratches on copper are typically not addressed as they are part of the aging process and add to the natural patina. Copper is an excellent antibacterial material and cleanup is simple with soap and water. Maintenance involves occasionally waxing the counters with beeswax or butcher's wax to preserve the finish and reduce fingerprints. Copper countertops are custom quoted due to the variables of copper fabricating, but general estimates are around $150 per square foot, installed. A sheet of copper is generally three-feet by eight-feet, which can require a lot of shop welds, grinding, and polishing during fabrication. Copper tends to warp more than stainless, too, so deflection in larger countertops is always a consideration. Like stainless steel, copper is attached to wood backers and then fastened to the cabinet.

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