Which stones are the best countertop options for your budget?

countertops-for-your-budget

Finding the best countertop for your kitchen, bathroom or vanity is not an easy feat especially when you have a tight budget. But even with a low budget at hand, you can still find beautiful countertops in Chicago that best suit your home. As with the more expensive types, you can choose from a wide variety of styles, colors, and textures based on your budget.

Inexpensive Countertops

The cheapest kitchen countertops in Chicago are between $5 to $30 per square foot. The most popular choices are ceramic tiles, laminate countertops, and solid surface counters. 

A ceramic tile costs between $18 and $35 per square foot. Mostly known for their elaborate mosaic designs, ceramic tiles come in different colors and styles, making them highly customizable and perfect for the kitchen. They also look great as bathroom countertops. Overall, they are durable, heat resistant, and easy to maintain. On the other hand, laminate countertops cost around $15 to $40. They are known to be affordable and low maintenance compared with other materials. You can choose from different colors and styles, and make them look like you have a granite countertop or marble one for a cheaper alternative. They are surprisingly durable, especially with their cheap price. With a $35-$85 per square foot budget, you can have yourself a solid surface countertop. They are low maintenance, durable, and perfect for innovative designs. 

Expensive Countertops 

If you have an extra budget to spare, you can easily purchase granite countertops, soapstone or marble countertops in Chicago around $40 to $200 per square foot. 

Marble countertops cost between $75 and $250 per square foot. They’re high maintenance – the cost of an elegant countertop for your home. Be careful to have them installed for light use only. You can save on the cost by choosing more affordable grades, shades, and colors. Another top choice by homeowners is granite countertops. They cost around $45 to $200 per square foot. They’re moderate to high maintenance. You can go cheaper by installing tiles instead of slabs. Quartz countertops are another option and they are about the same cost with granite countertops. They are also durable and they don’t chip easily, so if you have a busy kitchen, quartz kitchen countertops are your best option. 

Overall, stone countertops in Chicago vary in price per style, color, and material. Cheap countertops cost anywhere from $5 to $30 per square foot while the more expensive types cost around $40 to $200 per square foot. For cheap alternatives, your top choices are ceramic, laminate, and solid surface. If you have the budget for it, you can spruce up your kitchen counter with marble, granite or quartz.