Buffalo, New York is more than the buffalo wings it was named after. It is also the entry point from the United States when you are planning to see Niagara Falls. The second-largest city in New York State (next only to New York City), Buffalo is home to nearly 260,000 people.
Located six hours upstate of NYC, properties in the Buffalo-Niagara area are selling like hotcakes. It is not known as a City of Good Neighbors for nothing. A listed home would not stay for one month until somebody scoops it up.
However, about nine in ten houses here are over 20 years old. So, you will find that the countertops buffalo NY, need some serious upgrades. During the 1990s, the favored countertop was Corian, which looks similar to a stone countertop.
You can always witness homeowners or realtors put a marble countertop on top of their wish list. Marble, indeed, will help make your kitchen pop out, but it is also one of the more expensive materials around. According to Home Advisor, a marble countertop will cost you between $1,000 and $9,000.
Instead, you can choose these materials for your countertops in Buffalo, NY if you do not have the budget for marble:
- Granite. Like marble, granite is also classified as a natural stone with a variety of colors. It is very durable and has a high resistance to heat. Granite even requires less maintenance compared to marble. Both materials, however, need to be installed by a professional. If you do not seal the material correctly, you will find water beads on the surface. With granite, you will spend somewhere between $1,000 and $5,000.
- Quartz. Although the average homeowner in Buffalo would know more about granite, quartz is harder and more flexible than granite. It is harder, so it is more durable. Additionally, since it is flexible, it is less prone to cracks. Besides, quartz closely resembles marble that most people have a hard time distinguishing the two. On the downside, it is less resistant to heat. Make sure to place heating pads before you put down the cooking pan. With that said, the entry-level granite countertop is cheaper compared to quartz. You will spend between $2,000 and $4,000 for a quartz countertop.
- Solid surface. The solid surface is a synthetic material made from marble dust, acrylics, and polyester resin. The benefit of using the material is you can use integrated backsplashes and integrated seamless sinks. You cannot do that with granite, which is why they attach an under-mount sink. The solid surface is also easily maintained as a professional can refinish it in case of stains and scratches. It will cost you between $35 and $85 per square foot.
- White concrete. The material is easily maintained and heat-resistant if it is properly sealed by a professional. You can also embed other materials like glass, stone, fossils, and ceramic, to personalize your countertop further. White concrete countertops will cost you between $65 and $135 per square foot. It offers excellent value because it can last a lifetime with proper maintenance.
When talking about countertops, however, marble is not even the most expensive. That honor goes to enameled lava, which costs about $200 per square foot. Nevertheless, the countertop is a personal choice. You may have a material in mind, but it is not rare for some homeowners to change their tunes when they enter the showroom in Buffalo. So, keep an open mind.