The bathroom countertop is an essential attribute of a modern bathroom. The presence of a surface makes the room even more practical, more functional, more aesthetic. Throw away the old modest “moidodyr” and cramped hanging shelves that hung the walls until today. With the tabletop, you have a spacious storage unit for cosmetics and bath accessories, and the wall space can now be used for its intended purpose - to mount a large mirror.
Cabinet and countertop: the main differences
Salons and shops offer rather monotonous furniture. An option that harmoniously fits into the concept of a bathroom in a house or apartment is not so easy to find, and sometimes it turns out that it is completely impossible. Especially when the room is made in an original design or is characterized by a non-standard shape or area.
The classic version - a cabinet under the sink - is not for you, then stop the choice on the countertop. The design, in addition to an attractive design, is ergonomic and portable, and costs much less than conveyor furniture on the market.
Choose your bathroom countertop based on the model of the sanitary ware you are using. So, any surface is suitable for a desktop sink - whether stone or wood. But with embedded structures, everything is much more complicated. For such modules, you will have to select an easily cut material: composite, MDF, laminated chipboard. Hanging sinks are completely mounted on hinged countertops.
Features of monolithic structures
Pay attention to monolithic structures - countertops with bathroom sinks. This is interesting not only in terms of comfort, but also practicality. This plan models are good in many ways:
- easy care;
- stylish look;
- easy installation;
- no difficulty connecting plumbing and cutting countertops.
Standard single countertops with bathroom sinks are complemented by double and even triple versions, which is indispensable for large families.
"Innovative hybrid" does not lose to other designs, either in aesthetic or operational terms.
Small-sized bathrooms use the space under small solid countertops to good use, for example by integrating a washing machine under the bathroom countertop.
What should be the countertop under the washbasin
Bathroom - a room where the microclimate with high humidity prevails. Therefore, when choosing furniture, be sure to consider the type of room and in thiscase, choose only moisture-resistant furniture. Overnight, bathroom furniture does not lend itself to as many loads as a kitchen worktop, so absolutely invulnerable models are useless here.
A quality bathroom countertop meets the following criteria:
- neatly done;
- aesthetic;
- designer attractive;
- capacious;
- resistant to various detergents, gels and powders.
What countertops are made of: an overview of material options
In the bathroom furniture market, washbasin countertops are available in a wide range. Most often, buyers pay attention to such options for countertops:
- from chipboard;
- from MDF;
- made of stone - natural or artificial;
- natural wood;
- glass;
- made of plastic.
In addition, the bathroom countertop is easily made by hand from plasterboard sheets and finishing materials - glass, tile, ceramic mosaic, decorative stone.
Particleboard is cheap but…
Laminated chipboard countertops are very popular due to low surface cost and satisfactory quality. Manufacturers offer all sorts of colors and textures, which makes the choice of chipboard countertops a preferable option, because you can buy an inexpensive stand, integrating it with any style of interior.
The chipboard module is another opportunity to beat the shape and texture, and whenthe need to easily replace with another coating in the trend.
Surfaces with the effect of imitation of natural stone, wood, mosaics are popular. No less interesting are the options for the monophonic execution of countertops for the bathroom under the sink. Color is not the only difference between chipboard modules. This includes the texture:
- glossy;
- woody;
- shagreen.
Available in over 100 attractive colors.
The client can always choose a ready-made offer or order an option for individual production. In the second case, do not limit yourself in choosing a pattern. The modern possibilities of digital printing technology make it possible to turn any fantasy decor into reality.
A special protective layer makes the surface of the chipboard countertop resistant to impacts, scratches, sunlight, cleaning products.
What to look for when buying chipboard countertops
The edge is the main problem with chipboard. When buying such a plate, pay special attention to this structural element. With poor-quality gluing of the film, moisture and water penetrate under the outer layer, contributing to the swelling of the plate, the development of fungal formations.
If you are not ready to say goodbye to the bathroom countertop under the sink in 1-2 years, choose chipboard surface models that are made using the latest postforming technology - the edges of the plastic are wrapped around the base of the countertop. In this case, the bending angle can be 90 ° - wrapping on the end, or 180 ° - hiding under the countertop. The second option, of course, is more practical, therefore it is preferable. However, the processing technology is only suitable for straight sections. Curved countertops and non-standard thickness surfaces need additional protection - by gluing the edge.
In any case, the plate can be adjusted or cut to the desired parameters yourself, without needing the help of specialists - this will save you time and save your budget.
When working with chipboard, don't worry about it getting dirty - the surface is easy to clean. But be careful, as hard cleaning can damage the film easily.
Stylish and monumental option: natural stone surface
Surfaces are durable, reliable, durable, attractive appearance. The only thing that confuses buyers of stone bathroom countertops is the price. The option is expensive. Moreover, not only the surface itself will cost a lot, but also the installation of the structure, in the region of 30% of the cost of the countertop. Such a countertop should only be installed on a special, sturdy cabinet due to the considerable specific weight of the structure.
For the production of stone countertops for the bathroom, special stone slabs (granite, marble, bas alt) with a thickness of 20-40 mm are used.
Stone modules look very nice, but require careful handling. Natural stone perfectly complements any interior. Looks organically in combination with glass, ceramics, chrome andmirror surface.
Reasons to choose artificial stone
Coverage models of this kind demonstrate a number of advantages over other modules. You definitely heard about this material, but do you know that it comes in two types - agglomerated and acrylic?
Agglomerates are obtained by combining marble, granite or quartz chips with polyester resins. The material looks quite realistic, because it most of all resembles an artificial stone. Thanks to a special technology, the manufacturer manages to paint artificial marble bathroom countertops in various colors. The main advantage of agglomerates is strength, because quartz is the second hardest mineral after diamond.
As part of the acrylic "stone" - resins, aluminum hydroxide, mineral fillers, pigment additives. Like its relative, acrylic perfectly imitates all kinds of materials, conveying the color and texture of natural stone.
Thermoforming, a manufacturing technology that achieves any form of acrylic countertop, provides designers with ample opportunity to experiment with interiors. This design is easy to adjust to non-standard plumbing, organically fit into any layout, determining the size of the countertop for the bathroom based on the volume of the sink and its shape.
The only significant drawback of acrylic is its low heat resistance. The functional module can be easily melted by touching a hot object, such as a curling iron. That's whyagglomerated stone is preferred.
Advantages of artificial stone countertops
Some of the advantages of acrylic and agglomerated countertops include properties:
- water resistant;
- wear resistance;
- hygienic, since the surface is not prone to absorb dirt, and therefore does not act as an environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms and mold;
- pickiness, special care is not required, just clean the surface with a damp sponge or cloth;
- resistance to chemicals found in detergents.
Delicate naturalness in the guise of wooden countertops
The wooden surface is natural, pleasant appearance and aesthetics. This is what you need for an eco-style bathroom. A bathroom countertop made of wood requires special care and respect, just like solid wood furniture. Such a surface is characterized by hypersensitivity to mechanical stress, and in order to increase the service life of the module, it is coated with a special impregnation or varnish.
The malleability of wood makes it possible to make countertops of any shape.
A few words about glass countertop models
Such countertops are offered complete with bathroom sinks, since it is difficult, if not unrealistic, to fit the module to the desired dimensions of sanitary ware. The glass product differs in refinement, modernity, individual style. Countertop pricequite affordable, and the material is not afraid of detergents, it washes well.
Of the obvious shortcomings, the fragility of the material, the need for constant care.
Features of plastic modules
Cheap and unpretentious - that's what attracts buyers in plastic countertops for the bathroom.
The extreme lightness of the material contributes to the easy installation of the structure. But such countertops are not designed for long-term use and soon deteriorate, so it is better to pay attention to a more durable model of the sink stand in the bathroom.
Competent organization of space is now available thanks to the countertop:
- increasing the useful area of the bathroom;
- giving personality to the interior;
- allowing you to modernize the room, making it more modern.
All these advantages come from the wide range of configurations of these products in the bathroom furniture market, of course, it is up to you which of the above options to choose.
