Copper Countertops Pros and Cons List

Since so many other counter top materials are expensive and difficult to come by, homeowners will often decide to use copper to construct their counter tops. Homeowners that do not wish to pay an exorbitant price for their counter top material opt for copper for a number of reasons, but there are certain disadvantages to this approach, as well as advantages.

In order to learn more about copper counter tops and make the most informed choice for your home decor needs, it is important to know about all of the pros and cons before you make a decision, not after. Otherwise, you could end up with counter tops that are not to your liking or even be forced to uninstall them and start over again.

The following is a closer examination of these pros and cons, so that you can decide whether copper counter tops are the right choice for your interior decoration scheme.

List of Pros of Copper Countertops

1. Increased Food Safety.
If you are someone who has a large number of people living in your home and you experience a great deal of kitchen traffic, then you will want copper counter tops. They are antimicrobial, which means that they are much easier to keep clean than more expensive materials that can be used for the same purpose. Not only will you be spending additional monies on the building materials, but you will also be spending significantly more money and time keeping your counter top surfaces clean.

Food safety is crucial and copper counter tops help to ensure that you and your loved ones are never exposed to harmful bacteria and germs while they are eating. It is much easier to develop food poisoning than most people think and it typically happens because of mistakes that are made by the person within their own home. These sorts of issues can be avoided with the installation of copper counter tops.

2. Easier To Keep Clean.
Not only do copper counter tops discourage the onset of germs and bacteria, but they are also kept clean with far less effort than more expensive surfaces. Copper is also a non porous material, which means that your counter tops will sustain far less damage from stray waters and juices than other surfaces that you could select. Germs die on contact and as a result, there is less work to be done to maintain kitchen cleanliness.

Copper counter tops are also stain resistant, which comes into play for homeowners who have several children running around the house. Children make messes, children spill things and as a result, it is important to protect your counter tops from permanent damages. Even though copper counter tops are not the normal choice for your kitchen decor, you are bound to become the envy of all your friends when they see how clean your counter tops are and they are bound to ask why there are no stains.

3. A Great Way To Stand Out.
Every home uses the same old decoration materials for the kitchen. Why not use copper counter tops and stand out from the crowd? Some are reticent to choose copper counter tops, because they do not have the same opulent appearance as other surfaces that they could choose. In many instances, people feel a need to keep up with the Joneses and they wind up making a decision that does not allow them to stand out among the crowd.

If you are someone who is not afraid to step outside of the box and think outside of the norms of what is popular, copper counter tops are a great chance to showcase your individuality. Instead of choosing the same exact counter top as your friend or neighbor, selecting copper counter tops ensures that your kitchen will stand out and always be remembered by visitors. Perhaps you will even inspire others to ditch their marble or granite counter tops and join the club.

4. Works Well In A Rustic Setting.
When it comes to copper counter tops, your mileage may vary, depending on your personal decoration preferences. Homeowners who have already established a rustic motif to their home decor often prefer copper counter tops, because they are a perfect match for the rest of their kitchen. They match well in homes that have already installed copper faucets and fixtures.

No one wants their home decor to be mismatched and look out of place. While other surfaces may be prettier to look at, it’s important to consider whether they have a viable place in your current kitchen set up. Should your home and/or kitchen already be outfitted with copper fixtures, then a copper counter top is the perfect complement.

List of Cons of Copper Countertops

1. Copper Is A Soft Metal.
While copper does not stain as quickly and is also much easier to clean, it is a softer metal, which makes it much more susceptible to scratches. Homeowners who allow their house cats to jump up on counter tops are typically the first to experience the sadness of watching their brand new copper counter tops develop scuffs, nicks and scratches.

Even general usage will lead to additional scratches and scuff marks, and in many cases, these blemishes are completely unavoidable. Choosing copper counter tops for aesthetic reasons typically means that a homeowner is not truly concerned about the durability of the metal they’ve selected. A homeowner who favors a rustic appearance may not care about these potential damages, while someone who values a more pristine look will.

2. More Expensive Than It Appears.
Copper is certainly much less expensive than many other surfaces that you could choose, but this does not mean that it comes cheap. Not only is copper much more expensive, but it also tends to need far more repairs than other counter top surfaces that a homeowner can use. Even if you are able to procure the materials for your initial installation at a favorable cost, there is no guarantee that the materials will hold up over the long haul.

Copper typically needs to be replaced after a certain period of time and this only serves to push your total expense amount even higher. It is next to impossible to maintain copper counter tops in a home setting and the worse the damages are, the higher the likelihood that you will need to replace them at some point in time. Although you can save some money by opting for copper, you will often spend more as the years go by.

3. They Patina Over Time.
Copper counter tops provide an antibacterial surface that is safer to prepare food on and are more easily cleaned. However, they lose a certain amount of luster as time passes and they will patina if you hold onto them long enough. For those who are unfamiliar with the phrase, this means that your copper counter tops begin to fade naturally as natural wear and tear set in.

Other any other substances that the copper counter top comes into contact with will also cause it to patina and even particles that are found in the air can have an adverse effect on the superficial appeal of your counter tops. While they will look great when they are first installed, keeping them looking great is the true challenge.

4. Difficult Installation.
Installing copper counter tops is not difficult, but installing them in the proper manner is incredibly difficult. Unless you have some level of experience in do it yourself kitchen remodeling or you know someone who does, fitting the copper sheets perfectly to your counter is much more challenging than it appears to be.

When copper sheets are not properly fitted to the counter top where they are being installed, this leads to additional problems down the line. Sheets that are not fitted correctly are much easier to damage, as they accrue dents and scratches at a much higher rate. Since repairs to copper counter tops are usually much more expensive than the initial installation, they should be avoided by those who do not have the proper level of counter top installation experience.