Stainless Steel Countertops
Stainless steel has been used in most homes because of its modern and sterile appeal. Today, stainless steel is finding a popularity rush in kitchens. Stainless steel countertops are excellent for complementing stainless steel domestic devices, as well as providing an easily- maintained and sleek high-tech look fro countertops.
The stainless steel countertop is a practical choice as it is durable, unreceptive to water, handles heat, and easy-to-maintain. They have been admired for many of its brilliant characteristics. A stainless steel counter top has a “nonporous’ surface and don’t harbor growth of mildew and bacteria.
They’re also extremely defiant to high temperatures, making them a perfect surface for residential kitchens. Maintaining it is as simple as a wipe of a wet cloth. There is however one thing that stainless steel countertops are vulnerable of –scratching.
Why Stainless Steel Countertops Scratch
The answer to this question lies behind looking at the fundamental stainless steel metallurgy. Chemically speaking, stainless steel is very dissimilar to steel. It has normal components that steel has like carbon and iron, but additionally, it also holds a protective chromium layer.
At the time when steel is still at its liquid form, approximately five-percent of chromium is added to the steel. When it cools down, it becomes hard and divides into two layers: first the steel, and the “chromium skin covering”. The chromium responds to the air’s oxygen and forms a shield called “chromium oxide” around the center of the steel. This shield makes “stainless steel” extremely water-resistant and rust-resistant, as well as provides its distinct shine.
On the other hand, this shield of chromium oxide wears away over time. There are two things that one can do to cause a scratch on the chromium oxide layer: first, using rough surface materials to clean its countertop; and second, slicing or cutting directly on top of it. So in reality, it is not the steel that’s scratched but its chromium oxide shield.
Manufacturers of stainless steel countertops are aware of this “weakness” of the product, which is why they give instructions of how to properly clean and maintain it. They also often recommend the use of only plastic or wooden chopping boards for preparing food instead of cutting directly on its surface.
Effects Of Scratching On Stainless Steel Countertops
After the chromium oxide wears off, several problems may arise. The surface can be more rust-vulnerable. If moisture penetrates into the “steel component”, the oxygen in the water and the iron in the steel will react jointly, forming rust. If this happens, the stainless steel countertop will no longer be sanitary and safe for food preparation purposes. The whole countertop may need to be replace and this could be expensive and frustrating, which is why stainless steel countertops should be properly cared for and maintained.
Stainless Steel Countertop Colors
By nature, the countertops normally come in traditional “silver-gray” color. It gets its color from the chromium and iron that composes it. A number of stainless steel may be made of carbon, titanium, and nickel. These various elements provide the stainless steel with its levels of reflectivity or brightness and different casts.
At present, stainless steel countertops are not anymore limited to mirror, reflective, or matte finishes. Due to a method called “chemical bonding”, dissimilar color pigments may currently be supplemented to stainless steel, giving it various colors.
Besides the usual silver-gray color, several stainless steel countertops these days are available in different metallic colors such as brass, bronze, and copper. Other bolder colors include solid blue, red, and black color. The colors of the countertops can differ depending on a manufacturer and the method used for coloring the product. Maintaining it is similar to how you would maintain the silver-gray color countertops.
Stainless steel countertops are great alternatives for kitchen countertops. They’re durable, brilliant looking, and do not need a complicated cleaning and maintaining process.