Countertops

You usually find counters in bathrooms or kitchens. However don't forget about workrooms, laundry rooms, and even bedrooms. Do your kids need a place to do homework? Do you need a place to pay your bills? Countertops also make great desks! And you can design lots of shelves, drawers, and phone/modem hook-ups into the unit.

Backsplash

Have you ever gotten something valuable stuck behind the counter? It can be a hopeless struggle to fish your valuables back to safety. A great way to counter the countertop is with a backsplash. You normally find a backsplash around kitchen or bathroom sinks. They are a vertical piece (usually only several inches high) of wood or countertop material that seals the crevice between the wall and the counter top.

They're designed to keep water from leaking between the wall and the countertop, and they're also great at stopping ordinary things like pens, CDs and coins from getting down there too. If you're planning to install a countertop, consider adding a backsplash.

Options

Built-in sinks and stove units are the most common options for countertops. In general, they add very little cost to the installation. These options usually have built-in rims that fit above the countertop; and this seals and hides any gaps and imperfections in the countertop cutout. In general, your countertop cost is largely determined by the amount of surface you need.

Under-mounted sinks are a different story. These sinks sit below the counter, exposing the cutout. With under-mounted sinks, the cutout needs to be perfect, and the edges need to be finished. And this adds to the cost of your installation.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com