Question: After many years of discussion, I have finally convinced my dear husband that we need to replace the aging countertops in our kitchen.

The cabinets are in good shape, the appliances have all been replaced in the past 10 years or so, but the tile looks very dated, the grout is stained, and I just can’t stand looking at it any longer!

We have searched online and at local stores for ideas for the new countertop, but all the choices are a little overwhelming for us.

Can you give us some basic ideas of what our options are?

Your Handyman: Shopping for materials is usually one of the very first steps of any home remodeling project and can be an enjoyable experience, but it often can become overwhelming for a homeowner who has not been through a remodel previously.

It seems like almost everyone has a horror story about a remodeling experience that went off course or a contractor who didn’t deliver as expected.

But the old saying that knowledge is power seems to always hold true, and with a little homework and planning your kitchen countertop project will go smoothly.

Your first step is to select what type of material you will be using for your new countertop.

The most basic and least expensive countertop is what is referred to as a high-pressure laminate or a Formica top. This countertop is made from a hard sheet of synthetic laminate material that is glued down with heat and pressure to a shaped piece of particle board, and usually includes a coved backsplash and bull nose drip edge.

Laminate countertops are commonly found in medical offices, retail sales counters and residential rental properties.

They are easy to install, inexpensive to purchase and, if installed correctly, will last for decades. Their downside is that they can easily be damaged by rough use, cut by knives or burned by a hot pan.

Glazed tile is a common material used for countertops in the United States and was installed in most homes that were built up to the early 1980s.

Glazed or ceramic tile can be relatively inexpensive, is difficult to stain or break, is easily installed and is moderately expensive.

Generally speaking, the larger the tile, the less labor that will be needed to install it, and conversely a smaller tile will take more installation labor time and expense.

Tiles are supported by a layer of either concrete or a sheet of concrete backer board, both supported by plywood fastened to the top of the cabinets.

Colored grout is used to fill the small gaps between the tiles. Grout is a cement-based product that is very hard, but over time can become stained by grease and food and can crack and chip from steady use and cleaning.

Stained and cracked grout is probably the one biggest drawback to a tiled kitchen surface, and it is not an easy project to dig out and replace old grout.

Natural stone has been very popular for the last 25 years or so for kitchen countertops and homeowners have primarily installed granite and to a lesser amount marble.

Granite is beautiful, very expensive, and is sold in a large slab that then needs to be cut by a countertop fabricator to the sizes that your cabinets require; the openings cut and drilled for your sinks, faucets or cooktop; the backsplash for where the countertop meets the wall; and the sculpted edge detail for the exposed perimeter edge.

Granite is not completely nonporous and will need to be periodically sealed to prevent staining from grease and oil.

I personally like granite but have read several articles by interior designers who feel that so much granite has been installed in recent years that it may have acquired a dated look, much like the burnt orange and avocado green kitchens from the 1970s.

Marble is much less commonly used mainly because it tends to damage easier and needs to be regularly honed to remove scratches. It also is very expensive but is an attractive choice possibly for a kitchen that will not receive heavy use.

Solid surface countertops are a relatively new type of material that, just as the name suggests, are made from solid synthetic materials like acrylics, epoxy resins and even concrete.

They can be a solid color or can have pieces of crushed quartz or recycled glass chips mixed in for appearance. Product names include Corian, Caesarstone, Cambria and Silestone.

These countertops can vary in price depending on which brand you select, and tend to be on the expensive side. Often, the customer also will have to pay for the entire large, manufactured slab even if the actual countertop is considerably smaller.

Solid surface countertops can be much more durable than natural stone, require very little maintenance, don’t have open seams to collect grim, and can be a good choice for a working kitchen that will receive heavy use.

After you have selected the countertop material for your kitchen and have found either a tile setter or fabricator to handle the installation, the old countertop will need to be demolished and removed.

An easy way to protect the kitchen flooring from damage from falling tiles is to cover it with a layer of relatively inexpensive drywall that can be left in place until the job is completed.

Cover the face of your cabinets and any appliances left in place with heavy construction paper taped up with blue painter’s tape.

A layer of ⅝-inch plywood will usually be fastened on the top of the cabinets, the new sink is mounted onto the plywood, and at that point the fabricator can arrive to take the measurements that will be needed to size the new countertops.

Allow two to three weeks for the countertops to be installed, but he sink can be used during the waiting period.

When purchasing a new sink or faucet, it is my opinion that it is best to purchase only major brand plumbing fixtures like Kohler, Grohe, American Standard, Moen, etc. with an established reputation for quality rather than purchasing a lesser-known brand fixture.

The last thing you want to deal with is a flooded kitchen and all the resulting damage to the flooring, walls, etc. caused by a leak from a poor quality faucet or a sink that starts to discolor or rust after a short period of time.

After the installation, be sure to seal any grout with a quality sealer if you selected tile, or to check with the fabricator to be sure you know what type of long-term maintenance is suggested for the natural stone or solid surface that you may have selected.

With some simple maintenance and care your new countertops will look great for many years to come!