When you walk into someone’s kitchen what’s the first thing
you notice? It’s probably not their cabinets, flooring, or even the quality of
their appliances, but the countertops that jump out at you. In fact, the right
countertops can make – or break – the aesthetic of a kitchen, and there are
subtle differences in look, durability, installation, upkeep, and yes, price,
for each of the many options you have available when planning your countertop.
In this blog, we’ll cover the pros, cons, and cost of the seven
most common countertop materials, and look for part two where we cover
nontraditional, modern, and luxury countertop materials.
Each slab of granite is uniquely “mottled,” adding a natural
personality of colors and patterns to your kitchen counters.
Pros:
Granite is incredibly durable, resistant to heat, cuts, and
scratches. It also won’t stain from liquids or items spilled on it as long as
its sealed periodically, and you can cut with the sharpest knife right on
granite without harming it.
Cons:
Like we mentioned, granite can stain if it’s not regularly
sealed, and the edges can nick or crack over time or if not installed correctly.
Since it’s so heavy, DIY granite countertops might not be a good idea, and it
should only sit on heavyweight supportive cabinets. Since each piece is unique,
it also can be impossible to find a perfectly matching replacement slab down
the road.
Cost: $50 to $100 per square foot installed
If you’re wondering what solid surfacing is, you’re not
alone, as most people know it by one of its brand names, Corian, though all
solid surfacing is made from acrylic and polyester composites.
Pros:
Solid surfacing may look like solid stone but it’s
nonporous, which means you’ll never need to seal it and no special cleaning or
maintenance is required. Since it’s an engineered material, you can choose from
almost endless color and pattern options, and installation is seamless with no
grout lines or cracks.
Cons:
Hot items like cooking pots or pans can burn solid surfacing,
and sharp knives will damage it. The good news is that those imperfections can
be sanded out for simple repairs.
Cost: $35 to $100 per square foot, installed
Also called engineered quartz or engineered stone, modern
quartz is one of the hottest new countertop materials, a mix of quartz chips,
mineral and resin that’s tinted in aesthetically stunning color variations.
While it may look like a natural stone, quartz is
engineered, which means it’s available in many different colors and patterns,
but still is incredibly durable, as hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads,
and most stains won’t affect quartz.
Cons: Since it’s manufactured, quartz tends to look uniform
(unlike granite or natural stone), and can get pretty pricey, though it’s worth
it.
Cost: $40 to $100 per square foot, installed
Marble is one of the most high-end countertops you can find,
and traditionally used in many luxury homes, though it does come at a premium.
Pros:
Marble looks and feels glamorous, almost glowing with
luminescence in the right light with unique veining. It’s generally durable and
resistant to heat, and bakers and pastry chefs love the fact that it always
stays cool.
Cons:
Marble is prone to nicks and scratches, though some see that
as patina that adds character. Still, those imperfections can be polished out.
Marble also needs to be resealed regularly, as it’s relatively porous so
susceptible to stains. .
Cost: $40 to $100 per square foot, installed
This was the most popular economical countertop material
from the 1960s through the 1990s, and still today, many people opt for tile
countertops.
Pros:
Ceramic and porcelain tiles come in many colors, surfaces,
and styles, from small and shiny rounded modern glass-like tiles to large and
flat natural Italian stone tiles. Tiles
are one of the most inexpensive countertops options, and easy to add as a
“modular” design, allowing homeowners to mix and match. Most tiles are also
durable, resistant to scratching, staining and heat. If they are damaged, it’s
easy to replace one tile.
Cons: Tiles are usually labor intensive to install, and some
people don’t care to have a grid of grout lines on their kitchen counter, which
can hold dirt, stains, bacteria, and other substances, as well as presenting an
uneven cutting surface.
Cost: $10 to $80 per square foot, installed
Laminate has been a kitchen counter stalwart for many
decades, and sometimes is perceived as cheap, though today’s laminate
countertops are equally modern, diverse, and practical.
Pros:
Sometimes called Formica after the brand name, laminate
counters are made of paper blended with resins and fused to particleboard, and
therefore one of your least expensive countertop options. These days, they also
come in a wide spectrum of colors, faux patterns, and styles, and can be laser
measured and cut to fit any counter surface seamlessly. Laminate materials are
far more stain and heat resistant than their predecessors. It’s also
lightweight, and because of the combination of these options (and especially
the low cost), laminate is a favorite in rental properties.
Cons:
Laminate countertops are still easily damaged by sharp knives
or cuts, and abrasives like steel wool can also do damage. Laminate is also
difficult to repair without replacing a whole section (and leaving a seam) or
the whole counter top. Over time, layers can peel if left wet, and you also
can’t use laminate with undermount sinks.
Cost: $10 to $40 per square foot, installed
While not nearly common as granite, soapstone offers similar
natural beauty and some characteristics in common but with a softer surface.
Pros:
It resists heat well, and also repels stains, chemicals and
bacteria, making it a durable countertop surface for high-use kitchens (they
often use soapstone in chemical laboratories.) Soapstone also ages well,
growing richer in color and texture.
Cons:
Soapstone does ding, scratch and nick fairly easily, but
those can be sanded out with super fine paper and then recoated with mineral
oil for simple repairs. While it does resist some stains, it has been known to
absorb others, so spills should be cleaned quickly, and it should be finished
with oil periodically.
Cost: $70 to $100 per square foot, installed
