Kitchen Countertops

Ceramic Tile is durable, easy to clean, and is considerably less expensive than natural stone, quartz, or solid-surface countertops. Ceramic tile is an excellent choice for backsplashes, islands, eat-at counters, peninsulas, wet bars, etc. It is important to use the right tiles specified for the appropriate use on floors or countertops. For example, never use wall tile on a counter: It is too thin and will easily crack.

Porcelain slabs are another form of a tile material although very different than ceramic tiles. Most porcelain tile slabs are oversized slabs that look like granite, marble, wood, linen or just about any other natural material you could want, with none of their maintenance issues or usage restrictions. Like competitive quartz and solid surface materials, porcelain slab tops are nonporous, so they are a safe and healthy option for food preparation. Unlike those two materials, however, porcelain can be installed outside and is both heat and frost-tolerant for homes across the country.

The most common natural stones used to make countertops include granite, marble, soapstone, and slate. Below is a detailed look at each material:

• For some time, granite has been the countertop material of choice when there were no cost issues to consider. Granite defines elegance in a kitchen. Even modest kitchens appear like luxury spaces when complemented by the beauty of granite countertops. Granite comes in a wide array of colors. It is cut into long, thick slabs that require few, if any, seams. After the granite is cut and polished, it is treated with a sealer that makes the countertop stain resistant. This treatment usually lasts a few years.Some of the advantages of granite countertops include their being heat resistant, extraordinarily strong and durable, and that they come in nearly 3,000 different colors and types. Additionally, granite countertops are practically maintenance free when treated with the proper sealer.Some of the disadvantages of granite countertops are that they are expensive, the slabs may have imperfections and they can crack if stressed or improperly installed. Also, knives get dulled by cutting on granite, and the stone is porous, therefore it requires sealing to avoid stains.
• Marble is a high-end natural stone that comes in fewer color patterns than granite, but, Because no two sheets of marble are exactly the same, each marble countertop is entirely unique. Marble’s luxurious look is usually limited for use on a kitchen island or countertop reserved as a center piece.Some of the advantages of marble countertops are in its elegance, its classic look, and the fact that it is waterproof and heatproof. It is an exceptionally beautiful and prestigious stone with unique veining.Some of the disadvantages of marble countertops are the fact that they are expensive. Due to its extremely high price tag, marble is typically not a popular selection for a Kitchen countertop. They can be scratched while repairs are typically difficult. The stone is porous and therefore stains easily, more so than granite, unless sealed.
• Soapstone is another natural stone, usually dark gray in color with a smooth, silky feel. It has seen a recent resurgence as an alternative to granite. Soapstone is often seen in historic homes, but it is also used in modern homes as both a countertop and sink material. Over time, soapstone takes on an antique-like patina that can be very attractive in certain kitchen styles. Soapstone is porous and must be sealed with mineral oil to reduce staining.Some of the advantages of Soapstone countertops include the fact that the stone is non-porous, it offers a deep and rich color, and it is somewhat stain resistant. Additionally, soapstone is impervious to heat, damage can be sanded out, and it offers an antique and historic look to a kitchen.Some of the disadvantages of soapstone countertops include the possibility of it darkening over time, it must be treated with mineral oil, and that it is relatively soft and the surface can scratch and dent (although this may create an attractive antique look).

Solid-surface material, with a few well known brands such as Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone, is a man-made material consisting of a blend of acrylic particles and resins that are pressed into sheets and other shapes. Solid-surface countertops offer low maintenance and a wide variety of color and pattern choices. They have been in existence for nearly 50 years and although once regarded as premium, luxury countertops, solid-surface material is now considered mid-tier. It is still, however, an excellent choice for mid-range kitchens.
Solid-surface countertops are highly stain- and scratch-resistant and completely renewable and repairable. Scratches and burns can be sanded out, and deep gouges can be filled. Seams are fused together to create undetectable joints which make solid surface materials great for large or long sections of countertops and oversized island tops. You can also get solid-surface sinks in colors to match or contrast the countertop.

Some of the advantages of solid-surface countertops include stain resistance, virtually invisible seams, easily sanded out damages, and availability in many colors and patterns, allowing integration of sink and countertop units.
Some of the disadvantages of solid-surface countertops include the material being moderately expensive and vulnerable to damage from hot pans.

The countertop material known as “Quartz” is an engineered stone product that contains as much as 90 percent quartz particles and about 10 percent of other minerals such as acrylic or epoxy binder. Together, these materials are shaped into slabs and blended with resins. Corian quartz, Formica solid-surfacing, and Silestone are a few of the quartz composites now available. Quartz is the best countertop you can get for your money nowadays and is cheaper than granite or quartz.

Sold by companies such as MSI, Raphael Stone, Cambria, and Silestone, quartz was created as a more adaptable and better performing alternative to granite and marble. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite, and it has a nonporous surface that resists both scratching and staining. Some types are convincing copies of natural marble, with similar veining. Unlike natural stone, engineered quartz requires no annual sealing.

Some of the advantages of a quartz countertop are in its extremely durable and low maintenance qualities. It comes in a wide array of colors and patterns, the slabs are uniform with no imperfections, no sealing is required, it is stain resistant and is impervious to heat and acid, and it offers a more convincing and natural appearance than solid surface materials. It is also the hardest wearing and easiest to maintain kitchen countertop.

Some of the disadvantages of a quartz countertop are that it is expensive and a very heavy material to move around.

For a contemporary and industrial look for your kitchen, stainless steel is the way to go. Stainless steel countertops are heat resistant and durable. Given the fact that they are constructed to your specifications, you can have a seamless countertop.
Some of the advantages of stainless steel countertops are that they are impervious to heat damage, they are an excellent choice for modern style kitchens, they are the easiest to clean of all countertop materials, they are a premium countertop and add value to your home.

Some of the disadvantages of stainless-steel countertops are that they are noisy when working on them, they are expensive to fabricate, they cannot be used as a cutting surface, and they can be easily scratched.

If you have countertops in unusual shapes, or if you want a totally unique kitchen, concrete may be a good choice for your countertops. These countertops are an extremely popular choice for people interested in a truly custom countertop.
Today’s fabricators offer pre-cast counters that are made in a workshop and delivered fully cured and finished to your home. These are not the same kind of concrete slabs used in sidewalks, but rather, are highly polished slabs that may even be textured or acid-stained to produce colors.

Pre-cast concrete counters are typically 1½ inch thick and available in slabs up to 10 foot long. A variety of colors are achieved by adding pigments to the concrete during mixing. Once cured, the slabs are honed and sealed to prevent staining. Cracking is always a concern with concrete, and fabricators often use wire mesh, metal rebar, or fiberglass or stainless-steel fibers to strengthen the counter.

Some of the advantages of concrete countertops are in its scratch and heat resistance qualities, in its decorative colors and textures (it can be color tinted), and a look that is sophisticated and unusual.
Some of the disadvantages of concrete countertops are that it is expensive due to the custom work, it may crack over time, it is porous and therefore needs sealing, and its appearance may seem too “industrial” for homeowners.

Often referred to by its trademark, Formica-is a surprisingly durable material that can survive many years in the toughest kitchens, which is surprising when you consider that plastic laminate is made primarily of kraft paper mixed with resins. They are plastic-coated synthetics with a smooth surface that is easy to clean. Another plastic-laminate option is called post-formed counters. Available at certain lumberyards and home centers, ready-to-install post-formed laminate counters have the front edge, countertop surface and backsplash all fabricated and formed into one seamless slab. It comes in literally hundreds of colors and patterns and in various textures. Laminates are especially popular in retro designs, particularly mid-century modern kitchens.

Some of the advantages of plastic laminate countertops are that they are extremely easy to maintain, there are thousand of options available, and they are the most affordable material to replace countertops.

Some of the disadvantages of plastic laminate countertops are that they offer a low resale value, the seams are always visible, they are not heat resistant, and the surfaces can be scratched and chipped and the damage is almost impossible to repair.

Wood countertops offer a beautiful warm look and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Hardwoods such as maple and oak which are an extremely dense and blond hardwood. They are the types most often used as countertop woods.
There are three ways that wood countertops are fabricated: edge grain, end grain, and wide plank.

Edge-grain counters consist of long, thick strips of wood that are glued together with the edge grain facing upwards.
End-grain counters (a.k.a. butcher blocks) are constructed of relatively short, square sticks of wood that are joined together with the tough end grain facing up. These counters are usually 4 to 12 inches thick.

Wide-plank counters are made by edge-gluing wide boards together. This is the most beautiful and traditional style of wood counter, but it is also the type that is most susceptible to cracking and warping if it is not meticulously maintained.

Some of the advantages of wood countertops are that they are relatively easy to clean, they are long lasting when they are properly cared for, they can be sanded and resealed, and they offer a charming country look.

Some of the disadvantages of wood countertops are that they are fairly expensive countertop material, they will show knife marks, they can be damaged by water and stains over time, bacteria can be a problem if not properly maintained, and wood is subject to cracking and must be oiled and sealed frequently.