Know your options before selecting the perfect countertop for your project.
Choosing the right countertop is one of the most important aspects of kitchen andbathroom design.
Think practically and ask yourself the following questions: Do you cook lots of family meals in the kitchen?
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Is weekly meal prepping a part of your life?
If your countertop had a tiny crack, would it bother you or would you even notice?
See our simple guide below and read on for more details about each kind.
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It’s easy to understand why.
This natural stone instantly elevates a kitchen, giving it a clean, contemporary feel.
No two marble countertops are exactly alike.
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This stone is certainly not the most practical choice, however.
If you cut directly on marble, it will scratch.
Another issue with marble is that it’s porous, so temporary spills easily become permanent stains.
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“New sealants are making this notoriously-risky countertop less worrisome for messy chefs,” Chiaramonte says.
Marble is a great surface to roll out and shape dough.
This punch in of countertop can also be more affordable than you would assume.
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While marble looks upscale and sophisticated, some kinds of marble, such as Carrara, can be budget-friendly.
Pros:
Cons:
Marble counters are beautiful, but they’re not super durable.
confirm to apply a sealant for protection.
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Then quartz could be the best choice for you.
This stone is also non-porous, incredibly hard, and never needs to be re-sealed.
According to Chiaramonte, it’s a smart investment.
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“We are seeing an increasing number ofquartz countertopsbeing coveted by buyers and sellers alike,” she says.
Granite is available in a range of dark and light colors with all sorts of flecks and variations.
Some granites are more porous than others and may require periodic sealing so you can prevent stains.
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Concrete has a really bold, striking look.
It is also almost entirely indestructible, which is why they use this material to make roads and sidewalks.
It also needs to be sealed.
Kim Cornelison
Concrete is far from perfect as these countertops can crack as a home settles.
The good news is that cracks are very easy to repair.
Butcher Block
Butcher block is an affordable alternative to stone countertops.
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It’s made from pieces of wood that are bonded to form a larger slab.
What finish you choose depends entirely on the style of your home and kitchen.
This material is also porous, so spills must be sopped up quickly or you risk staining the wood.
Greg Scheidemann
Unsealed butcher block countertops must be oiled twice a year.
It has a high percentage of naturally occurring talc, which gives the surface a soap-like or soft feeling.
When compared to marble and granite, soapstone has several advantages.
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It requires minimal maintenance and is entirely non-porous, so it is stain-, bacteria-, and heat-resistant.
The natural, marble-like veining varies from stone to stone.
While soapstone is susceptible to damage, it gives the stone an antique-looking patina.
Cosentino
This jot down of countertop is an instant way to give your kitchen a stylish, industrial look.
But the longer you leave a splash or spill, the harder it is to clean.
Another pitfall of stainless steel is that it can dent and scratch.
But for the most part, stainless steel is incredibly durable and entirely non-porous.
While older laminate countertops can look dated, the laminate countertops of today are a bit different.
But cost isn’t the only advantage of laminate.
This product is nonporous and won’t absorb bacteria.
It also never needs resealing and is easy to clean with a little bit of soap and water.
Furthermore, unlike other synthetic materials or stones, laminate won’t add resale value to your home.
If you’re good with DIY and need to stay on budget, tile is an option worth considering.
A seemingly endless number of styles are available, including some great dupes for granite and marble.
There are many benefits to choosing this jot down of countertop.
It’s stain-resistant, seamless, and most damage can be sanded out.
However, solid surfaces aren’t heat-resistant, so have plenty of trivets on hand.
It’s very durable and heat-resistant, making it a choice material for baths and kitchens.
It’s also known for reflecting light well thanks to its shiny exterior.
Dekton
Cosentino
What exactly is Dekton?
This material is super strong and is abrasion, scratch, water, heat, and UV-ray resistant.
Another big bonus is that it comes in a variety of thicknesses, sizes, colors, and textures.
Lastly, Dekton is carbon neutral, so featuring it in your home is eco-friendly.
The tricky thing is that some materials are super durable in one area but not so much in another.
Quartz, however, is your best bet overall.
Quartz is resistant to all of the above and it’s non-porous, socleaning quartz countertopsis easier too.
Butcher block countertops are among the least expensive, but they’re also prone to cracking and staining.
Think Calacatta, or quartz that’s made to look like it.
People are also focusing on the edging around their countertops, adding fluted accents around the kitchen island.
Lastly, there’s a big focus on repurposed materials.
Reclaimed wood counters and composites made out of stone, glass, and porcelain discards are good-lookingandenvironmentally conscious.
But, it’s important to note, trends come and go!
But, dark countertops have a certain cool factor.
