Materials-Countertops

There are a lot of options out there when buying a new home, or considering a remodel.  Here is an overview of some of the many choices available.

Engineered stone/quartz (CeasarStone) – This is a very durable and attractive product made out of 95% stone and 5% polymer resin. PROS-Looks really nice! Has a clean, modern look. CONS-labor intensive, heat can damage, relatively expensive, similar in price to real stone.

Engineered stone, photo courtesy of Creative Surfaces LLC

Granite – Probably one of the more popular high end options. Comes in a variety of textures and colors. Usually, you go to the stone showroom and pick out your stone and you actually buy the whole slab or slabs.  They will cut and install the stone for you per your designer’s specifications. PROS-Can be really beautiful, heat and scratch resistant. CONS-Surface can be damaged by acid (lemon, tomato), porous – needs sealing and proper maintenance. There are many finishes involved with real stone including honed, leathered, fired, and polished. Most people go with the polished or honed finish.

Granite with a waterfall detail. Photo courtesy of Creative Surfaces LLC.

Other stone-If granite is not for you and you like the look and feel of stone, people often choose marble, slate, travertine, or limestone. Make sure you do your research as some of these stones can be damaged by cleaners and certain acidic foods. Usually with a proper sealant a lot of issues can be avoided, but proper maintenance is key. PROS-Looks gorgeous. CONS-Expensive, can be difficult to maintain, porous.

Marble in a bathroom.
Photo courtesy of Creative Survaces LLC.

Ceramic and porcelain tile – Used to be very popular and you still see this in older homes. Very durable and stain resistant. Has gone out of popularity due to the grout involved and maintenance necessary to keep it clean and looking good. A good option would be to use larger tiles and to use very small grout joints. PROS-very durable, stain resistant, relatively affordable. CONS-requires sealing if grout joints are visible, some people prefer a solid slab look.

Concrete-PROS-durable, lots of options with embedded objects, can be poured in place or poured offsite and installed. CONS-labor intensive, needs maintenance as the surface is porous, could crack.

Laminate-Very common and affordable. A great choice as it is easy to install and replace. PROS-see previous, no regular maintenance, a pretty inexpensive product. CONS-some people don’t like the look.

Laminate counter in bathroom. Ceramic tile backsplash. Photo by Rakan Alduaj.

Stainless steel/copper – Metal countertops are becoming very popular as home kitchens are taking on more of a professional look. PROS-very durable, heat resistant, very clean, relatively easy to maintain. CONS-can be expensive, people think maintenance is difficult, it is not – just requires a scrub every other week or so. It will scratch, but that becomes part of the patina.

Glass-This is another material gaining popularity as you can do really interesting things with lighting and inserting things into the glass. PROS-Can look amazing, lots of options, can add lighting effects, easy to maintain. CONS-can be difficult to find people who can do it, expensive, pretty cold to the touch, and it can break or crack.

Wood-Butcher block countertops can be beautiful. Wood can be problematic where it encounters moisture. Even if you use teak or some other rot resistant wood, the counter can still become discolored. PROS-Can be relatively inexpensive, looks nice, heat resistant. CONS-very porous, hard to keep clean and maintain. Moisture can damage.

Wood counter at kitchen island, granite on lower counter. Photo by Rakan Alduaj

What is new out there?

Sintered particle-similar to quartz, but there is very little resin. Instead, manufacturers use heat and pressure to meld the materials together. PROS-very heat and scratch resistant. Very little porosity. CONS-expensive, can be hard to find a source, if there is a pattern it is generally just on the surface and you do not see it on the edges.

Porcelain-this is another pretty bomb proof option as it is very heat and scratch resistant and is not porous at all. PROS-see previous. CONS-can crack if it is bigger than one person can carry. Usually installed in pieces so there may be small grout joints. Great option for backsplashes and wall treatments.

Thanks to Creative Surfaces LLC in Anacortes for allowing me to use their photos. Check out their website or showroom for more options. www.creativesurfacesllc.net or call them at 360-588-1463.