Countertops

 

Granite

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Granite is becoming more popular and is usually the material of choice in high end applications. Because it is made by nature it has beautiful natural movement in the pattern that can’t be matched.

 

• Cost: $65 to $115 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation (available in tile or slab and price will vary with application and selections)
• Pros: Naturally beautiful, very durable, resists heat
• Cons: Expensive, requires maintenance, visible seams
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, should be sealed after installation and then resealed every 6 months to 2 years depending on stone and application

Because of its high cost and sub-standard performance marble is not often used as a kitchen countertop material. Occasionally you will see it used for an island top or at a separate baking center. More often you will see it used for a fireplace surround or as vanity tops, tub decks, wall covering and in stone carving.

 

• Cost: $65 to $115 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation (available in tile or slab and price will vary with application and selections)
• Pros: Luxurious look, has the most interesting texture and veining of all the stones, resists heat
• Cons: Scratches and stains easily, needs to be sealed carefully and regularly, expensive
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, should be sealed after installation and then resealed every 6 months to 2 years depending on stone and application

This naturally quarried stone is softer than most other naturally occurring minerals. Although soft, soapstone is a very dense (non-porous) stone; more so than marble, slate, limestone and even granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain, no liquid will permeate its surface. This is why soapstone (steatite) is widely used in chemistry lab countertops and acid rooms. Most soapstone is treated with mineral oil which gives it a much darker and richer color.

 

• Cost: $65 to $165 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation (available in tile or slab and price will vary with application and selections)
• Pros: Very natural look and feel, great for rustic kitchens, scratches can be sanded out
• Cons: Will need to be treated every 4-8 weeks, expensive
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, should be treated after installation and then every 4 to 8 weeks depending on stone and amount of use

New England slate, from New York, Vermont, and Maine, is durable, non-porous, and requires no sealing.

 

• Cost: $65 to $200 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation (available in tile or slab and price will vary with application and selections)
• Pros: lower maintenance than other stone tops
• Cons: Smaller slab sizes may mean more seams
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, should be sealed after installation and then resealed every 6 months to 2 years depending on stone and application

Quartz is sold by different companies under the names: Cambria, Zodiaq, Silestone, Viatera, etc.  It is comprised of mostly ground quartz, with resin binders and some added pigments

 

• Cost: $55 to $115 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
• Pros: Uniform color and pattern, solid material, non-porous, requires little maintenance, heat resistant
• Cons: Has visible seams though not as prominent as in granite, can be expensive, and doesn’t have movement of natural stone
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water

Solid Surfaces are sold by different Companies under the names: Corian, Hi-macs, Avonite, etc.   It is made from approximately 60% mineral and acrylic or other plastic.  Sinks are available in the same material which can be fused (without a seam) into the countertop.

 

• Cost: $55 to $90 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
• Pros: Invisible seams, very repairable, very low maintenance, available in many patterns and solid colors, stain resistant, scratches can be easily taken out with abrasive cleaners, integrated sinks, wide variety of inlay and edge treatments  
• Cons: Can burn when exposed to high heat
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water

Tile is both easy to care for and durable. Tile countertops can be an inexpensive option made even less expensive by being an easy DIY project many homeowners can handle.

 

• Cost: $20 to $35+ / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
• Pros: Hand-painted tile is very beautiful, wide range of colors and textures, very heat resistant, can be inexpensive
• Cons: Cracks easily, grout maintenance can be time consuming, grout needs to be sealed upon installation, uneven work surface
• Maintenance: Damp sponge with soap and water or mild household cleaner

Stainless steel countertops are the most sanitary countertop you can use.  Because pieces can be welded together you can create any size or shape of top without seams.

 

• Cost: $30 to $150/ sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation (price varies a great deal with the type and amount of edging)
• Pros: Good for heavy use, very sanitary, has a high-tech look that is good for modern style kitchens, resistant to burns, cracks, and stains
  
• Cons: Scratches easily, cold
  
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, occasional rubdown with stainless steel cleaner to hide superficial scratching

Concrete countertops are poured onsite.  Each fabricator has individual techniques to texture and color the product.  Consistency of quality depends on the fabricator. 

 

• Cost: $75 to $200 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
• Pros: Heat and scratch resistant, unusual, high-tech look and texture, available in a wide range of colors, lends itself to unusual designs-can easily be formed into different shapes, can be inset with attractive rocks or other interesting materials
• Cons: Cracks with time, stains easily, needs to be sealed carefully and regularly, very expensive
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water, should be sealed after installation and then resealed every 6 months to 2 years depending on application

Finished wood countertops have a warm furniture feel.  They work well for furniture type cabinetry such as china cabinets, entertainment centers, hutches, fireplace mantels, etc.  They are not recommended for high use areas or where water will be present.

 

• Cost: $25 to $80 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
  
• Pros: Attractive, furniture look, good for pieces like desks and entertainment centers
  
• Cons: Not for high use areas, not for use where there will be contact with water, somewhat uneven work surface
  
• Maintenance: Clean with furniture polish

Butcher Block countertops lend a warm rustic feel.  They are most often used in a single section of a kitchen, such as an island or baking center.

 

• Cost: $30 to $150/ sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
  
• Pros: Great for baking and cutting, attractive but not expensive, scratches and dents can be removed by refinishing
  
• Cons: Needs to be treated every two to three months, stains easily, maintenance can be expensive if you need to refinish it, bacteria can penetrate wood
  
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water; treat with mineral oil every other month.

Laminate is sold by different Companies under the names: Wilsonart, Nevamar, and Formica.  Laminate countertops are smooth and easy to clean. Building laminate countertops is a project which can be handled by a more skilled homeowner.

 

• Cost: $15 to $45 / sq. ft. with standard edge and standard installation
  
• Pros: New designs provide more variety and style, can be beveled or integrated with a wood or metal edge for a more custom look, new colors, including some with the look of granite, inexpensive
  
• Cons: Can burn and scratch and is usually impossible to repair, may have visible seams
  
• Maintenance: Clean with soap and water or mild non-abrasive cleaner, avoid flooding and abrasive cleaners

 

 

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