Counter Intuitive

Get expert advice on selecting the best countertop materials for your kitchen, bath, or office.

Countertops

Not long ago, if you wanted a certain look for your counters, there were very few choices. Those days are gone. Now you can get the look of ceramic tile from the real thing or from a plastic laminate. Want a granite look? Choose from natural stone, engineered quartz, or solid-surfacing.

Countertops have to withstand the onslaught of water, hot pans, dirty dishes, cleaning solvents, and knife edges, not to mention foods and beverages of every imaginable type. That means they have to resist moisture, melting, scratches, stains, and other threats.

Keep in mind, too, that you're not limited to only one countertop material. Splurge for granite on the island or marble on a small section of counter while opting for something more affordable elsewhere.

A Note on Countertop Pricing: Be aware that some materials are priced per square foot, others per linear foot. Since most are about 2 feet deep, simply multiply the square foot price by 2 to estimate the cost per linear foot. Prices listed are guidelines only so always verify prices for the mateials you select with your retailer or installer.

Countertop Sample Area in Showroom

Care and Maintenance of Stone

DAILY CLEANING:We recommend Ivory Dish Soap only because it is made without animal fats and free of dies. Many other brands contain fats, dyes, and scents which will damage the stone, including Dove, Dawn and Antibacterial soaps. We suggest never using Windex on Granite, no matter what other people say, the ammonia reacts differently to different stones and can cause permanent streaking. Avoid using detergents that can be abrasive and contain chemicals high in acid or alkaline. Some stone cleaners have a petroleum or animal fat base which may alter the appearance of your stone, so be cautious when choosing products to use. They can darken the stone and leave a residue, which in time can build up and turn lighter stones yellow.

Recommended SEALING PROCEDURE is as follows: sparingly spread liquid sealer over tops with lint free clean cloth, let penetrate into stone for at least 5 minutes or until sealer has soaked into the stone, repeat procedure until film or haze appears on granite, buff haze off with #0000 Steel Wool. Do water test, if it doesn’t bead up, repeat above procedure.

Countertops

Explore the pros and cons of countertop options.

Plastic Laminates

This versatile material is probably the most widely used countertop material.

Laminates: versatile, inexpensive and
low-maintenance -- definitely something
to consider.

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Low-maintenance; easy soap-and-water cleanup
• Resists grease and stains
• Available in many colors, patterns, and textures as well as prefabricated lengths with built-in backsplash

Cons:Susceptible to damage from sharp knives and hot pans

• Dark lines (the laminate's underlayer) may show at edges (non-solid-color types)
• Damaged areas difficult to repair

Other considerations:

• To keep laminate countertops looking new longer, reserve them for less-used areas of your kitchen where they'll get less wear and tear.
• Locate any seams at corners. The stresses at unbroken corners can lead to cracking.
• Plan to spend $15 to $60 per running foot, installed.

Ceramic Tile

A beautiful choice, particularly for country-style kitchens.

Ceramic tile: easily fixed, heat resistant,
colorful and more.

Pros:

• Resists heat, scratches, and stains
• Damaged tiles easy and affordable to repair
• Available in many colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes

Cons:

• Grout can stain or collect food particles
• Tiles can crack or chip
• Can dull knife blades
• Abrasion more noticeable on high-gloss finishes

Other considerations:

• Patterned tiles cost more than solid-color types. To cut costs, use solid-color tiles and patterned tiles in combination.
• Epoxy and acrylic grouts are more resistant to stains. For other grouts, most stains will come out with scouring powder and household bleach.
• Plan to spend about $8 per square foot, installed, for solid-color tiles. Patterned tiles start at about $2 apiece.

Solid Surface

Pros:

• Durable and forgiving of scratches and blemishes (which can be sanded out because the color is solid throughout)
• Self-supporting -- needs no underlayment
• Nonporous -- resists mildew and stains
• Can be ordered custom-formed to hide seams; custom designs possible with contrasting inlays
• Available in many different patterns and finishes (some of which resemble granite, glass, or other stones)

Cons:

• No match for sharp knives
• Can discolor if hot pots and pans are left in place
• Best installed by a professional contractor

Another consideration:

• Plan to spend about $125 to $200 per running foot, installed

Butcher Block

True butcher block uses end grain for the work surface, but most wood counters resemble the example shown here.

Butcher block: warm appearance, and
easy to install.

Pros:

• Warm, natural appearance of hardwoods such as red or white oak, hard-rock maple, and beech
• Ideal for cutting and chopping
• Relatively simple to install and repair
• Surface scratches easy to sand out

Cons:

• Requires periodic treatment with mineral oil (if left unsealed)
• Demands thorough, prompt cleaning after food preparation and exposure to moisture (if left unsealed)
• Protective surface sealers not always food-safe
• Humidity-sensitive, so not recommended over dishwashers and near sinks
• Scorches and dents easily

Another consideration:

• Plan to spend about $50 per running foot, installed

Stone

A high-end choice for serious cooks.

Stone: it's elegant and easy to clean.

Pros:

• Elegant and durable
• Well-suited to baking centers for rolling out dough
• Easy to clean if sealed
• Impervious to stains (when sealed), heat, water, and knife cuts (granite)

Cons:

• Expensive, heavy, and often difficult to cut
• Requires frequent resealing (marble)
• Brittle, so thick slabs often required
• Expensive to repair
• Demands regular waxing and polishing to maintain sheen (granite and marble)

Other considerations:

• Save on materials costs by searching out salvaged pieces.
• Cut costs by using stone sparingly in combination with other countertop materials, such as just for the baking center.
• Plan to spend $120 to $200 per running foot, installed.

Stainless Steel

Perfect for a high-tech look.

Stainless steel gives your kitchen a
high-tech appearance.

Pros:

• Tough -- impervious to stains and high temperatures
• Contemporary high-tech appearance

Cons:

• Shows nicks and scratches easily -- avoid scouring powders
• Needs a solid, firm underlayment or will dent

Other considerations:

• Like tile, stainless steel makes sense around cooktops and ranges as a landing area for hot pots and pans.