Limestone and marble also have those drawbacks, and heat damaged our marble. Laminate Pros: Inexpensive, easy to install, and so much better-looking than you probably remember, thanks to new printing technology and decorative edges.
Cons: Cutting directly on it easily and permanently damages laminate, so use a cutting board. Solid Surfacing Pros: Available in a variety of colors and patterns, it can be used for the counters, sink, and backsplash, creating a seamless look because joints are almost invisible. Solid surfacing is resistant to most stains, and small nicks and scratches can be repaired.
Cons: It scratches and cuts easily, so a cutting board is a must. Recycled Glass Pros: Large shards give it a fun, contemporary look; finely ground glass makes it less busy. Most glass counters we tested resisted stains, cuts, scratches, and heat. Butcher Block Pros: It adds warmth and is easy to install and repair, but the finish makes a difference. Varnish improved stain resistance, but penetrating oils diminished it. Cons: Nicks and scratches can easily happen, though they can be sanded out.
We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Best Countertops for Busy Kitchens The pros and cons of 7 top countertop materials. Gone forever are the days when your only choices were plastic laminate or wood butcherblock.
Today, there are dozens of surfaces available, ranging from natural-stone and renewable acrylic sheets, to quartz composites and tinted concrete.
And countertops come in dozens of colors, patterns, and textures to satisfy any design goal. So do we. Let's make some cool stuff together. The most common natural stones used to make countertops include granite, marble, soapstone, and slate. Granite: Once found only in expensive, high-end kitchens, granite is more commonplace today and is by far the most popular natural-stone countertop material.
Granite comes in a wide array of colors, ranging from vibrant blues and variegated browns, to midnight black, deep red, and mottled white. This treatment usually lasts five to ten years, but be sure to use a stone cleaner—not an abrasive cleanser—for everyday cleaning. Most granite counters are polished to a glossy sheen, but you can also ask for a honed finish, which is much less shiny and more of a matte sheen. And leathered granite has a slightly textured surface that lends a rustic, casual look to a kitchen.
Pros: few, if any seams, extremely durable, very heat-resistant Cons: must be sealed to resist stains, expensive. Marble: This is a high-end natural stone that comes in fewer color patterns than granite.
However, marble is regarded as a near-perfect work surface for activities like baking or making fresh pasta. Be careful when cutting, though, or marble may show knife scars. Pros: classic look, striking natural patterns Cons: relatively high-maintenance, needs repeated sealing, expensive. Soapstone and slate: Both come in far fewer colors than granite. Soapstone is usually dark greenish-black, although lighter green-gray slabs are also common.
Slate is an extremely dense stone that comes in five subtle colors: green, red, gray, purple and black. Slightly less common are variegated purple and mottled purple slates, which have visible veins and shades of contrasting colors.
Both soapstone and slate can be fabricated into sinks to match the countertop. Soapstone is porous and must be sealed with mineral oil to reduce staining. Slate, on the other hand, is nonporous and virtually maintenance-free.
While slate is relatively soft, minor scratches can be buffed out with steel wool. Pros: non-porous, stain resistant, subtle color complements virtually any kitchen decor Cons: relatively soft, may show knife marks, few color options. Made from a dense acrylic, polyester, or blend of the two, solid-surface countertops offer low maintenance and a wide variety of color and pattern choices. Recycled Glass Countertops Recycled glass countertops and those made from other types of glass have a unique, beautiful appearance that goes very well in homes with a with a variety of designs.
Butcherblock Countertops Butcherblock countertops and other wood countertops remain a popular choice in kitchens especially, though some woods are used in bathroom countertops too. Marble Countertops Marble is a beautiful addition for a kitchen or bathroom countertop and are certainly one of the most elegant materials you can choose for any home.
Solid Surface Countertops Solid surface countertops are a fairly new type of surface being used in kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects. Tile Countertops Tile countertops are being produced using ceramic tile, glass tile and porcelain tile.
Eco Friendly Countertops Eco friendly countertops are growing in popularity because they do as much for your kitchen or bathroom as they do for the environment. Lava Countertops Lava countertops are uniquely beautiful and highly functional. Resin Countertops Resin countertops for the kitchen and bathroom have a lot to offer in the way of beauty and durability. Reclaimed Wood Countertops When you select reclaimed wood for your countertops, you do more than help the environment by keeping the wood out of the waste stream.
Stainless Steel Countertops Stainless steel combines elegant beauty with outstanding practical benefits for the kitchen or bathroom. Porcelain Countertops Porcelain is the material of choice for bathroom fixtures, but does it make sense for countertops? A backsplash is a practical necessity and enhances beauty wherever ….
Quartz countertops are elegant, gorgeous and long-lasting, but they are …. When homeowners are considering granite countertops for their kitchen or …. Are your marble countertops looking dull, perhaps with light scratches …. Granite countertops, like other natural stone countertop materials such as, marble, sandstone …. My Account. X Close.
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