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Kitchen Countertop Buying Guide

Kitchen Countertop Buying Guide

Finding the perfect countertop for the most active room in your home can be a challenge. In addition to being durable and stain-resistant, the countertop you choose must be easy to clean and attractive. Think it's an impossible mission? We'll give you the rundown on different types of countertops — including edging and textures — to help you choose the best surface for your kitchen.


Choosing Your Countertop

Read the pros-and-cons chart below to determine which countertop is perfect for your kitchen.

Kitchen Countertops

 Countertop Material  Advantages
  Disadvantages


Laminate:
sheeting glued down to plywood or particle board substrate
 

  • Best value
  • Durable
  • Resists water
  • Easy to install
  • Easiest to clean and maintain
  • Hundreds of color and style options
  • Inappropriate for cutting
  • Visible edges
  • Visible seams


Solid Surface
: nonporous, acrylic material
 

  • Resists water, bacteria and stains
  • Easy to sand
  • Nonporous
  • Virtually seamless for easy cleaning
  • Integral backsplash and sink options
  • Available in a range of colors and patterns
  • Susceptible to scratching
  • Less heat-resistant than quartz or granite


Granite:
durable, smooth, natural stone
 

  • Highly heat-resistant
  • Resists stains and bacteria when treated and properly sealed
  • Great for baking preparations
  • Rich visual texture in a range of colors
  • Porous; must be sealed once a year to resist stains and bacteria
  • Can split if vein is stressed
  • Visible seams



Quartz:
nonporous, natural stone surface

  • Resists heat, water, bacteria and stains
  • Most durable option, resists scratches
  • Nonporous
  • Easy to clean
  • Feels like natural stone, requires low maintenance
  • More consistent colors and patterns than natural stone

  • Hard-to-remove scratches
  • Visible seams
  • Limited color selection

 



Combining Counter Surfaces

The ideal kitchen would have a mixture of the countertop surfaces in the chart above. Below are ways to combine different textures and colors in your kitchen.

  • Some form of stone or solid-surface material can be installed near the range area for placement of hot pots and pans.
  • A solid-surface or plastic laminate can be placed around the sink for easy cleaning.

 Countertop combinations can be expensive but will ensure you get the best of all options.