| Choosing Your Countertop |
To help determine the perfect countertop for you, consult the pros and cons chart shown below.
| Countertop Material |
Pros |
Cons |
| Natural Quartz |
- Smooth, durable
- Requires little or no maintenance
- Resists heat, scratching, bacteria, stains
- Deep, consistent colors
- Less visible seams
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- More expensive than some other choices
- Odd/large sizes will have visible seams
|
| Stone |
- Smooth, durable
- Heat and water resistant
- Rich visual texture
- Great for baking preparations
|
- Expensive
- Odd/large sizes will have visible seams
- Scratches are hard to remove
|
| Solid Surface |
- Smooth, durable
- No visible seams
- Heat and water resistant
- Scratches can be sanded out
|
- Can be expensive
- Color options are limited
|
| Ceramic Tile |
- Durable, heat resistant
- Can install it yourself
- Many available colors, design flexibility
|
- Leaves an uneven countertop
- Grout lines may be hard to clean
- Can crack or chip
|
| Plastic Laminate |
- Durable
- Inexpensive
- Easy to install yourself
- Lots of color/style options
|
- Won't tolerate direct heat
- Thin surface color can fade
- Noticeable seams and edges
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| Combining Surfaces |
The ideal kitchen would have a mixture of the various countertop surfaces we've investigated.
- Some form of stone or solid-surface material would be installed near the range area for placement of hot pots
and pans.
- A solid surface or plastic laminate would be placed around the sink and in the remaining areas for easy
cleaning and good looks.
This combination can be expensive, but it is the best of all options if you can afford it.
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