Choosing A Kitchen Counter Top

Kitchen counter tops are a focal point for the overall aesthetics of the kitchen and you have many options to choose from in materials and colors. Each materials has advantages and disadvantages and as it can be a major cost in a kitchen remodel one should give the choice a great deal of consideration. As well as being decorative it must provide the necessary characteristics to suit the type of cooking and food preparation that you do. Following is a list of the 11 most common kitchen counter tops.

1. Laminates

A laminate counter top is made of a plastic coated synthetic material bonded to a sheet of particle board for strength. The laminates come in many colors, patterns and textures. Manufactured laminate counter tops usually have an integral back splash and a slightly rolled front edge. Seams, if necessary to go around corners are generally visible. If one is creating their own laminated counter edges will show and creating a good seam requires a great deal of skill and practice.

Advantages: Laminates come in hundreds of colors, patterns and textures; very easy to maintain; inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Scratches and chips are impossible to repair; can discolor if hot pots and pans are placed on the surface, seams show; very easy to cut our for sinks and faucets.

2. Ceramic & Porcelain Tile

In general ceramic and porcelain tiles are durable and easy to clean. The ceramic or porcelain tile itself is relatively inexpensive, but it requires a base of plywood in order to provide strength. Installation can be complex on edges. Tiles must be grouted, and the grout must be sealed. Because tile colors, shapes and textures change on a regular basis, additional tiles should be purchased to ensure replacements.

Advantages: Stands up to hot pots and pans; relatively easy to clean; hundreds of colors, patterns and textures; individual tiles can be replaced if damaged.

Disadvantages: Uneven counter top surface; easily chips and cracks; grout lines can stain and look dirty; relatively easy to cut out for sinks and faucets.

3. Granite Counters

Granite counter tops are extremely elegant and add a sense of "class" to any kitchen. Because granite is a natural stone, all counter tops must be ordered at the same time in order to ensure matching grains and colors. If a counter top is damaged in the future, an exact replacement is not possible.

Advantages: holds up to heat; comes in beautiful colors; looks permanent and substantial.

Disadvantages: very expensive; requires lots of maintenance, including periodic sealing; absorbs stains; can crack and chip; very heavy and may require that base cabinets be reinforced, difficult to cut and hence sink and faucet cut-outs must be determined prior to order; seams have a tendency to show.

4. Engineered Stone

Engineered stone offers a sophisticated elegance and timeless beauty. The natural quartz used in the manufacture makes it naturally scratch-resistant. Only three other natural minerals — diamond, sapphire and topaz — are harder than quartz. Quartz is a seven on Mohs Hardness Scale (diamond is a 10).

So, while a careless slip of the knife will scratch most other counter tops such as laminates and solid surfaces, it won’t leave a mark on engineered stone. Engineered stone delivers distinctive depth, brilliant clarity, glimmering radiance and a cool, solid feel unique to natural stone. It is available in a larger range of colors than granite. It's easy to maintain, without the sealing required when using natural stone products.

Advantages: Resistant to stain and acid; easy care; repairable, colors are repeatable; seams do not show.

Disadvantages: Expensive; can be damaged with excessive force or pressure.

5. Hardwood or Butcher Block

Natural hardwoods such as oak or maple make beautiful counter tops. They can be purchased to meet almost any size requirement and it is very easy to cut out for sinks and faucets. There has always been a concern with respect to sanitization of wood counter tops. If the counter top is properly maintained and sealed bacteria cannot enter the wood pores. However, if scratches are not properly sealed, and the scratch is deeper than the protective surface coating, bacteria can grow.

Advantages: Smooth; can be sanded and resealed when necessary, easy to provide cut outs for sinks and faucets.

Disadvantages: Can warp if not properly maintained, hot pots and pans may damage surface, requires maintenance and resealing.

6. Stainless Steel Counters

Stainless steel counter tops are the ultimate counter top for wear and cleaning, which is why it is used in restaurants. Constructed to exact measurements, seams are highly unusual. They are 100% heat and stain resistant. However, they do have a tendency to scratch and dull.

Advantages: Hot pots and pans cannot damage surface; very easy to clean and impervious to bacteria.

Disadvantages: Very expensive; can look very commercial; requires special tools in order to provide cut outs for sinks and faucets.

7. Solid Surface

Whether your design vision is simple, white and monolithic or curvaceous and colorful, a solid surface counter top can help to fulfill it. Combining well – both practically and visually – with other materials such as stainless steel, wood and glass, solid surface materials incorporate sinks, hobs and taps in a flowing, seemingly seamless design.

Advantages: Hundreds of colors and patterns; seamless; stain resistant; repairable, replaceable.

Disadvantages: Hot pans, pots and stains can damage the surface; moderately expensive.

8. Marble

Nothing is more luxurious than a marble counter top. But, marble is not a good surface for kitchens that are "used" to cook in. Marble has a tendency to stain and must be resealed on a regular basis. Marble is now being quarried all over the world and because of that it is available in hundreds of patterns and colors.

Advantages: Waterproof; heat resistant; elegant.

Disadvantages: Expensive; porous; stains easily; can scratch, chip and crack; needs resealing periodically seams show, seams show, cut outs must be factory ordered.

9. Soapstone Counters

Soapstone counter tops have an advantage over other natural stones such as granite and marble because it is inert and alkalis and acids won't affect it. As talc is in soapstone it is soft to the touch and gives the feeling of rubbing a piece of dry soap. It stands up for years and years and is commonly used in historic homes.

Advantages: Deep color; smooth; somewhat stain resistant.

Disadvantages: Requires regular maintenance with applications of mineral oil; may crack and darken over time; stains can be removed by sanding; color matching is difficult.

10. Concrete Countertops

See Concrete Countertops

11. Limestone

Limestone should not be used in kitchens for floors or counter tops because of its porosity, it can not be sealed properly and becomes a haven for bacteria growth.


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