Comparing Kitchen Countertops
Here we will discuss the pros and cons of various types of kitchen countertops. As you think about which material is best for you, keep in mind that you can combine any 2 of these options. This can be done to accent a piece (like an island), or for functional reasons like using butcher block or granite for a baking center - if you're in the dough (a feeble attempt at humor).
Plastic Laminates - Brand names include Formica, Wilson Art, and Pionite, just to name a few. For kitchen countertops, this is your cheapest alternative by far. For more about these countertops, click on this link.
Ceramic Tile - This is probably a choice of kitchen countertops determined strictly by the style. Very appropriate in southwest or country kitchens. Not a good choice with contemporary styling. For more about these countertops, click on this link.
Stainless Steel - I've seen this (usually in contemporary kitchens), but I can't understand it. Sure, stainless steel is waterproof, and heat-resistant. But it also shows smudges and fingerprints, so you're always cleaning it, and you can't cut on it because it scratches easily.
Like plastic laminates, it gets glued onto a wood underlayment. And like plastic laminates, if water gets between the layers, your kitchen countertops will bubble and separate. The difference is that the stainless steel will cost a lot more to repair than the laminate. If you wrap it around the front edge, it gets expensive. You're better off laying it flat and then using a wood edge to keep the cost down. It could be used at a baking center, or as an insert near an oven so you can put hot dishes directly onto it. Another negative (in my opinion) is that it looks industrial to me. It doesn't give the warm & cozy feeling that I believe is what you should have in a kitchen. Obviously, I don't consider stainless steel to be the best kitchen countertops, and they are not my first choice. But the choice isn't mine - it's yours. I'm just giving you my opinions.
Butcher Block - Manufacturers take hard maple, machine it, glue it together, and cut it so that the edgegrain shows as a solid surface, often used for kitchen countertops. It usually comes about 2" thick. So it looks as heavy as it is. This product is very good for an accent or a baking center, but I think it's too bulky looking to use throughout the kitchen.
It has natural beauty, and it's relatively inexpensive. It's a good cutting surface, but it will dent if you use a cleaver with much force. The only time it looks bad is when you burn it, leaving a scorched surface. Like all wood, it needs protection from water, or it will warp. Some suppliers use polyurethane to seal the wood, but then you run the risk of getting particles on your cutting utensils, and on your food. There's a lot more you should know if you want a wood top. Go to Butcher Block Countertops.
Stone - The preferred stone (and a very practical one in my opinion) for kitchen countertops is granite. Marble is a softer material, which means it's more susceptible to cracking, chipping, breaking, staining, etc. For more about these countertops, click on this link. Visit The Care of Granite Countertops. And look at Countertop Edges. to view those options. Solid surface is man-made and is very uniform in appearance. Quartz is natural, but because of the way they have to incorporate the natural stone into a countertop, the overall look of your kitchen countertops will also look very uniform. Are you dizzy form all the choices yet? Let's talk about these last 2, and then you'll be ready to go shopping. Quartz - A relatively new product for kitchen countertops, Quartz has become fairly popular. There are more color choices available than there are with granite. Quartz is a hard mineral which naturally forms in clusters - not slabs. For more about these countertops, click on this link.
Solid Surface - Last but not least - certainly not in price. Nearly as expensive as granite, this man-made product was much more popular 10 years ago than today. Newer products (like quartz and HD laminates), along with rising oil prices (a large portion of these tops is made from petroleum based products), and the fact that solid surface tops are no longer "a new thing", all have served to diminish popularity. Having said that, they are still a good product. They are durable, waterproof, easy to clean, and resistant to mold or bacteria. Small scratches can be easily repaired so that you will never know they existed. All the same edges available with stones and wood kitchen countertops are also available with solid surface.
Let's recap: If your pocketbook is a factor, you'll probably use laminates. Ceramic tile is also affordable, but the "look" has to fit in. Wood is okay as an accent or baking counter. Stainless Steel is not my favorite, but can also be used like wood. Granite is great, but very expensive and will create about a week's delay.
Quartz is also expensive, but you might prefer the look of it over natural stone.
Solid Surface is in the same pricey ball park with a less natural look.
You should think about combinations (and backsplash materials) to add interest. Have you decided yet on which are the best kitchen countertops for you?
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