The ultimate guide to selecting a countertop: pros and cons

Posted by History Countertop on March 1st, 2017

You find out more about the dizzying variety of choices for marble kitchen countertops in the event you have ever gotten a large kitchen renovation. With new stuff being developed on a regular basis, how can you also make the best choice and sift through the promotion folderol? This is a roundup of numerous choices that are popular, with cons and pros for each…
These substances vary from natural to artificial, from practical to practical, from cheap to quite expensive. A few of the more recent stuff are especially exciting, combining function and durability with low cost and sustainability.
All costs are approximations.

Granite
Pros:
Marble
Pros: Comes in various patterns as well as shades, surface that is smooth, will not score or chip, heat-resistant.
Disadvantages: Pricey, may be scraped or etched by acids (citrus, coffee, booze, some cleaning products) even in the event that you seal it. But if you're alert about spills and seal your counters several times a year (you may do this yourself using an easy spray merchandise) marble is an excellent choice. 0-400/foot.
Disadvantages: Pricey, needs resealing around once annually. 0-400/foot.
Pros: Nonporous, resists spots and scratches, simple to keep, no sealant needed. Seems like natural rock (it is at least 90% quartz) but may be combined with pigments for custom colour.
Disadvantages: Not heatproof. -150/foot.
Pros: Smooth surface, lasting, can incorporate backsplash and sink, a great deal of colour and design choices, an easy task to sand away spots or scrapes, can mirror other stuff like marble and concrete.
Disadvantages: Can be easily damaged by heat, an easy task to dent and scratch, can get spots. -150/foot.
Pros: Long-Lasting, stainproof, spillproof, temperature-proof, simple to clean and preserve, help reflect light.
Disadvantages: Scrape and can nick, can reveal fingerprints. 0-300/foot.
Pros: Great for chopping/homework surface, gentle on fine glassware/china.
Disadvantages: Easily damaged by scrapes, scores, spills and burns, demands food-safe protective sealer, needs routine care, will discolor if installed across the sink. -150/foot.
Pros:
Disadvantages: Irregular surface, tiles could possibly get scratched, chipped or broken, grout can stain. -150/foot.
Lava Rock
Pros: Amazing crackled finish, many colour choices, nonporous, highly resistant to cold, heat, spots and scraping, exceptionally durable, low-care.
Disadvantages: Pricey, and there is a waiting list.
Concrete
Pros: Heat- and scratch-resistant, smooth, quite powerful, lots of colour as well as feel choices, fairly long-lasting, can incorporate backsplash and sink.
Disadvantages: Can get broken, somewhat porous, has to be sealed and waxed, has to be custom cast (can be expensive to fabricate). Around -150/foot.
Soapstone
Pros: Wonderful natural gray colour, matte feel that is smooth, immune to etching from acids resistant to stains, scratches can be oiled or easily sanded away, much less bad for the environmental surroundings as other rocks that are quarried.
Disadvantages: Wants routine care, may crack, scrape and chip, colour may darken. -150/foot.
Glass
Pros: Tons of texture, contour and colour choices, nonporous, heat-resistant.
Disadvantages: Chip can split or break, can not be fixed, must be replaced, fingerprints and scratches are observable. -300/foot.
Laminates
Pros: Spot-resistant, waterproof, plenty of colour choices, low-maintenance, cost-effective.
Disadvantages: Can crevice and scrape, not heatproof, hard to fix. -60/foot plus setup.