Guide to Kitchen Counters
Everything you ever needed to know. Well… only the stuff you truly need to know, simplified!
When meeting with prospective clients who are renovating their kitchens- inevitably the same sorts of questions come up over and over:
What’s the difference between granite and quartz?
Which one is less expensive?
Which one will last longer?
Which one requires the least maintenance?
And I usually respond with the same awful answer I hate hearing when I have a question:
Well, it depends….
The truth is there are pros and cons to every material you install on a kitchen counter. The reality is that depending on your lifestyle - these surfaces can take a beating! And since you’re probably hoping they last until your next kitchen remodel, it’s good to know the scoop!
Anyway… onward with the details on the different materials available to you:
Marble
Image courtesy of Architectural Digest
Pros: Can be beee-you-tee-ful with it’s stunning veining and unique character.
Looks amazing in Black Kitchens, especially
Biggest con: Super porous. So unless you like that aged farmhouse look full of character ( and by character I mean rust stains, oil rings and red wine rings) than you might want to pass on this one. It can be resurfaced/refinished though - so don’t dismiss it for this reason alone.
Cost: Depends on which grade. So the thing about countertops is they are usually graded. A, B, C, D… etc but the tricky part is one grade does not correlate to the same grade in another material. In other words, an “A” marble is not the same price as an “A” quartz. A tad confusing, sorry. Cost can also vary depending on country of origin, distributor and fabricator. So you can’t always go by the pricing listed online.
The grading usually correlates to how rare or available the material is. The rarer the marble, the higher the grade, the higher the price tag.
To further complicate matters- that beautiful Carrara Marble everyone drools after these days has their own grading system. I won’t even go down this road. Suffice it to say the really beautiful stuff can be expensive.
Bottom Line: I would STRONGLY encourage you to work with an interior designer, kitchen designer, contractor or building professional that can help you sort through the myriad of options you have in your local area.
Granite
Image courtesy of MSI Surfaces
Pro: Not as porous as marble.
It can generally hold up to hot pots and pans and won’t stain as easily as marble.
Generally not as expensive as marble or quartz.
The nicer stuff really can be beautiful.
Cons: It seems lots of folks are over granite; the less expensive stuff was used by every home builder in the country and folks are just plain bored with it. Nothing dates a kitchen like a nice dark green Ubatuba countertop.
You should seal it every 6-12 months. (Chill, it’s not a ton of work. Spray the counters with a sealant, let them dry for a few hours; wipe off…voila!)
Quartz
Image courtesy of MSI Surfaces
( the most misunderstood of them all, I believe)
Here’s the deal. Quartz (as we know it to be classified as a countertop material) is a man-made stone. Engineered. Not naturally occurring. Sure, it may have quartz, the gem, that is naturally occurring, but probably not a ton of it. It does have lots of polymers, resins and crushed up other stuff like granite, maybe even glass and mirrors, etc. that have been bound together to produce Quartz countertops.
It is often confused with Quartzite - which is a natural stone, with amazing veining and similar characteristics as marble.
Pros: Never-ever-ever have to worry about sealing them, rendering them virtually maintenance-free!
Cons: Can be EX-PEN-SIVE. Plain or speckly quartz? Probably not so bad. Looking for dramatic veining or trending color of the moment? You may have to reconsider your budget.
They can etch, burn and/or actually crack if you place your hot turkey roasting pan directly on the surface. Okay, so I’ve never actually heard of anyone cracking their quartz counters, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.
A cautionary word: Some quartz slabs are book-matched; others are not. Bookmatching is a process where two adjacent slabs are mirrored (or bookmatched) so the veining is continuous. What does that mean for you? If you have a super long island or countertop run, it will be VERY difficult to create continuous veining if the slabs are not bookmatched. Not to say it’s impossible, but it will be very difficult, and should not be left to the amateur fabricator.
Wood
Image courtesy of Southside Woodshop
Basically, pieces of wood glued together to form a countertop. There are several types (Edge Grain, End Grain, and Face Grain, but for today’s purposes, I’ll lump them all together)
Pros: Can be less expensive than some other materials.
It can be refinished.
Looks warm and amazing.
Cons: Not necessarily less expensive than all the countertop options out there.
Needs oiling and can/will scratch, dent, etc. So you HAVE to be okay with the patina it will take on after time. It can be refinished, so you can restore it to its almost original beauty - but that kind of defeats the purpose of having these, no?
Concrete
Photo courtesy of bgardendesigns.com
Pros: Add a cool industrial-chic vibe to your space.
Are usually formed in place, and molds can be made to almost any design/shape/size.
Concrete can be stained, pigmented, textured, and have items like glass or stone embedded in it, to create a truly custom, unique look.
Cons: Needs to be sealed.
A bad install or DIY job will make it look…well... bad. SO please please please leave it to an expert for larger jobs like your amazing new kitchen.
They scratch fairly easily. Here is one blogger’s detailed account (with pictures) of how her concrete counters faired over time. This is a very honest look at what to expect. Again, if you like that natural character/patina over time, this is a great choice.
Porcelain
This one is gaining popularity in the home reno world. It is essentially made in the same way as porcelain tiles (what has become our go-to for durable easy to clean flooring) It’s usually confused with Dekton, a different countertop material: an ultra-hard compact surface, also gaining popularity in the residential world.
Pros: Relatively inexpensive and super easy to maintain
They are available in large scale format, to minimize the dreaded seam
They are available in an increasingly cool array of patterns and prints
Cons: Because the pattern is printed on, the color does not go all the way through - so edges will be solid, and if it chips - you’ll see the solid color underneath
Requires expert installation, especially if you require cutouts, etc. and usually requires extra special handling
Worth noting: This material (used as counters) has come a long way, and I expect it to continue to improve and become a budget-friendly alternative.
Stainless Steel
Image via designingidea.com
This metal has been used in commercial kitchens and hospitals forever, for a reason. Its price point is generally middle of the road.
Pros: Super durable
Bacteria and germ-free!
Won’t stain, burn, or scorch, so you don’t ever need to worry about what you’re placing on top of it…unless…
Cons: Not scratch-proof or fingerprint-proof. So if either of those drive you crazy, then pass on this surface.
It can take on a very industrial look but looks great in small doses, or when balanced with warm woods or textures.
In short…
These are a sampling of the most frequently used and popular countertop materials. There are more products out there and new ones are always being introduced. The key to picking out any countertop (or any material for that matter) is to be honest about your lifestyle, your long and short term plans/goals for your house, and your budget. All these are important factors that will help sway you in the direction best suited for you. Still unsure?
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Are you considering a kitchen redesign or kitchen remodel in Massachusetts? First - take a peek at this must-read Survival Guide, then Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation, and we can help guide you on what might work best for you. We offer an array of interior design services to help you with your next interior design project.
