Are you feeling overwhelmed by the number of countertops to choose for your kitchen remodel?
You’re not alone. In fact, there are at least fifteen popular countertop choices. To make your life easier, we’ve narrowed our list down to the top five popular countertops.
In this list, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each kind of countertop material. Keep reading below if you’re ready to learn which countertop will be the right choice for your kitchen remodeling.
1. Marble
Marble is one of the most luxurious countertop choices. It is the most expensive and is thus rare to find in homes. Marble boosts the real estate value of a home.
Marble is also heatproof and waterproof.
Marble can be scratched easily and is porous. Unfortunately, this makes repairs difficult and may require the use of a sealant.
2. Granite
Granite is the most common countertop material. It is slightly less expensive than marble due to the increased supply.
The pros of granite include its near-complete resistance to heat, its durability, and its beauty. Granite is available in nearly 3,000 finishes. Like marble, it also increases a home’s real estate value.
Granite is porous, though. This means you must use a sealant to protect it from stains and spills. While this sealant is applied annually, heat and use can wear it away.
3. Quartz
Quartz is an engineered stone. It is composed of 93% quartz, with 7% mixed materials.
Since quartz is engineered, it was created to solve two of the problems natural stone didn’t. Quartz is scratch and stain-resistant.
It doesn’t look quite as natural as organic stone but is available in pretty much any shape and color. The one downside: it’s also expensive.
4. Concrete
Another beautiful stone, concrete, can add an upscale industrial look to any home. The main downsides are the porosity of the surface requires regular sealing, and over time the concrete may crack.
5. Solid Surface
These are some of the most inexpensive countertops money can buy. They’re composed of pressed resins and acrylics.
Unfortunately, solid surface is susceptible to heat damage and scratches.
Less Popular Countertops
Let’s not forget our notable mentions. These countertops are still available but slightly less popular.
Wood is less popular due to the easy tendency to stain, scratch, and mold if not well kept.
Laminate counters are a low-cost option but do not add any real estate value to a home. The MDF body they are composed of can be carcinogenic.
Ceramic tile is another option that was a hit in the 70s. Now tile is often resorted to for backsplashes instead of full countertops. Tile is easy to DIY and can look beautiful.
However, the porous grooves between each tile make tile countertops a breeding ground for mildew.
Picking the Right Countertops
In general, natural countertops perform better than manufactured material countertops. They also add to the real estate value of your home, which makes them a wise choice.
Ready to give your countertops an upgrade? Contact a team member to discuss options!
