The 4 Best Materials for Your Kitchen Countertop

When you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, compromising on quality is out of the question. As a result, the entire project can get expensive. And speaking of expensive, let’s not forget about your kitchen countertop. It’s not only a major functional element of the design but is also often the centre of attraction. Choosing the right one, however, is tricky due to the numerous choices available. Since these are expensive upgrades, it’s wise to take your time before making the decision. To help out, we have outlined the pros and cons of the top kitchen countertop materials.

Top 4 Kitchen Countertop Materials

There are many things you need to consider before choosing a kitchen countertop, including the right material. Here are the 10 most used by homeowners.

Pros and Cons of the Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials

Considering each material carefully will help you make an informed decision about one of the most important parts of your kitchen remodel.

When you’re looking for the best countertop material, the first things you need to focus on are your daily needs and habits. Do you prepare food on its surface? Then you should definitely avoid soft or porous materials, as knives will easily damage them.

 

Pro Tip for Choosing Kitchen Countertop Materials Beyond material, another factor to consider is your kitchen’s design. For example, an undermount sink provides no value to a laminate countertop. The backsplash is also important, and contrasting backsplashes can do wonders for your kitchen. However, if you prefer to get the same material for the backsplash and countertop, you need to evaluate the added square footage when coming up with your budget.

 

1. Granite

Once only available in expensive homes, granite is common in many households today thanks to dropping prices due to its abundance and the rising popularity of engineered stones. This natural stone makes any kitchen appear elegant, and even modest ones look luxurious when you incorporate high-end granite countertops. Granite being a natural stone, it also enhances your home’s value. It comes in a wide variety of colours, from vibrant blues to deep reds, which makes it suitable for almost every type of kitchen.  Need more reasons to get a granite countertop? Read here.

Pros:

• High resistance to heat
• Extreme durability
• Little to no extra maintenance when treated with newer sealers

Cons:

• Relatively expensive
• Cracks easily if poorly installed
• Knives dulled by cutting directly on it
• Requires sealing at regular intervals

 

 

2. Quartz (Engineered Stone)

Quartz countertops are actually an engineered (man-made) stone product, containing almost 93% quartz particles and other minerals. While early versions didn’t offer many variations in terms of colour palette and patterns, modern offerings have a much broader spectrum. Mostly made of quartz, it’s an extremely hard and durable material that doesn’t require sealing. In terms of colour variations, edge profiling, finish flexibility and uniformity in patterns, quartz has a wide variety that makes it perfect for your kitchen renovation. There are many other advantages to this material.

Pros:

• No need for sealing
• Easy maintenance
• Uniform slabs
• Custom-fabricated shapes and sizes
• High resistance to stains, heat and even acid

Cons:

• Expensive
• Very heavy

 

 

3. Solid Surface

Solid surface is another man-made material, made by pressing a blend of dense acrylic particles, polyester and resins into sheets and other shapes. Even though it has been around for decades, people at first considered solid surface a space-age alternative to natural stone due to their striking resemblance.

Considered a premium and luxury countertop material, solid surface is now thought of as a more suitable choice for mid-range kitchens. However, you can still use it in high-end ones as well if there’s a lot of countertop space, as covering it with granite or quartz will be extremely expensive.

Pros:

• Low maintenance
• Non-porous
• Easy to repair

Cons:

• Susceptibility to heat
• Not impervious to scratches

 

4. Plastic Laminate

Laminate is a plastic-coated synthetic material popular because of its smooth and easy-to-clean surface. For laminate countertops, laminate sheets are bonded to a particleboard (MDF) core, which is a high-density and very stable layer of hardwood. You can get pre-formed segments for laminate countertops, or get them custom-fabricated according to your specifications. This material was initially looked down upon as a cheaper version of premium countertop materials. But its easy installation, low maintenance, and high resistance to stains and damage make it a strong choice. With thousands of colours, patterns, and styles available, a laminate countertop can be the perfect addition if you want to give your kitchen some retro vibes. This is particularly effective for mid-century modern kitchen designs.

Pros:

• Extremely low maintenance
• Inexpensive
• Many options

Cons:

• Visible seams
• Not a high resale value
• Vulnerability to scratches
• Not easy to repair

 

In the end, you have to make the choice for yourself. But knowing the advantages and features of each material and consulting a countertop expert will give you a better understanding of what to choose for your kitchen countertop.