One of the most critical elements of interior decorating in kitchens and baths, is the countertops. If you're desinging the kitchen or bath for your new home, or renovating, you have more countertop choices than ever before. Some materials, like natural stone, have become more affordable. The natural look is extremely popular, but so are the bright, bold colors and interesting patterns possible with innovative products like Quartz and solid surface.

Countertops play a starring role in your kitchen or bath design, helping set the style and tone for the entire design scheme of each room. They’re the first thing people notice about your kitchen, in particular. But with so many choices now available, which one is right for your home?

As homeowners, we demand a lot from our countertops: they must be beautiful yet durable and cost-efficient, yet stylish. For many people, cost is perhaps the major determining factor in choosing countertop material. Lifestyle runs a close second. For example, families with children (who, as we all know are very hard on countertops), will prefer a material that is durable, critter-proof and stain-resistant; if you consider yourself a bit of a gourmet cook, then you would want a material that is hard-working and easy to clean and maintain, while those who do a lot of entertaining need a countertop that is not only durable, convenient and hard-working, but stylish as well.

Today, there are so many options, from granite to wood to glass to laminates. Even so, choosing your new countertops doesn't have to be difficult. Naturally, when choosing a countertop, your budgetary constraints are important, but the material it is made of should be your first, and most important consideration. After all, it doesn’t matter how much it cost if it isn’t the right material for your needs.

Natural Stone
Granite
Granite is classic, enduring and suggests a special element of luxury. The advantages of granite are many—it doesn't chip easily, it's heat and stain-resistant, and requires less maintenance than other natural stone materials and offers a depth of design that's difficult to match with other materials. Granite is quarried worldwide. The region and geological conditions that create it are revealed in nature’s wild creations of colors and patterns throughout the stone.

Each slab of granite is unique, with random and inconsistent patterns that enhance its charm. Granite, composed of quartz and feldspar, is graded upon a host of variables including density, strength, water absorption and acid resistance. It is resistant to scratches, abrasions and most chemicals. However, there are some disadvantages. If you do damage your granite countertop, it's very difficult to repair. Small cracks or chips may require resin injection and polishing. It's also one of the most expensive options. And, even though it's considered relatively low maintenance, it will need to be sealed once a year to prevent it from absorbing stains and odors.

Although it is resistant to most chemicals, granite can be vulnerable to some acids. Pitting is common with granite and most polished igneous rocks. Fissures also occur naturally in stone adding to its character.

Marble
Marble is another upscale, popular choice that adds a sophisticated touch. Marble, like any crystallized carbonate rock, is softer and more susceptible to chemical damage, scratches, abrasions and stains by oils or other liquids. Since marble is less stain resistant and more porous than granite, it needs to be sealed more often than granite—generally twice a year. And like granite, marble is very resistant to heat, but can still crack due to a localized, strong heat source.

Of course there are other natural stone options, such as slate, limestone and soapstone. Depending upon the look that you want for your countertops, you may want to investigate these options as well.

Quartz
Quartz countertops are a beautiful, worry-free alternative to natural stone. Quartz countertops offer a consistency of structure and appearance and are stronger than granite. They are highly resistant to scratches, abrasions chipping and stains, and the variety of colors and patterns is nearly endless.

The material in quartz countertops contain a complex of advanced composite made up of nearly 100% quartz that is bound together by polymers and pigments. In order to lay claim to the hardness, durability and impermeability of a true quartz surface, countertops must contain 93% quartz and only 7 % pigments and resins. The resulting mixture provides a surface that is non-porous, extremely durable and factory testing shows it to be two to four times as strong as granite.

In fact, quartz ranks a 7.0 (out of a possible 10) on Moh’s Hardness Scale, a formula devised to measure the scratch resistance of a material. Only diamonds, topaz and sapphire are harder than quartz. A quartz surface is solid and remains impervious to water, moisture or bacteria. Leading manufacturers have their quartz products certified to prove they meet and/or surpass international standards for food preparation and hygienic applications. Additionally, unlike granite or laminates, quartz will not accept stains from fruit juices, food coloring, coffee, tea, wine or even felt tip markers.

Quartz is distinguishingly beautiful. It radiates a cool, fresh sparkling appearance that is similar to that of precious stones. The rich aesthetics, dazzling, crystals, low maintenance, extraordinary strength and durability of quartz adds value to a home. Quartz’ virtually limitless natural color palette, from conservative neutral hues to daring brilliant colors, ensures that even the most discriminating tastes can be satisfied.

Quartz countertops can be fabricated with custom profiles including bevels and straight edges. It possesses a uniform consistence that allows for design, cutting, routing and finishing options that are precise and consistent. Typically, manufacturers offer a limited 10-year warranty on quartz countertops.

Solid Surfaces
Solid surface countertops are the most versatile, single best decorative surface material available today. Solid surface countertops are 100% man-made, providing many options and great diversity when it comes to color and texture variations. Homeowners can choose from solid colors and granite look-alikes to lightly sanded textures with multi-colored veining.

Solid surface is made of resin; an acrylic or modified polyester; alumina trihydrate; color pigments, and other particles that facilitate a mottled, veined or textured look. There is virtually no limit to how solid surface can be fabricated and customized, including inlays, borders, trim and much more. It is machinable, can be transformed into about any shape imaginable and can be heated and molded. Solid surface is the only material that features molded sinks seamed directly to the countertop with no gaps or caulks. Solid surface is “homogenous” meaning the color and pattern are consistent throughout and it contains no veneers to chip, crack, peel or wear out. This remarkable material offers a range of finishes from matte to high gloss.

Through reasonable hot & cold fluctuations, solid surfaces remain stable and undamaged. They are stain and chemical resistant, scratch resistant and offer ease of maintenance. However, it is not impervious to damage, as it can be scorched and possibly crack if exposed to prolonged high heat.

Because of its repairability, easy clean-up and sanitary properties, solid surface countertops is one of the most common materials used in food preparation areas. It is a hard, non-porous material and ranks with stainless steel in resistance to fungal and bacterial growth.
Though solid surface countertops are strong and renewable, the use of cutting boards is recommended. Minor damage can often be easily repaired by the homeowner, and crack or chip repairs can be made virtually invisible by professionals.

Laminates
Laminate is produced by combining layers of resin-coated brown paper, sandwiched together under high heat and pressure. The top layer is a decorative paper that is covered with a hard plastic overlay. It is a colorful, moderately durable surface that is available at a fraction of the cost of other, higher-quality materials. Laminate countertops are normally purchased ready-made with pre-molded backsplashes and molded edges.

Laminates are now available that resemble wood, granite, etc. The material is easy to clean, but the use of abrasive cleaners and abrasive-coated pads can permanently dull and scratch the surface making it more susceptible to staining. Certain chemicals can stain a laminate surface, especially inks and dyes. Laminate can also be scorched or separate from its substrate if exposed to high temperatures. Laminate countertops that are damaged cannot be completely repaired.

In high moisture environments, laminate is a poor choice. Typically, if a water problem occurs, it affects the substrate of the product that the laminate is bonded to. When penetrated by water, the substrate actually swells and deteriorates, leaving unsightly warping, bumps and gaps.

When choosing the ideal material for your application, determine how it will be used and of course, how much you have to spend.