Choosing a Countertop
For many homeowners, the countertop selection may be a challenge. There are a lot of options out there, and not much guidance on what works and what doesn’t. I wanted to walk through the options and go over a few pro’s and con’s, along with some pricing. One note on pricing is to be wary of the big box stores with really low numbers on the signs. Often times these numbers do not include finished edges or cutting holes for things like sinks. Once you factor in those additions, you are right back up at the square footage price of your local fabricator.
Quartz is probably the most common choice in kitchens these days. There are some good reasons for that. Quartz is durable, consistent, and cost effective for a solid surface top. As common as quartz tops are, some people don’t know what they are made of. What is commonly referred to as a “Quartz Countertop” is not a solid slab of quartz rock, but an engineered stone product made of ground stone and polymer resins. Common brands of quartz tops are Caesarstone, Cambria, and Silestone. Quartz is typically a little more cost effective than natural stone. Ranging from $75-$125/square foot all in.
There are a few benefits to quartz tops. One big one is that they don’t have to be sealed. Their construction of 5-10% resin means they are already sealed by there construction method. This makes them durable and more resistant to staining than some natural stone products. Other benefits of the quartz being manmade is that they are often more uniform in patterning. This can make it easier to match up tops without large noticeable differences. This uniformity and ability to be matched easily means that often times a client will not need to buy a whole slab of quartz. They can simply purchase the square footage they need for there project, and the rest of the slab can be used on another project as the pattern will match anyway. This can be a significant savings if a client has needs that are only slightly larger than a normal top material slab size.
Quartz is not without drawbacks though. Some of the resins may yellow or discolor with direct sunlight. We haven’t seen this too often, as the materials are improving, but it is a possibility to be aware of. One of the other potential drawbacks in kitchen use is that the resin binders can crack or discolor under high heat, so you should not place hot pots or pans directly on the top. The final potential drawback of quartz is related to one of their strengths. Quartz tops are manmade, and as such, the patterns tend to be consistent and simple. This means there is not typically a lot of character or uniqueness to the tops, and this may be an issue for some people.
Quartzite or Granite are natural stone choices that are also common. We certainly don’t see as much granite as we did 20 years ago, but it is around. Quartzite is common on higher end countertops. Unlike quartz, which is made in a factory, these tops are cut from natural rock that is mined out of the ground. This has some great benefits and some drawbacks as well. As far as pricing, Quartzite can tend to be higher than quartz, coming in at $90-$150/square foot. Granite is typically less, in the $60/square foot plus range.
Some of the pro’s of quartzite or granite are durability and higher resistance to heat (though thermal shock could possibly lead to cracking over time). The stone is hard and durable though. Another benefit of these natural stone materials, particularly at higher level tops, is uniqueness. It is possible to have a very unique top that is not found an any other kitchen or bathroom.
Potential tradeoffs are that natural stone needs to be sealed somewhat regularly to keep it from becoming porous and easily stained. This is a particular concern in a kitchen where you may have acids, wine, or sauces that a top would be vulnerable to stains from. Another potential tradeoff is related to the uniqueness that I mentioned as a pro. The fact that every slab is a little different means it may be hard to match if you damage a piece or want to slightly change your cabinet layout. The quartzite tops also typically come at a higher cost than some of the other options.
I mentioned that these solid stone tops are cut from stone that is mined from the ground. Much of the granite and quartzite tops made in the US are stone that has come from quarries in Brazil. India is also a large supplier of granite top materials. Most US granite is the plain gray or pink that is typically used in building construction and paving material rather than countertops. There are some large domestic quartzite mines though. One thing worth noting on the natural stone is that the specific combination of minerals present in each location is what produces the unique coloring and patterns in the natural stone. That means that once the stone is gone from that mine, that particular pattern is not likely to be recreated somewhere else, so if you absolutely fall in love with a slab, you should reserve it right then!
Marble tops are somewhat less common for our customers. They also cut from natural stone slabs, and are beautiful with a timeless, elegant appearance. A lot of the marble used for countertops in the US comes from Italy, with two of the most well know varieties being Carrara and Calacatta. Both of these are named for the towns where they are mined. Marble can vary wildly in price, depending on how unique the particular variety of slab is. It can be a very cost effective stone, or one of the most expensive choices.
We already know a lot of the benefits of choosing a marble countertop. They are well known, enduring, and carry a feeling of quailty. Marble has a very premium look to it. Like the other natural stones, it will handle heat well.
The con’s of marble include that it is high maintenance. It can be softer and easier to etch with acids such as lemons or vinegars. It also can stain quite easily if not sealed. If you elect to use a marble top, particularly in a kitchen, you should be prepared to seal it regularly.
There are just a couple of other options that we see sometimes, but not too often.
Butcher block tops are warm and inviting. They tend to have a good amount of character to them. Depending on the application, butcher block tops can either be very cost effective or quite expensive. If your project is a simple straight run, an off-the-shelf top that is ordered and cut to fit can be a very cost effective option. If your project is a full kitchen, or needs some custom fabrication to make the tops work, butcher block tops can quickly get just as expensive if not more so compared to some of the stone alternatives. A benefit of butcher block tops is that they can easily be sanded and refinished. This means you can often repair them if they get damaged. A potential drawback is that butcher block tops are much softer than stone, so they would scratch or stain easier. Another big potential drawback with wood tops is that they can warp or separate with moisture. Given that many rooms with countertops also have sinks, this is commonly a problem.
Concrete tops are another option that some people love, but we don’t see too often. They offer full customization of sizes, shapes, and colors. A skilled fabricator can embed things into the concrete for a truly unique look. Some of the cons are that concrete almost always cracks at some point and they require regular sealing. Concrete tops are quite labor intensive, and you must find a fabricator with the skills to pull it off correctly. That being said, concrete tops can provide a truly unique alternative that just may fit your style and use.
That completes our brief run-through of some of the most common solid countertop materials. Hopefully there is some information that helps you with your decision.