Countertops are not only an integral part of your kitchen design, but they are also the workhorse of your kitchen. Choosing your countertops is a big decision and can be overwhelming. You want to make sure you get it right!
That’s why we’ve narrowed it down to our Top 5 kitchen countertop choices:
Quartz
Quartz is currently the most popular countertop surface, and for good reason! Quartz countertops are beautiful, durable, and low maintenance. Quartz is an engineered stone material made by binding ground quartzite with resins, polymers, and pigments. Thanks to its manufacturing process, there’s a seemingly endless combination of colors and patterns of quartz slabs. The major attraction of quartz is that it is low maintenance. It does not need to be sealed, it’s easy to clean, and it is scratch & heat resistant. The downside of quartz is that it can burn and stain and is difficult to repair in those instances.
Granite
Granite had its day as the most popular countertop surface and is still a great choice today. Granite is a natural stone cut straight from the earth, so each slab is unique. Similarly to quartz, granite is a very durable surface with many options for colors and finishes, which provides a great deal of design flexibility. Granite is less likely to burn and easier to restore compared to quartz, however, granite countertops do require somewhat regular maintenance. Since granite has a porous surface, these countertops need to be sealed to prevent staining.
Marble
Marble is a natural stone that has been the preferred stone material in architecture for ages. It provides a gorgeous, timeless look that is often associated with luxury and power. You’ll find that the main attractions to marble are it’s look and use as a status symbol or conversation starter. Marble countertops are much softer and more porous than granite. They are going to get scratched and stained in a kitchen that sees any amount of work. But when it’s all said and done, marble countertops really are the most beautiful countertops that you will find!
Quartzite
Quartzite countertops are a great option for anybody who is also considering going with marble countertops. Not to be confused with ‘quartz’ countertops, quartzite countertops are 100% natural stone, and they have a similar beauty to that of marble. In comparison to marble, quartzite countertops are less likely to scratch and stain.
Butcher Block
It’s rarely recommended that you use wood countertops for your entire kitchen, but a section of butcher block countertop can be very useful for both design and function when used appropriately. Butcher Block countertops can provide design tones that cannot be achieved with their stone counterparts. These countertops will get scratched up and will need to be maintained using food-safe oil, but they are probably the most convenient style of countertop if you do a lot of slicing and dicing in the kitchen.
While these choices are all fantastic for their beauty and durability, this only a short list of the many, many countertop surface options that exist. Some other countertop surfaces that may work for your kitchen include stainless steel, onyx, soapstone, limestone, solid surface, sintered surface, concrete, or porcelain. Below, we have included a chart from usenaturalstone.org as a quick-reference guide for popular countertop choices.
