Popular Countertop Materials
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Pros
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Cons
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Natural Stone (Granite): one of the hardest
natural materials, made up of quartz and
feldspar.
Other stone include marble, limestone and
soapstone, but they require delicate use and
greater care.
|
- Heat and scratch resistant
- Many unique varieties and visual
patterns
- Available with various edge treatments
and finishes
|
- Porous material, requires resealing to
prevent staining
- Sizes are limited, odd/large sizes will
have visible seams
- Scratches are hard to remove
- Can be expensive
|
Natural Quartz: combination of natural quartz
and silica sands engineered under extreme
pressure at very high temperatures to create a
product that looks like granite, marble, or
travertine.
|
- Extremely durable, heat, scratch, stain
and bacteria resistant
- Requires little to no maintenance
- Many unique and consistent colors and
visual patterns
- Available with various edge treatments
and finishes
|
- Odd/large sizes will have visible seams
- More expensive than some other
choices
|
Solid Surface: Solid surface materials, such
as Corian, are manufactured from acrylic
resins and/or polyester plastics.
|
- Resists liquid and food stains
Scratches/stains can be sanded away
- Seamless construction
- Available in numerous solid colors and
patterns, with a wide selection of edging
details.
|
- Not heat resistant, hot pots can melt
the finish
- Can be expensive
|
Tile: made from a variety of materials such as
cermic, porcelain, marble, slate, etc.
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- Heat and stain resistant
- Wide selection of size, color and
materials allow for the most versatile
range of designs
- Extra tiles may be stored for repairs
|
- Tiles may scratch and chip
- Tile surface may be uneven
- Grout lines may be hard to clean
|
Laminate: made from a thin piece of
laminated plastic that is adhered to a base or
substrate. The substrate might be particle
board or plywood.
|
- Durable
- Inexpensive
- A vast array of colors/style available
- Available with various edge treatments
and finishes
|
- Not heat resistant
- Surface color can fade or wear over
time
- Noticeable seams and edges
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