Changing a damaged, scorched, stained, or simply simple unpleasant countertops can transform any kind of kitchen. Gladly, there are lots of choices in a vast array of costs. A brand-new laminate kitchen counter can set you back as low as $5 per square foot. Or you might easily invest 10 times that on quartz, granite, or recycled glass.
Customer News evaluated more than a dozen prominent sorts of kitchen counters to see exactly how well they stood up to stains, warm damages, cuts, abrasion, and also impact, and also located seven that proved acceptable. Right here are the details.
In our countertop examinations, performance varied from one product to the following yet there was little distinction amongst contending brand names of each kind, so be sure to look around for the best deal on your countertop product of option. The costs below are per square foot. For the benefits and drawbacks of each kind, see the numbered access listed below.
7 of the most effective countertop materials Countertop Intelligence
Quartz Pros: It mimics the look of rock yet requires much less maintenance. Warm pots, serrated blades, abrasive pads, and most discolorations were no match for quartz, which is a mix of mineral, color, and also material. It is available in dynamic shades along with patterns that appear like granite and also marble. Disadvantages: Sides and also edges can chip, and you’ll require a pro to repair them. Spherical sides assist.
Granite Pros: Each slab of this all-natural product is special; uncommon shades and veining price much more. Heat, cuts, and also scrapes didn’t damage granite in our examinations. Sleek as well as matte finishes resisted most discolorations when properly secured, so select the look you favor. Cons: Periodic resealing is required to repel spots. Like quartz, edges and corners can chip and needs to be professionally repaired.
Soapstone, Sedimentary Rock, and also Marble Pros: Soapstone isn’t as usual as granite, and also it’s outstanding at resisting heat damages. Little scrapes can be repaired by fining sand finely and using mineral oil. Limestone (envisioned) and marble are traditional products. Sedimentary rock additionally has a natural-stone appearance without hefty veining or graining, and also it stands up to warm. Cons: Soapstone nicks, cuts, and also scratches quickly, and some discolorations are as well hard to be gotten rid of. Sedimentary rock and also marble likewise have those downsides, as well as warmth, damaged our marble.
Laminate Pros: Cost-effective, easy to set up, therefore much better-looking than you probably keep in mind, thanks to new printing technology and ornamental edges. Discolorations and also heat didn’t damage the laminates we tested. Disadvantages: Cutting straight on it conveniently as well as permanently harms laminate, so use a reducing board.
Strong Surfacing Pros: Offered in a variety of shades and patterns, it can be made use of for the counters, sink, and also backsplash, producing a seamless look due to the fact that joints are practically unseen. As well as like quartz, its color won’t vary much from the store sample. Strong appearing is immune to many discolorations, and also tiny nicks and scratches can be fixed. Cons: It scrapes as well as cuts easily, so a reducing board is a must.
Recycled Glass Pros: Big fragments give it a fun, modern look; carefully ground glass makes it much less busy. The majority of glass counters we checked withstood discolorations, cuts, scratches, and heat. Cons: It’s the only product for which we located a distinction amongst brands. Cosentino’s Eco counters were the only ones that developed a slim fracture throughout our warm tests.
Butcher Block Pros: It includes heat and is simple to mount as well as repair, however, the coating makes a difference. Varnish enhanced stain resistance, but passing through oils diminished it. Cons: Nicks, as well as scrapes, can quickly take place, though they can be sanded out.