Yesterday’s post presented five countertop materials often used in busy kitchens and bathrooms. Today we’ll look at five more options.
5 More Ways to Top Counters
Slate - Quarried natural stone.
Photo sheldonslate.com
- Pros - Natural beauty that is highly durable and nonporous so it is more stain resistant than marble and granite. Does not chip or scratch easily and does not burn when hot pans are placed on it.
- Cons - Stone can crack and repairs are difficult. Since color is natural, choices are limited. Seams show and water spots show.
- Price – Expensive. $100 – $200 per linear foot.
Engineered Stone - Created by adding resin to crushed natural stone or marble and heating the mixture.
Photo caesarstoneus.com
- Pros - Non-porous so they don’t require sealing as many natural stone slabs do.
- Cons - Since they are man-made they do not have the same quality of variations in color, texture and grain as do quarried stone slabs.
- Price – Expensive. $60+ per linear foot.
Ceramic Tile – Glazed clay with a grout installation.
Photo daltile.com
- Pros - Available in a wide variety of colors, sizes and patterns so homeowners can easily express their personal style more readily than with any other counter material. Tile is waterproof and resists stains. Suitable for a DIY installation and simple to repair.
- Cons - Can crack and chip easily and grout is hard to keep clean and is not waterproof. Labor intensive installation adds to the cost.
- Price - Wide price range from affordable to expensive with labor. $30 – $80 per linear foot.
Stainless Steel - Cool, sleek metal.
Photo stainlessliving.com
- Pros - Used in commercial kitchens because it is highly durable and easy to clean (even with bleach!) and maintain. Hot pots and pans will not damage the surface.
- Cons - Shows fingerprints. If you cut on it, the steel will dull your knives. Some food, like ketchup, mustard and salad dressing with vinegar can stain the surface if left for a long time. Can be noisy and may dent.
- Price – Fabrication and edge finish impact price. Custom fabrication is $300-500 per linear foot.
Concrete - Unlike other materials, concrete is not limited in shape or color.
Photo concretenetwork.com - design by Pourfolio Custom Concrete.
- Pros - Looks good ”as is” or can be stained, aggregates added, and pigments added to mimic beautiful natural stone. The counter and sink can be cast as a single unit and the material can be easily shaped. Homeowners confident in their DIY abilities can successfully create a concrete counter inexpensively. If stains occur they can be sanded off.
- Cons - Heavy, can crack.
- Price – The material is inexpensive but professional installation is very expensive. Precast $85 – $100 per linear foot, $200 – $300 with professional installation.
What’s On Your Counters?
So, what’s currently topping your kitchen and bath countertops? Would you like something different on them? What – and Why? Share your thoughts by clicking the Comment link below or emailing solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com. We’d love to know how you’d like to top things off!
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Personally if I had all the money in the world, my first choice would be teh man-made engineered stone- that is what I recently installed in my own home and others. No negatives for me or my clients. Just remember to get a slightly round edge or the material will chip although it can be repaired. Great selection of colors and anti-microbial properties and non-porous. Minimal to no staining whatsoever. Just an overall great product!