I Was Helping My Daughter Having Her Kitchen Remodelled Recently. She Was Having Problems Trying To Decide On A New Countertop Material. Walking Through The Counters Area In Home Depot Gave Her A Few Ideas, But She Was Still Undecided When The Time Came To Choose A Month Later. I Decided To Write Out A Quick Comparison Of All The Materials And Costs For Her And When I Was Done I Thought Other People Might Find It Useful As Well, So Here Goes.Most People Are Familiar With Laminate Countertops. (Formica Is One Brand Name.) Theyre A Thin Surface Of High-pressure Laminate Applied To A Thicker Base Of Plywood Or Particleboard. Pluses: The Standby, Available In Literally Hundreds Of Patterns And Colors, Laminates Are The Least Expensive (next To Tile) And Durable, Requiring Less Upkeep Than Tile. Minuses: Easy To Scorch With Hot Cookware, The Use Of Layers In Their Construction Makes It Tricky To Repair Chips, Show Scratches, Especially Lighter Colors, So Not Usable As A Cutting Surface. Less Durable Than Natural Stone Or Solid Surface; Use With Under Mount Sinks Is Not Recommended. Cost: 25 To 50 FootSolid Surfacing, (brand Names Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite And Surrell) A Newer Countertop Material, Is Durable And Mimics The Appearance Of Natural Stone Materials Like Marble Or Granite. Pluses: Gives Seamless Surfaces, Easy To Care For. High Impact Resistance, Easily Repaired, Nonporous And Seamless, So Won't Trap Dirt, Collect Bacteria Or Stain; Easily. Minuses: May Melt From Hot Pot; Looks Non-natural In Some Color Schemes, Licensed Contractor Required For Installation And Repair Work. Cost: 60 To 110 Per Foot.Natural Woods. Used In Butcher-block Style Arrangement. Maple, Oak And Other Hardwoods, Make Durable And Elegant Countertops. Pluses: Good Surface For Cutting Foods; Scratches Easily Repaired By Sanding; Easy Match With Wood Cabinets And Floors. Minuses: Requires A Finish To Preserve Appearance, May Scorch With Hot Cookware, Allows Bacterial Growth, So Needs Regular Cleaning. Not Practical For Entire Countertop Good For Small Sections. Cost: 50 To 75 Per FootGranite. Popular For Their Elegant And Rich Look, Natural Stone Countertops Will Last Longer Than Most Kitchens. Pluses: Adds To Value Of Home, Hard Durable Surface, Very Heat Resistant. Minuses: Very Expensive, Requires Care Since It Is Porous And Must Be Sealed Periodically, Grease Will Stain. Cost: 60 To 200 Per Foot For Granite 60 To 130 Per Foot For Marble (stains Easily And Not Recommended For Food Prep Countertop)Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile: This Is The Countertop Material My Daughter Was Replacing. While The Counters Were In Pretty Bad Shape, Refurbishing Was An Option. Tile Has A Comforting, Classic Look And Is Inexpensive.. Pluses: Easy To Clean Up After A Mess. More Heat Resistant Than Laminates Solid Surfaces, Inexpensive, Unless You Are Thinking About Custom Or Hand-painted Tiles. Minuses: Can Chip And Crack Easily; Needs Regular Maintenance To Keep Bacteria Out Of Grout. Scrubbing Grout. Cost: 10 To 25 Per Foot.So, What Countertop Material Did She Choose In The End? For Its Reasonable Cost And Reparability, Corian Got The Nod For The New Kitchen. We Found A Color That Was Very Close To A Granite Look And We Also Liked The Ten Year Warranty.
