Countertop Materials
- Granite Countertops. Granite countertops are some of the most elegant, richest kitchen countertops available. ...
- Quartz Countertops. ...
- Laminate Countertops. ...
- Concrete Countertops. ...
- Recycled Glass Countertops. ...
- Butcherblock Countertops. ...
- Marble Countertops. ...
- Solid Surface Countertops. ...
- Tile Countertops. ...
- Eco Friendly Countertops. ...
Full Answer
What are the best countertops?
Best of all, because of the way air fryers work to recirculate ... If you don't own an air fryer yet, you're missing out: The handy countertop kitchen gadget that makes healthier fried foods is now a staple in millions of American kitchens.
Which countertops are the most durable?
These countertop materials look great with little effort
- Engineered stone. Sold under brand names including Ceasarstone and Silestone and often referred to simply as quartz, this countertop material is made of crushed stone bound together by a ...
- Soapstone. Soapstone’s durability has made this material a top choice for hundreds of years. ...
- Laminate. Yes, that’s a laminate countertop. ...
Which countertop is best for my home?
What Kitchen Countertop is Best for My Home?
- Granite Countertops. Granite is one of the most commonly used materials for kitchen countertops. ...
- Quartz Countertops. Another extremely durable material, Quartz can withstand the heat of the kitchen; From hot pots to serrated knives, abrasive pads, and spills, quartz countertops are made to last.
- Laminate Countertops. ...
- Contact Tri-state Kitchens. ...
What is the best type of countertop?
- Features: You don’t need heaps of features, but useful ones. ...
- Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. ...
- Customer Ratings: The hundreds of customers using the Type Of Countertop For Kitchen before you won’t say wrong, would they? ...
How can I tell what material my countertop is?
To tell if you are looking at real stone or a manufactured countertop, look carefully at the pattern on the counter. Every slab of granite or marble is unique. If it is natural stone, no two areas of the stone will look exactly alike.
What are normal countertops made of?
A common type of countertop is natural stones like granite, marble, soapstone, and slate. Here's a detailed look at each material: Granite: Once found only in expensive, high-end kitchens, granite is more commonplace today and is by far the most popular natural-stone countertop material.
How do I know if my countertop is granite or quartz?
It's much less common to find a granite slab that resembles another material, or a surface of any natural stone that resembles another. So, if you see a luxury surface that has the look of marble or concrete, chances are that it is quartz, not granite.
What material are old countertops made of?
Before industrialization emerged, countertops were commonly made out of natural materials, such as wood and stone, according to Andrew Blate, co-owner of Beautiful Home Services, a partner of Long & Foster's Home Service Connections. Formica was it in the 1960s.
Can u paint laminate countertops?
If you want to make a big impact in your kitchen without a big investment, consider priming and painting your laminate countertops. Your local paint store can supply you with the best type of paint to use in this project. Many recommend a water-based acrylic primer, paint and top coat.
What is a laminate countertop made of?
Laminate is a handy material made from layers of paper that are tightly pressed together to form a thin, rigid sheet that is fairly easy to work with. This sheet is then glued to a wood substrate typically for countertops. It is a low-maintenance, inexpensive choice for a kitchen countertop.
Can you use Clorox wipes on a quartz countertop?
Yes, you can use Clorox disinfecting wipes on Quartz countertops. The Clorox wipes are bleach-free, so they are safe for occasional use. However, since Clorox disinfecting wipes contain citric acid, you won't want to use them as your everyday cleaner.
How can you tell if a countertop is granite or marble?
To identify granite, do a scratch test. Take a knife blade, and try scratching the surface (in an inconspicuous place). If it's hard to scratch, then it's likely to be granite (or some type of igneous rock). If you are able to scratch the stone it is either marble or limestone.
How can I tell if my countertop is granite?
Natural granite countertops will have seams somewhere on the surface. Once you find the seam, take a close look. If the pattern on the other side of the seam is slightly different, it is likely real granite. However, if the pattern is exactly the same, it is likely that you have fake granite.
What were countertops made of in the 50s?
While laminate countertops were the decade's material of choice, mixing materials, especially futuristic metals and plastics with hearty brick and wood, was popular during the '50s.
What were countertops made of in the 1960s?
A Soapstone Countertop Was the Key to This 1960s Kitchen Upgrade.
What were kitchen countertops made of before Formica?
Those on a tight budget sometimes used a scrap of Linoleum as countertop material. 1930s: During the 1930s, tile continued to be the most common home countertop material. However, there were developments with a resin called Melamine and plastic laminates, which we now is known as Formica.
What is the most popular countertop material?
Granite has been around for years, and it’s one of the most popular countertop materials in the market. It contains an assortment of different minerals such as: mica, feldspar, and quartz. It comes in different colors such as brown, gray, white, and red.
What does a natural countertop look like?
The colors of the countertops will appear as veins or swirls throughout the stone, and since the countertop is natural, it won’t have repeating or symmetrical patterns.
What is quartz made of?
Quartz. Quartz counters are humanmade, where they are made by mixing ground quartz stone, resins, and polymers. Some quartz countertops can be a mix of ground granite, marble and other natural stones giving birth to engineered stone. Since the countertops are humanmade, they come in a variety of colors and patterns.
What is granite called?
Granite is referred to as a phanerite rock. This means it contains crystals and mineral clumps that are large enough to distinguish with naked eyes. When you look at a granite slab, you will see various pieces in a speckled pattern that come together to form the stone.
How to keep countertops in shape?
To keep them in shape, avoid sitting on them. You also should avoid placing a heavy cooking item at the edges of the countertops. Finally, you should make a habit of clearing any debris from the countertops as soon as it happens.
What color is marble?
Unfortunately, most of the marble contains other minerals that give it a myriad of colors such as black, pink, gray, and yellow. Real marble tends to have unparalleled glossiness. When you are inspecting the stone, don’t take this as a telltale sign your countertop is made from marble as unscrupulous business people can replicate it by adding small ...
What is the most elegant natural stone?
Marble is said to be the most elegant natural stone in the world. Just like granite, it has been around for years, and it has been used to construct palaces for kings and statues dedicated to gods.
What is the best countertop material for a kitchen?
One Kind Design. If you have countertops in unusual shapes, or if you want a truly unique kitchen, concrete may be a good choice for your countertops. Due to their heavy weight, concrete countertops are usually cast in forms right in your kitchen.
What are the different types of countertops?
They include granite, marble, quartz, and more. Each material has its positive and negative aspects. For instance, some are very strong while others can be scratched or marred. And some materials cost a lot more than others .
What is soapstone used for?
It has seen a recent resurgence as an alternative to granite. Soapstone is often seen in historic homes but is also used in modern homes as both a countertop and sink material.
What is laminate counter top?
Laminate counters bear trademarks such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart. The laminates are plastic-coated synthetics with a smooth surface that's easy to clean . Countertops are made by bonding the laminate sheets to a particleboard (MDF) core. Laminate countertops can be purchased as pre-formed segments (called "post-form countertops"), or custom-fabricated to specifications, either on-site or in a fabrication shop.
What is glass countertop?
Similar technology is now being used in so-called glass countertops, which consist of particles of recycled glass blended with resins and shaped into countertop slabs. Consumers keen on being on the cutting edge may want to consider glass as well as quartz countertops.
What is quartz stone?
Quartz (Engineered Stone) The Spruce / Kevin Norris. The countertop material known as "quartz" is actually an engineered stone product that contains as much as 93 percent quartz particles and other minerals, shaped into slabs and bound with resins. These are not solid quartz slabs produced by quarrying.
What is the best wood for countertops?
Wood countertops offer a beautiful warm look and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Hardwoods such as maple and oak are the species most often used as countertop woods.
Can you polish quartz?
There is no special cleaning for quartz, other than the standard "don't use highly abrasive materials" which will scratch off the polish layer. Your ring looks like a rust ring, and it may have embedded into the resin binding. If you call a pro out to fix the edge, you can might ask them if they can buff the surface and re-polish to match.
Can you use trivets on granite counters?
I would still use trivets and hot pads for hot items. Sure the counter can take the heat without them, but you want to minimize (like granite) the possibility of thermal expansion of the counter top. They also provide a padding for setting things down (which can minimize chipping if you slightly drop things on the counter) While heat expansion won't be very much, the hardness of the material will be such that small amounts of heat expansion could promote cracking.
Is quartz counter top strong?
Quartz is strong (about as strong as granite) but that also makes it brittle. The problem with brittle counter tops is they chip with a hard enough impact.
What is the trendiest countertop material?
Stainless Steel: The Trendy Option. Second only to concrete as the most trendy countertop material, stainless steel 's popularity has waxed and waned over the years. Originally a material found only in commercial kitchens, stainless steel has recently become common in high-end residential kitchens.
What is a solid surface countertop?
Solid surface countertops are made from synthetic acrylic, epoxy, and polyester materials bonded together in formulations aimed at mimicking the look of natural stone. When solid-surface material was introduced in the late 1960s by Dupont, it was regarded as a high-end countertop material.
How much does laminate cost?
Laminate countertops range in price from $15 to $40 per square foot, installed.
How much does a solid surface countertop cost?
Costs for solid-surface countertops range from $35 to $85 per square foot, installed.
Which countertop is best for resisting burns?
Quartz countertops are among the best at resisting burns and scorching.
What is reclaimed wood countertop?
Reclaimed wood countertops are slabs made from hardwoods recycled from other uses, such as commercial bowling alleys, barns, or residential flooring. For homeowners concerned about the environment, reclaimed wood offers obvious appeal.
Is tile countertop attractive?
Appearance. Tile surfaces themselves can be very attractive, but the presence of the many seams in a tile countertop is a big turn-off to anyone who cooks. Not only is the uneven texture of a tile surface problematic, but the grout lines can make cleanup a nightmare. Rating: 1.0.
What is quartz made of?
Quartz is a manmade material made up of 90-95% quartz and 5-10% resin. Often referred to as engineered stone, the material is made from leftover quartz that is ground and mixed with resin. Quartz occurs in a variety of colors ranging from whites to purples and blues. You can leave the countertop material naturally colored or enhance it ...
How big is a granite slab?
A standard granite slab measures 105 by 54 inches which is narrower and shorter than standard-sized quartz slab that measures 120 by 55 inches or the jumbo-sized quartz slab at 129 by 65 inches.
How is granite formed?
Granite is a 100% natural occurring rock formed over some time by the cooling of molten lava. As lava cools and compresses over centuries, it forms flecks and striations that give the countertops its character. The granite stone is made up of several minerals that give each slab different colours and characteristics.
Where is granite mined?
Quartz is abundant and often mined in the United States (primarily Arkansas) hence the lower costs which are passed on to you.
Is granite porous?
Although, both materials are durable, granite is relatively porous hen ce requires sealing after installation, then periodic sealing on an ongoing basis. Granite slabs also tend to have natural flaws that make them prone to cracking.
Is granite a natural material?
Since granite is natural, it has an earthier texture that results from mineral crystals which often bear microscopic fissures.
Can you DIY granite in Durham?
Regardless of the material you choose, you should note that none is DIY friendly so you will have to hire granite contractors Durham to help you with the installation.
What is quartz countertop?
You might be surprised to learn that quartz countertops aren’t made of 100 percent quartz but rather they are a composite stone engineered from natural quartz combined with a resin binder. This stone is also non-porous, incredibly hard, and never needs to be re-sealed.
What color is marble countertop?
There’s nothing else that looks quite like a bright white marble finish, but marble countertops are available in other colors as well, including shades of gray, brown, taupe, and even green.
Why do people use quartz countertops?
Because they're man-made, quartz countertops are a great way to get the look of natural stones like marble or granite without worrying about durability.
What is marble good for?
One unique aspect of marble is that it maintains a naturally low temperature, making it ideal for people who enjoy baking. Marble is a great surface to roll out and shape dough.
What is a butcher block countertop?
Butcher block is an affordable alternative to stone countertops. It’s made from pieces of wood that are bonded to form a larger slab. Butcher block countertops have traditionally been made from all types of wood, including cherry, maple, oak, walnut, and even teak. What finish you choose depends entirely on the style of your home and kitchen.
When did tile countertops come out?
Tile countertops had their heyday in the 70s and 80s, but they're starting to make a comeback. If you're good with DIY and need to stay on budget, tile is an option worth considering.
Where does soapstone come from?
Soapstone is a natural stone that is domestically sourced from the Appalachian Mountains, or often imported from Finland and Brazil. It has a high percentage of naturally occurring talc, which gives the surface a soap-like or soft feeling.