Hello my design friends! I hope your week is going well and you have a design and decor project or two planned :) A number of you have recently asked about the type of counter material you should select whether it’s for your kitchen or your bathroom. There is a wide selection of counter top materials available which can cause confusion and be overwhelming. The decision really depends on who will use the space, how often, your habits and of course your budget. It also depends on the style or look you have in your home or that you want to achieve.
To assist you in your decision making process and/or support future reno decisions, I have summarized the pros and cons of each of the materials currently available.
Granite
Pros
wide range of colours (blues, browns, reds, mottled whites, black
minimal to no visible seams
durable surface
heat resistant
Cons
expensive
porous so has to be sealed to resist stains
chips and pits
Marble
Pros
outstanding work surface for baking or making fresh pasta
durable
striking patterns
Cons
high maintenance
requires repeated sealing
expensive
fewer colours and patterns that granite
softer so may show knife scars
Soapstone and Slate
Pros
non-porous so bacteria resistant
doesn’t require sealing
Cons
both materials come in fewer colours than other materials
soapstone is soft so may show knife marks
doesn’t require sealing
slate is brittle particularly at corners so can chip/crack/break
expensive
Photo below left (soapstone): Great Mountain Soapstone, photo below right (slate): Prairat Fhunah
Quartz
Pros
doesn’t require sealing
broad range of colours and patterns
non-porous so bacteria resistant
durable
low maintenance
Cons
expensive
Common quartz brand names include: Zodiaq, Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone.
Photo: Andre Francois MacKenzie
Solid Surface
This material is manufactured from dense acrylic, polyester or a blend of the two. The seams are fused to make undetectable joints, which works well if you require a large counter or a long section of counter top. And solid-surface sinks are available to match the counters too!
Pros
low maintenance
wide variety of colour and pattern choices available
non-porous
repairable
Cons
not heat-resistant
will show scratches
Common solid surface brand names include Corian, Gibraltar, and Avonite. There is also a new, eco-friendly option called Paperstone which is manufactured from from recycled paper and non-petroleum resins.
Concrete
Concrete has been a popular choice over the past 5 years.
Pros
extremely hard and durable
makes a great work surface
wide range of colors, and artistic treatments can be added such as glass, stones, etc.
won’t scratch
heat-resistant
Cons
expensive
needs sealing
Plastic Laminate
Pros
affordable
lots of colours
comes in ready to install slabs
Cons
can chip or scratch
not heat-resistant
Most commonly known under the brand name Formica.
Photo: The Country Handyman
Wood
Pros
warm
ideal work surface
bacteria resistant
heat resistant
Cons
medium maintenance
will show knife marks
Photo: Spencer Pugh
Ceramic Tile
Pros
affordable
lots of colour & style choices
ceramic tile is non-porous
Cons
grout traps crumbs and dirt
regular grout resealing needed
I hope this summary of counter top option pros and cons will help you in the planning of your projects. If you have questions about the best counter for your reno be sure to reach out! I love to hear what you are working on and what interior design and decor challenges you are facing that I can provide guidance on.
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