In addition to our usual DIY escapades, every now and then we publish a reference article that lays out the available tools or materials for a project. This article covers kitchen countertop materials–everything from laminates to stainless steel. We originally ran this article in 2008, and we’ve just updated it to include some of the newer options available, including trendy options like recycled glass and concrete. We hope you enjoy the article and find it a useful reference.

The Factors

Countertops generally differ in the following characteristics. We’ve attempted to provide some discussion of each of these elements in the pros and cons listed with each material below.

• Price (per square foot + extra edging costs)
• Attractiveness of surface
• Availability of colors and textures
• Durability (i.e. resistance to scratches and heat)
• Maintenance requirements
• Surface porosity
• Seamless vs. seamed installation
• Natural vs. manufactured materials
• Renewable vs. non-renewable materials (environmental friendliness)

A Note on Countertop Pictures

There are literally thousands of countertop pictures on the web. Rather than duplicate those collections here, we’ve provided links directly to manufacturers’ and retailers’ picture galleries to help you find all the pictures you’ll need!

We include a single picture with each countertop just so you can have a reference point for that material.

Some Useful Kitchen Designing Tools to Consider

Before getting started on the specifics of the materials, we’ve found a few tools online that really make countertop shopping fun and engaging. We think you might enjoy using them for your project as well.

• DuPont’s Corian Room Designer (We like this one… not too many features but it’s fast.)
• WilsonArt Room Designer (Similar to DuPont’s offering… pretty fast but limited features.)
• Tileworks Room Designer (Java-based, runs slow on most machines but has granite and marble textures.)
• Marble.com’s 2D and 3D Design Tools (an OK site – Java based and slower on some machines. Not a lot of options.)

Countertop Material Options

1. Laminate

Pros: Very inexpensive; enormous variety of colors/patterns; variety of edge types; virtually maintenance-free.

Cons: Less luxurious look; shows seams; less shimmer than solid surface or stone countertops; less expensive versions are easily damaged.

Price Range: $5 to $30 per square foot. Typical price is $15 per square foot.

Brands (photo gallery links): Formica, WilsonArt, Pionite, Nevamar Gallery

Laminate countertops (often called Formica countertops after their best-known brand) are the most common in the United States. They are constructed by applying a printed veneer surface to a manufactured wood substrate. As one of the cheapest options available, builders often install laminates in low- to mid-grade homes to keep construction costs down. Because it is a manufactured product, laminates are available in an enormous variety of colors and patterns. Knives and high heat can cause noticeable damage, although scratch resistant laminates have recently become available (such as WilsonArt’s HD line with AEON technology).

While laminate countertops are no less functionally capable than more expensive options, most home buyers consider the surface to be “builder’s grade” and wouldn’t view it as particularly desirable. We think this perception holds true even though laminates now offer some of the features that had previously been available only in solid surface, such as integrated sinks (see WilsonArt’s integrated sinks for example).

If you’re upgrading a kitchen in a home worth more than $250,000, we think laminates should be avoided in favor of granite, quartz, or another solid surface. Laminates are still appropriate for trailers and less expensive town homes and single family homes.

2. Solid Granite

Pros: Beautiful all-natural stone look; resists scratches; resists heat damage; with proper care lasts an exceptionally long time.

Cons: Larger installations are not seamless; colors/patterns limited to what occurs in nature; requires sealing (although some newer versions claim 10 years of maintenance free use).

Price: Range: $20- $50 per square foot. Typical price is approximately $40 per square foot. Intricate edging raises the price.

Brand Galleries: Home Depot Granite Page, Eskandari Gallery

Granite is becoming a very popular option for the natural beauty and durability these countertops offer. It can be found all over the world with the majority originating in India, Brazil, Italy, China and some parts of Africa. Granite features a vast number of colors and veining with no two stones being exactly identical. Buyers should keep that in mind when they’re looking at samples.

Blocks are cut into slabs and treated with a resin before they are polished to a high sheen. Long countertops will often have seams because continuous pieces over 10′ long are difficult to find and they carry a higher price. You can minimize the visibility of seems by selecting a darker and more uniform color.

Granite is formed in extreme heat making it very unlikely to crack or discolor from hot pots and pans. It can chip if you’re not careful with sharp objects. Fortunately, these imperfections can be fixed with a granite dust and epoxy. As a natural product, granite has pores that can absorb liquids and stain. Seal your countertop as recommended to prevent discoloration.

3. Butcher Block

Pros: Beautiful, natural surface; sustainable if a fast-growth tree is used.

Cons: Very high maintenance; scratches easily (but can be repaired); porous surface can lead to bacteria growth; surface must be kept clean and dry; not appropriate for cutting fishes and poultry except if special precautions are taken.

Price Range: $30 -$50 installed.

Brand Galleries: The Butcher Block Top, Butcher Block Company

Butcher Block provides a warm, traditional feel that has remained popular for some time despite the intense care and maintenance required. You can cut directly on the surface, and some people feel the wear and tear adds character.

Butcher Block is a natural product created by fusing wood rails together under high pressure. End grain blocks are formed into the classic checkerboard pattern creating a very durable surface- great for cutting and chopping because the end grains better absorb impact keeping blades sharper. Edge grain Butcher Block features long parallel wood rails resulting in a very flat, uniform surface.

Butcher Block is porous and will absorb moisture causing the wood to expand and weaken. It’s important to keep these countertops dry and clean, and a good steel scraper can help remove most of the moisture. After every use, you should clean the surface with soapy water followed up by a dry cloth to absorb moisture. Every few weeks you should oil the surface to act as a moisture barrier. Butcher Block can be restored to “like-new” condition by sanding the surface with a heavy duty grit sandpaper and re-oiling with pure white mineral oil.

4. Stainless Steel

Pros: Professional, contemporary look; non-porous; easy clean-up.

Cons: Extremely high price; scratches easier than others; can dent without a solid sub-surface.

Price Range: $75 – $150 per square foot.

Brand galleries: Stainless Living

Stainless steel countertops are a relatively new trend, creating a professional, contemporary look. Joints are welded, blended and polished to invisibility providing a lot of versatile layout options. Stainless is also an attractive choice for the low maintenance required, but it comes with a steep price point.

Hi grade stainless steel is a tough material that will stand up to high heat and won’t ever stain or rust. The biggest challenge for stainless steel countertops is avoiding scratches which are highly visible. Even deep scratches can be sanded and buffed but you’ll never really reclaim the manufactured finish. It must be installed with a solid sub-layer to help avoid dents- usually waterproof MDF.

5. Manufactured Solid Surface (Corian)

Pros: Seamless installation including seamless sink; wide variety of colors; can be repaired seamlessly; non-porous surface won’t promote bacteria growth.

Cons: Higher price; can melt/discolor under high heat.

Price Range: $35 – $60 per square foot. Fancy edges extra. Integrated backsplash extra.

Brand Galleries: DuPont Corian, Meganite, WilsonArt Solid Surface,

Solid surface countertops are manufactured with an even, consistent color and pattern. They available in a wide range of colors and patterns including stone-like finishes.

Seams in these countertops can be usually be completely hidden, as the artificial surface can be chemically melted together. Solid surfaces countertops are non-porous, meaning you won’t need to seal (and reseal) them to protect against stains; the sealing also makes the surface resistant to bacteria growth. The finish on a solid surface is subject to scratching, but can usually be removed with buffing and sanding.

Cleaning requires minimal effort; use a mild soap and water. You can tackle tough stains with a liquid abrasive cleanser and a sponge.

6. Quartz-based Solid Surface

Pros: Highly durable, fabulous-looking surface; no maintenance; wide variety of colors; heat and scratch resistant.

Cons: High price; more limited selection than artificial surfaces; larger installations may not be seamless.

Price Range: $60 – $100 per square foot.

Brand Galleries: DuPont Zodiaq, Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria

If you can afford the expense, Quartz-based Solid Surface countertops are a very attractive option. There’s no worry about stains or bacteria because these countertops are non-porous. There are a lot of colors to chose from, and these surfaces are heat and scratch resistant. It’s not recommended but cutting directly on these countertops will actually dull the knives!

There are a few, minor limitations. While slabs are large (5′ x 10′), if you’re kitchen does require two adjacent pieces, seams will be visible. Another downside is the lack of an integrated sink. Currently, you’ll need to pick an over- or under-mount sink. No deal-breakers here!

So how do they pack all these great features into one surface? Quartz based Solid Surface is manufactured from crushed quartz stone and resin than is combined to create a super hard countertop material. Surfaces are beautiful even without the natural variations found in a material like Granite.

7. Stone, Ceramic, or Porcelain Tile

Pros: Low material cost; repairable if a single tile breaks;

Cons: Labor intensive installation; no seamless installation by definition;

Price Range: Starting at about $5 / square foot for materials alone. Installation can be $20  per square foot. Often, this is a DIY job.

Probably the biggest complaint about natural stone surfaces like Granite and Quartz is the expense, and a contributing factor to higher prices is mining and processing large slabs of rock. If you can embrace grout lines, you can have a beautiful stone countertop for much less.

Depending on the material used, you can obtain a pore-free surface that is heat and stain resistant at a significantly lower cost, especially when you explore ceramic and porcelain tile options. It’s also the sort of installation job an avid DIYer can tackle themselves.

So what are the downsides? While the surface may not be porous, the grout will stain if not properly sealed, and installation requires more work. You should also consider a waterproof membrane in the sub-layer. Tiled countertops are not mainstream even though they offer a lot of versatility in material, color and style.

8. Concrete

Pros: Very durable; custom shape, color, embedments; often incorporate recycled materials.

Cons: Must be sealed; expensive; can develop hairline cracks.

Price Range: $75 – $200 installed.

Brand Galleries: Concrete Network, Concrete Countertop

Concrete is finding it’s way into many modern homes and offices with the number of concrete countertops on the rise. They can be dyed and textured to lots of different styles, and inlayed for unique personalization. Creative installations can even include custom molds and edge forms. Concrete is the most creative kitchen countertop material available. On top of that, it’s easy to incorporate fly ash that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Concrete is a porous material and requires regular sealing. While concrete is somewhat stain and heat resistant, it really depends on what type of sealer is applied. Concrete-specific waxes can also be used as a second line of defense, repelling liquids and protecting the sealer. Cutting boards should be used to prevent marring the surface. A lot of the cost for concrete countertops is tied to the labor-intensive installation, and it’s important to pick an experienced installer else cracks can develop down the road. Even with the perfect installation, concrete will shrink and may result in hairline cracks.

When you clean concrete countertops, avoid abrasive soaps or cleansers. Acidic substances can stain so clean up things like wine, lemon juice and ketchup immediately.

9. Limestone

Pros: Sophisticated look; natural stone; lots of colors available; potentially visible fossils.

Cons: Easily broken, scratched; acid can etch; must be sealed.

Price Range: $60 – $100 per square foot.

Brand Galleries: Pental, Oregon Tile & Marble

Limestone is another natural stone material, and it’s available in many different colors and hues. It’s often described as very sophisticated because of the depth and variation evident in each piece, similar to marble. Additionally, Limestone is a sedimentary rock  and often includes small fossils and shells for even more character.

Limestone will usually scratch very easily, acid can mar the surface and the hardness depends on the variety chosen. Limestone is very porous meaning it can stain even when properly sealed. For these reason, it’s often not selected for kitchen countertops because they are such high traffic areas.

All varieties withstand heat very well and avid bakers prefer Limestone to cool baked good like pie crusts and pastries.

10. Marble

Pros: Perfectly smooth; beautiful look.

Cons: Easily scratched; must be sealed, susceptible to acid; higher price.

Price Range: $50 – $100

Brand Galleries: Marble.com, Marble City

Marble is very similar to Limestone as it’s a natural stone and available in many different colors. It also falls prey to many of the same problems as Limestone- easily scratched, damaged by mild acid. Marble is very porous resulting in poor stain resistance even with regular sealing. On top of it all, Marble is not heat resistant. Combined with high prices, it doesn’t seem like a good investment.

Even so, Marble has beautiful vein patterns, and if you insist on using it for countertop, chose a low-sheen finish that will better hide wear and tear.

11. Recycled Glass

Pros: Often 100% recycled glass; beautiful mosaic.

Cons: Must be sealed; susceptible to acid; not heat or scratch resistant.

Price Range: $50 – $80

Brand Galleries: Vetrazzo, EnviroGlas

Recycled glass countertops are becoming more and more popular as an eco-friendly option with most countertops utilizing 100% recycled glass. Surfaces are often a mosaic of glass pieces with as many (or few) colors as desired. This glass is placed in a matrix of concrete, and therefore feature some of the same properties. It’s a porous surface and requires regular sealing, otherwise it will stain. Highly acidic substances can deteriorate the original seal and stain the surface. Also like concrete, it’s easy to incorporate fly ash to make this an even greener choice and there are several edge styles to chose from.

Recycled glass countertops can also benefit from regular waxing for additional protection. Quickly wipe up any spills and use a neutral pH solution for daily cleaning. To remove difficult stains, one manufacturer recommends placing a cloth saturated with non-chlorine bleach overtop the stain until it clears. You should always use a cutting board and hot pads to protect the surface.