Top 10 Best Materials for Kitchen Countertops
Choosing the perfect material for countertops can be quite tricky. To help you with this, we are presenting here the top-ranked best materials for your Kitchen Countertops.
The market is filled with a variety of materials and this gets quite hard to filter out the best. But we have covered almost all the finest stuff available.
Check also: Top 7 Best Kitchen Flooring Materials Options
Best Materials to Use for Kitchen Countertops
Let’s start with the magnificent marble.
Magnificent Marble for Kitchen Countertops
Marble is an exquisitely beautiful natural stone with unique veining and is commonly used for kitchen countertops. You can’t find exactly the same sheets of marble because each one is entirely unique from the other. Thus, beauty lies within its uniqueness.
The rock is waterproof plus heatproof and it also increases the real estate value of your house.
However, it comes with extremely high price tags. Most people use this luxurious material for their island or for the baking center section of their countertops.
Besides its high cost, people usually don’t prefer it because marble is porous and stained easily if not sealed. Also, if scratched or marred, repairs are difficult. Moreover, its DIY installation is also not possible.
Silky Soapstone for Kitchen Countertops
Soapstone is another natural stone that comes with a satiny and smooth feel. It is typically dark grey in color.
Currently, it is gaining more importance to be used as a substitute for granite.
Soapstone can be seen in ancient homes. However, you can now see it in modern homes used as countertops and also as sink material. It features an antique feel that can be very appealing for certain contemporary kitchens.
The architectural soapstone used for countertops is actually quite solid and somewhat stain-resistant. Its overtime scratches also add beauty to its antique look.
The bad part is it may darken over time and its DIY installation is also not possible. Furthermore, it has to be treated with mineral oil for maintaining its beauty.
Graceful Granite for Kitchen Countertops
Granite comes with a luxurious look and adds elegance to any kitchen. Even the modest kitchens turned into lavish spaces when added with the spice of classic granite countertops.
It is durable and comes in almost 3,000 stylish colors and types. The best part is, when treated with newer sealers, it’s almost maintenance-free.
Granite has been an expensive material in old days, but now its cost has decreased somewhat because engineered stone has become more common and its supplies have increased.
The cons are that its DIY installation is not quite possible. Secondly, the slabs may have some imperfections and can be cracked if stressed or not properly installed. So, the proper arrangement of kitchen appliances matters. Finally, your knives may quickly be dulled by frequent cutting on granite countertops.
Clever Quartz for Kitchen Countertops
Quartz is an engineered stone product. Their countertops are not solid quartz slabs created by quarrying. They are made from almost 93 percent quartz particles and other minerals, shaped into countertop slabs, and finally bound with the help of resins.
It is an adaptable and better-performing substitute for granite and marble countertops.
Quartz comes in a range of colors as compared to granite. It has a nonporous surface, as it is both scratch-resistant and stain-resistant.
Certain types of engineered quartz are exact replicas of natural marble, with convincing veining. Moreover, it doesn’t require annual sealing and DIY installation is possible.
The only drawback is it is quite expensive and its countertops are quite heavy.
Splendid Solid-Surface Material for Kitchen Countertops
Solid-surface material is a man-made material, made from a mix of acrylic particles and resins, that are compressed into sheets and other shapes afterward. Common brands of solid-surface material are Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone.
It is a great choice for mid-range kitchens. However, it can be a good option for high-end kitchens where there is huge countertop space that would otherwise become too expensive to cover with granite or quartz.
The advantage of solid-surface material is that it’s stain-resistant and seams are also virtually invisible in its slabs. If marred, the damage can be easily sanded out.
The material comes in a range of beautiful colors and patterns. Most importantly, it is also available in integrated sink-countertop units.
Some drawbacks include no DIY installation and damage from hot pans.
Cool Ceramic Tiles for Kitchen Countertops
Ceramic tile is strong, durable, and can be cleaned easily. They are quite less costly than engineered quartz, solid-surface material, and natural stones i.e. marble & granite countertops. DIY lovers love this because of its easy DIY installation.
Ceramic or porcelain tiles come with the latest innovations that offer more design options than nearly any kind of countertop material.
You can get ceramic tiles that look the same as wood, marble, stone, and even leather or cork. The prices are quite reasonable and it is somewhat immune to heat damage.
On other hand, custom tiles are very expensive. And they also attract stains because of certain grout lines.
Lovely Laminates for Kitchen Countertops
Laminate tops are smooth-surfaced plastic-coated synthetics that are easy to clean. The laminate countertops are made by fixing the laminate sheets to a particleboard (MDF) core. Famous brands that sold Laminate tops are Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart.
You can buy laminate countertops as pre-formed segments (known as “post-form countertops”). Also, you can purchase custom-fabricated according to your specifications. It is quite inexpensive and available in thousands of colors, designs, patterns, and styles. You can find them more in retro designs, particularly in midcentury modern kitchens.
The disadvantage of Laminate tops is that their surfaces can be scratched and chipped, and once damaged, is almost impossible to repair.
Wondrous Wood Block for Kitchen Countertops
Wood countertops come with a beautiful warm look and a comfy feel. They are available in various colors, designs, and finishes.
Mostly, maple and oak hardwoods are used as countertops.
These countertops are easy to clean and durable with proper care. When needed, it can be sanded and resealed. It features a charming country look or boho feel in our top trending materials list for kitchen countertops.
Some of the negatives are: that the woodblock countertops can be scratched. It may damage by knives, water, and stains. If not properly cared for, bacteria can be a problem. Finally, wood has to be oiled and sealed frequently.
Stunning Stainless Steel for Kitchen Countertops
Stainless steel is a great choice for a contemporary, modern, and industrial kitchen look. These countertops are heat-resistant, durable, and long-lasting. You can have a seamless countertop as per your other specifications. In addition to that, they are the easiest of all countertop materials to clean and are regarded as “premium” countertops.
However, they can be noisy and highly expensive to fabricate. Besides this, they can also be easily scratched and can’t offer a cutting surface.
Great Concrete for Kitchen Countertops
Concrete is one of the attractive countertop materials listed which offers strange shapes. This is certainly the best option for people who dream of a truly unique kitchen. Due to their bulky weight, concrete slabs are typically cast in forms right in your dream kitchen. They are finely polished countertops that may even be textured or acid-stained to have more unique colors.
Although concrete can be cracked over time, some latest treatments can reduce this effect. Concrete is porous but can be treated with additives. Due to custom work, it can get a very costly option for the countertop.
