Without a thorough renovation, new countertops can change the look of your kitchen. Before choosing, it is important to know the different materials available in terms of ease of maintenance and durability. Our video will provide you with other useful information.
A kitchen counter must be able to retain its beauty despite repeated use, and the quality of a material depends on its ability to withstand “assaults” day after day. Points to check include durability ease of maintenance, resistance to heat, water and stains, and finally, appearance. No material combining all these qualities, compromises are necessary during the final selection.
Here is doc a list of the most common materials that are available at Countertops & More, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
In this section:
- Laminate
- Rigid surface
- Marble
- Granite
- Slate
- Tile and mosaic
- Wood or butcher block (stall)
- Stainless steel
- Quartz
The mine
Most popular material
Made from plywood, chipboard or medium density fibers covered with a thin film of laminated plastic
Benefits
- Strong and durable material
- Wide variety of colors, textures and patterns.
- Cleans easily with a little soap and water
- Waterproof
- Resists most stains
- Economic
Disadvantages
- The dark back side is sometimes appearance along the interstices
- Sensitive to chips and scratches
- Cannot be used to cut food
- Low heat resistance
Rigid surface
Made from plastic molds such as polyester, acrylic and mineral coatings
Benefits
- Very resistant to damage: marks can be removed by sanding
- Joints are practically invisible
- Molding can combine sink and countertop
- Cleans easily with a little soap and water
- Durable
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
- The marks are visible on the dark colors
- Artificial appearance
Marble
- Luxurious stone, available in several colors and patterns
- Ideal surface for preparing cooked food, making sweets or rolling the dough
- Requires application of a sealer to resist stains
Benefits
- Water and heat resistant
- Natural material of great beauty that provides a soft and smooth surface
- Very wear-resistant
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- expensive
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
- Not very practical, it is preferable to restrict its use to a single work plan
- Sensitive to stains caused by lemon juice, sugar, alcohol and oil
- Blades knife blades when cutting food
Granite
Polished stone of great elegance, available in several colors
Ideal surface for preparing cooked food, making sweets or rolling the dough
Benefits
- Water and heat resistant
- Impervious to stains, it resists most alcohols, oils and lemon juice
- Easy to clean
- Functional and aesthetic
Disadvantages
- expensive
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
- Blades knife blades when cutting food
- Slate
- Dense fine-grained stone, available in black and shades of green, gray, purple, red and blue
Benefits
- Less expensive than marble and granite
- Water and heat resistant
- Surface damage can be removed by sanding
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
- Tile and mosaic
- Made of pressed clay dust with high pyroscopic resistance and available in a wide variety of designs, colors and textures
- It is preferable to opt for glazed tiles with textured surface or mat finish
Benefits
- Water and heat resistant
- Resists scratches
- Easy to clean
- Will not burn, resist stains and will not discolor
Disadvantages
- Grout joints are difficult to keep clean
- Surface at risk for glass and porcelain
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
- Cannot be used to cut food
Wood or butcher’s block
Natural and warm material
Harder species, such as oak, teak or beech are the best
The surface must be protected by a clear varnish or an oil treatment
The pieces cut against the grain wear more equally
Benefits
- Excellent surface for cutting
- Soft surface for glass and porcelain
- Average heat resistance
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages
- Darkens with humidity, it is preferable to sit there a sink
- May contract under dry conditions
- Susceptible to scuffs and scrapes
- Wet metal cookware leaves rust spots on the surface
Stainless steel
- Large choice of finishes available: textured, mat, satin or polished
- Resistant material ideal for areas in contact with water
Benefits
- Waterproof and heat resistant
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Very hygienic
Disadvantages
- Cold and noisy material
- Expensive manufacturing
- Blades knife blades when cutting food
- Easily loses its shine and is very sensitive to scratches
Quartz
- Also called manufactured stone, it contains 93% natural quartz and 7% resinous pigments and binder
- Very solid material
Benefits
- Resists mildew, heat, cracks and scratches
- Can’t get stained
- No sealant required
- Very hygienic
- Large choice of colors and textures such as imitation granite or stone
Disadvantages
- Joints are visible
- Very heavy, its installation must be entrusted to a specialist
- The bottom cabinets sometimes need to be reinforced
