What is the difference between countertop materials

Heat Resistance: What happens if you take a hot baking sheet out of the oven and set in on your countertop? Some surfaces are susceptible to scorching or even melting. You will also want to know what might happen with prolonged exposure to lower temperatures, such as the use of a Crockpot. Scratch Resistance: Many popular countertop surfaces are very resistant to scratches. However, softer materials will inevitably get scratched from time to time. Some can be repaired and others cannot.

Search for:. See these countertops that look like marble for an alternative choice without the extra maintenance of marble. Concrete countertops can add a charming rustic or cool industrial vibe to your kitchen design. Custom colors, patterns, shapes and curves are all possible as well as embedded objects like shells or rocks or anything you like. And DIY installation is possible if you'er looking for cheaper countertop materials. Concrete countertops can scratch, stain, crack but are fairly heat-resistant.

Sealing and waxing are needed on a regular basis. Wood countertops have stood the test of time and remain a popular choice for kitchen countertops despite all the newer and in vogue countertop materials now available. The reason is that wood and butcher block countertops work well in any kitchen design. That special warmth, texture, and beauty easily compliments all other materials and styles.

Wood is durable and can be repeatedly refinished if needed, but it is more susceptible to cuts, stains, and damage than most other surfaces and does require particular care and cleaning. Soapstone countertops are a durable and low-maintenance natural stone that is prized for its rustic charm and smooth-as-silk surface.

If you like the look of honed black granite or the veining of marble, then check out soapstone. Soapstone kitchen countertops can have subtle to dramatic veining or no veins at all but colors are limited to greens, milky grays, and black.

Even so, the design versatility of soapstone is impressive. It's perfect for a country kitchen, but can also look stunning in classic black and white or modern minimalist kitchens.

Soapstone will darken with use and exposure to foods and oils. Thus, soapstone countertops are usually oiled to achieve an even color. Soapstone doesn't stain or etch from acids, doesn't need sealing, and hot pots don't bother it at all. However, it is soft and can scratch, but scratches can be sanded and repaired with relative ease. DIY installation is also possible as soapstone is softer and far easier to cut and install than granite countertops. Slate countertops have a look and color palette similar to soapstone greens, grays, and blacks but also shades of red, purple, and gold.

Slate countertops are a popular choice for rustic kitchen countertops or to warm up a traditional design. Some slate slabs will have veins but most are a solid color. Slate is hard and highly-resistant to heat and stains, but it is brittle so can chip and scratch. Also, some slabs will etch from acidic foods.

The quality of slate can vary quite a bit along with it's durability so a careful choice of slabs is paramount. Many like slate for it's unique cleft or cascading texture, although, this type of finish can make cleaning and repairs more difficult. Metal countertops are not often considered for a kitchen countertop material, but have a distinctive look and feel with an old-world charm that blends well with many other design materials like stone, glass, or wood. Metal countertops can be fashioned from several different metals like copper, pewter, bronze, zinc, brass and stainless steel and are highly customized with interesting surface textures, creative edge profiles, unique design elements like rivets, and matching or integrated sinks.

The cool thing about metal is that you can keep the surface looking new and shiny or let it patina with age which really adds a warm richness to your kitchen design. Metal countertops do require some specific maintenance depending on the look you're going for and can be etched by acids but this can be part of the aging process. Otherwise, metal is easy enough to clean on a daily basis. Stainless steel countertops are the most popular and well-known form of metal countertops sharing most of the distinctive features, pros and cons of metal.

Durable and easy to clean, stainless steel is the top choice for the industrial look of a professional kitchen. However, scratches, dents, and fingerprints are an issue. Also, it is rather cold and can be noisy. On the plus side, metal and stainless steel counters can be installed without seams in most cases. Buying prefabricated stainless steel countertops will save a bundle as custom design and installation can be expensive.

Laminate countertops have improved a lot in the last decade with many new color options as well as more customized edge treatments. Laminate kitchen countertops are pretty durable. Laminate doesn't handle heat too well, can scratch and chip, but generally this countertop material holds up under normal use with reasonable care.

Daily cleaning is a breeze. Of course, it won't compete with granite or quartz countertops on resale value, but laminate has stood the test of time and definitely gives the most bang for the buck of any countertop material.

Glass countertops have gained popularity and are a great pick for those looking to add unconventional flair to their kitchen design. Custom shapes, colors, embedded objects and designs, unique or one-of-a-kind textures, and backlighting are all possible with glass. Glass countertops come in a few varieties: solid clear glass, white glass, and recycled glass composite.

Glass kitchen countertops are heat tolerant, stain-resistant and don't need to be sealed. However, clear and recycled glass surfaces can etch from acids. White glass is not bothered by acids, though, and is super as an outdoor kitchen countertop. Glass counters can be quite spendy to fabricate and install compared to other types of countertops depending on how "custom" you want to go with design details.

Granite is now the second-most-popular countertop choice. It is available in a wide range of colors and natural patterns. Above: Granite countertop by Pental Surfaces. Soapstone lends a beautiful, warm look to a kitchen, with colors that range from almost solid white to charcoal gray, with lots of marbling. Personally, I love how light-gray soapstone weathers into a beautiful patina. This classic quarried stone has been a popular choice for kitchen countertops for ages.

It traditional good looks add a touch of formality to a room. The timeless look of butcherblock countertops is coming back in a big way. As a warm, inviting material, wood certainly has its charm, but you also have to consider its drawbacks.

Laminate kitchen countertops have fallen out of favor from their boomerang-patterned heyday in the s, but there are still reasons to consider this inexpensive option. This eco-friendly solid surface consists of many layers of recycled paper pressed together and bound with a resin. Paperstone and Richlite are two popular brands. Corian and other brands of solid-surface countertops are made with polymer resins plastic , sometimes mixed with sand. Although they have been somewhat eclipsed by quartz, solid-surface can still be a solid choice.

Only recently gaining in popularity, porcelain countertops such as Dekton and Neolith are a super-durable choice. Above: Modern kitchen with Dekton countertops.