When it comes to kitchen countertops, there are several different options to choose from. Most homeowners want their kitchen countertop material to be durable, low maintenance and easy to repair. A few common kitchen countertop materials include: quartz, granite, laminate and solid surface. Here is a breakdown of these popular countertop materials to help you select which is best for your kitchen.
Countertop Material
|
Benefits
|
Drawbacks
|
Quartz |
- Non-porous
- Heat & scratch resistant
- Variety of colors
- Large slabs available
- Perceived value
|
- Expensive
- Difficult to repair
|
Granite |
- Every slab has unique appearance
- Extremely scratch & heat resistant
- Durable
- Perceived value
|
- Expensive
- High maintenance
- Porous
- Difficult to repair
|
Laminate |
- Inexpensive
- Limitless color & pattern selection
- Easy to maintain
|
- Most edges & seams are visible
- Can scratch & chip
- Difficult to repair
- Water can damage the substrate
|
Solid Surface |
- Many colors & patterns
- Nearly invisible seams
- Non-porous
- Variety of custom options available
- Perceived value
|
- Scratches easier than granite or quartz
- Not as heat resistant
|