10 Kitchen Countertop Options

Today’s kitchens are more than just kitchens. It’s no longer limited to cooking and food preparation; it also serves as a bonding area for family and friends. That’s why investing in a clean, healthy, and beautiful kitchen with more room for delightful cooking, dining, and laughing is always a wise decision.

The best way to ensure the health and safety of everyone that comes to the heart of your home (especially the young ones) is to choose a durable and hygienic material for your kitchen countertop. If you’re overwhelmed and confused on what to choose because of the countless options available, sit back, relax, and keep reading because we’ve already narrowed it down for you:

Quartz

Quartz is a mineral found in metamorphic and igneous rocks that contain silica and is crushed up and mixed with a polymer resin and colored pigments to produce materials for countertops, backsplashes and many more. In short, quartz is a mass-produced material, made into different patterns and colors that you can choose from. Quartz countertops are low maintenance; it doesn’t need initial sealing and resealing. It is a non-porous material that is why it stays durable and hygienic even when exposed to liquid substances. However, Quartz countertops and backsplashes may discolor when exposed to direct sunlight.

Granite

Granite is an igneous rock that is quarried, smoothed and flattened to be used as a construction material. Aside from its unique and unidentical grainy pattern, granite countertops are also heat resistant. It can stay exposed to heat from five to ten minutes. Although granite countertops are a great choice because of its natural and distinct design, it is a high maintenance material that requires sealing and resealing (over time) because it is absorbent. It is prone to stains, discoloration, and even contamination due to dampness it not sealed accordingly.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a common and popular choice for kitchen countertops because of its availability in the market, and its variety of colors and textures. Although ceramic tiles are water, heat, and stain-resistant, it will likely crack when you drop something heavy on it. Plus, tile grouts easily accumulate grease, grime and food residue into its corners, making it hard to clean and maintain.

Butcher Block

Butcher blocks are pieces of wood laminated together to form a slab. It is usually paired with the cottage, traditional, and rustic kitchens but it can also match modern and minimalist kitchens depending on its shade and finish. Butcher block countertops also add warmth and color to a kitchen and can be sanded and reoiled if there are scratches. However, the downside is, it’s not water and heat-resistant, that’s why you should keep it safe from your stove, sink, and hot pans.

Laminate

Laminate countertops are made through layering plastics and attaching it to a particleboard. It is available in various colors and designs—even in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock (granite, marble, limestone, etc.) patterns. Although laminate countertops are waterproof, stylish and come in different selections, it’s sensitive to heat, harsh chemicals, and scratching that’s why you shouldn’t scrub and clean it too hard or put hot objects on its surface. Remember, it’s plastic!

Marble

If you’re opting for an elegant and sophisticated kitchen, then marble countertops are your best pick! Marble countertops usually come in shades of white, rose pink, blue-gray, green and black (depending on its type), but most homeowners go for the classic white because of its clean and bright look. However, although marble is very aesthetically pleasing, it has its own drawbacks too. It easily stains and it’s sensitive to harsh chemicals just like laminates. That’s why it needs to be sealed before usage and resealed over time. Moreover, keep in mind that you should use mild cleaning products for this exquisite material.

Limestone

Do you want a kitchen that’s fit for royalty? If yes, why don’t you try a cream limestone countertop for your kitchen? Limestones are used in building Egyptian pyramids, medieval churches, and castles a thousand years ago, and are still enduring up to this day. In short, limestones are very durable and heat-resistant. Despite its durability, limestones are not stain-resistant, especially those in light colors. If you are clumsy with handling juices and other beverages in the kitchen, you should have it sealed.

Soapstone

Soapstone is usually stereotyped as soft and fragile because its common form contains eighty percent talc (an element usually found in baby powder), but this type is called the artistic soapstone, while materials used for countertops are called architectural soapstone which only contains thirty percent talc. If you want a granite countertop because of its dark color and distinct pattern, you can try a soapstone countertop as an alternative. It’s almost like granite minus the stains, sealing and resealing maintenance. Soapstone countertops are heat-resistant, non-porous and impervious to harsh chemicals and acids. Just be careful with all the cleaning and scrubbing because it’s not scratch-proof.

Paper Composite

Are you a nature lover? If you’re choosing materials for your home and the first requirement on your list is that it should be eco-friendly, then paper composite countertops are perfect for you! Paper composite countertops are made of recycled paper secured with a plastic resin. It comes in dark colors like black, brown, gray, moss green, honey yellow, and maroon. Like butcher block countertops, scratched paper composites can also be sanded and reoiled. However, it is not chemical and heat-resistant. It can’t be exposed to harsh cleaning products, chemicals, and objects with a temperature of more than 350 degrees.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel is the most used countertop material in food and beverage businesses like hotels and restaurants because it is durable, waterproof, heat-resistant, and easy to clean and stain-resistant from the name itself. Although stainless steel may seem like the perfect countertop material, some still refuse to use it because it can’t be refinished when scratched and it produces a noisy clanging sound when utensils and cookware are bumped into it.

Have you chosen one yet? If you already have, is it the durability, the hygiene, or the aesthetics that made you choose it? If all the qualities mentioned are present in your chosen material, great choice! If you haven’t, feel free to visit our showroom so that you can view the actual materials that we offer.

Here at Mr. Cabinet Care, we offer the best countertop installation services and multiple countertop material designs that you can choose from. Make your kitchen stunning today! Contact us at (719) 961-1900.