If you need new kitchen counters or simply want to infuse some beauty into your dated kitchen, you can do so by selecting the right counter materials. There are plenty of kitchen counter materials to choose from. The material that is optimal for your unique kitchen and your nuanced desires won’t prove optimal for your neighbor’s kitchen and so on. In short, beauty is in the eye of the beholder in the context of kitchen counters. However, there are some clear advantages to certain types of kitchen counter materials. Let’s take a look at the top options.
Granite
Granite is one of the most popular kitchen counter materials for good reason. Granite is incredibly durable, resistant to scratches and can withstand high temperatures without faltering. Your granite counters can match the rest of your kitchen with specific patterns colors and other features for consistent visual uniformity. Ask current homeowners about their granite countertops and you are likely to be inundated with praise. Though granite is not the cheapest material for kitchen counters, it is worth every penny and then some.
Quartz
Quartz is revered by kitchen counter specialists and homeowners alike as it is visually striking and proves durable over time. This type of kitchen counter consists of quartz crystals that are crushed and connected to one another through a polymer resin adhesive. The crushed crystal pieces are mixed with specific hues to create a nonporous material that holds strong, looks amazing and can be maintained with ease.
Opt for quartz kitchen counters and you won’t have to seal them. An added bonus is quartz kitchen counters are resistant to scratches as well as stains. Some quartz counters can even be designed to replicate the aesthetic of popular marble and granite counters. However, there is a small downside to quartz in that the edges are more likely to chip than those of other kitchen counter materials.
Marble
Marble is a composite of several different minerals ranging from graphite to calcite and beyond. This kitchen counter material is comprised of soft natural stones, meaning it looks and feels amazing yet might not prove as durable as other materials. If you are in the market for a luxurious addition to your kitchen, opt for the comparably elegant marble and you will find you gravitate toward your kitchen that much more often as your marble counters provide quite the visual feast.
Laminate
Laminate kitchen counters are a combination of plastic and paper atop multiple Kraft paper layers along with resin. One of the primary advantages of laminate kitchen counters is they can be added in whatever color or pattern you envision in your mind’s eye. This flexible material can replicate the aesthetic of both granite and wood. Add in the fact that laminate counters are inherently resistant to stains and there is even more reason to give them serious consideration for your kitchen. The icing on the cake is the fact that no special cleaners or sealers are necessary to keep your laminate counters in tip-top shape.