Counter Top Confusion

Counter Top Confusion

 

One of the biggest questions we get asked daily is about counter top choices. There are so many options and so many price points to choice from. Then there is the keeping up with the Jones's. Each month in our Insight into Design and Purchasing a Kitchen workshop, we spent a large amount of time on counter top questions. Luckily, our showroom is outfitted with many choices: concrete, marble, quartz (Cambria), granite, butcher block, recycled glass and solid surface. This allows our workshop clients to touch, see and hear about their many options.

From a design stand point: don't skimp on countertops. There are other areas you can cut costs, however, the counter tops are going to take a beating and that is where everyone's eyes go to when they walk in the room.

Here is what you need to know to make an educated decision on counter tops.

Smart Kitchen Work Surfaces

24 the hours that Salmonella can live on a porous kitchen surface

Granite Nature Stone Delicate Highly Porous Needs to be sealed yearly (minimum) $25 to $200 sq ft	Wood-Butcher Block Man Made Delicate Highly Porous Needs to be sealed and oiled regularly Cost Varies
Quartz Composite/engineered 90% quarts-10% binder Non Porous Numerous Manufacturers $65 to $100 sq ft	Solid Surface Composite molded Non Porous Scratches can be sanded out Numerous Manufacturers $60 to $75 sq ft
Laminate Layers of Paper glued to MDF Sealed Top-Will burn or cut-peel with water exposure Non Porous* $25 to $75 sq ft	Recycled Glass Green-Eco Friendly Glass is naturally hygienic Wax every few months, seal yearly $95 and up per sq ft
Stainless Steel Metal Scratches Non Porous Artist $50 and up per sq ft.	Concrete Concrete Sealed Yearly Non Porous Artist/Time $100 and up per sq ft.