How To: Select the correct countertop material!

How To: Select the correct countertop material.

A very common question I get with a handful of answers. Overall, one has to assess the needs of each space before making this decision for a kitchen, laundry room or bathroom countertop. 

I have put together a list of questions that can be helpful before venturing out to slab yards or ordering samples. 

1. Are you someone who will be placing hot pots or pans directly onto this surface?
2. Will you be prepping food or cutting on top of the surface without a cutting board? 
3. Will you, your spouse or children be crafting or painting in this area?
4. Are you going to be living in this space long term or is this upgrade for resale?
5. What types of colors and patterns are you drawn to?
6. What other types of materials will look good with your existing or new cabinets, backsplash, wall color, lighting, sink, fixtures?
7. Will you need a standard size slab or slabs that are oversized? 
8. What is your budget for the countertops alone?
9. What kind of edge details will you want?
10. Do you have a trusted installer that can install the type of material you want?

The answers to these questions will help you narrow your focus. Now let’s break down some common countertop materials that are currently trending:

1. Quartz: This material has come a long way since its debut in the 1960’s. It first hit the market with its speckle look, sometimes they would embed a reflective chip that gave the material its signature sparkle. 

This material is still widely used today (yes, even with that original speckle pattern) but since quartz is a man-made material many manufacturers have created new patterns that emulate the look of natural stone. Take into consideration that this material is, again, man-made so it’s less porous than a marble or granite. That means when you spill red wine it will not absorb the red wine color AS much as a natural stone but there is still a chance it can change in color if your material is on the lighter side. 

Quartz is generally less expensive than marble or granite and you can choose from a wide variety of colors and patterns. Another important factor is since the material make up is raw quartz crystals and resin it can be affected by heat, meaning you cannot put a hot pot or pan directly on top of the countertop. To some this might be a big deal, for a rental property as an example. For those of you like me, my mom taught us never to do this so I generally always have some sort of trivet down for hot items. 

Quartz countertops made to look like marble:

Photo courtesy of Pinterest, HGTV.com

2. Marble– A fan favorite, this natural stone is stunning and can commonly be found in a tile format as well. All natural stone will require some sort of seal annually or semi-annually. Marble can give you that wow factor with the naturally inherited venining, although over time if it’s not taken care of it can look worn out. 

Marble is sourced from the earth, and naturally remains cool so it is ideal for baking and some types of cooking. However it has a similar issue as quartz with heat, you cannot place hot items directly on this surface. Due to the porous nature it can absorb color from olive oil, red wine or paint (if you have an artistic toddler). If you insist on using this material and you are worried about it changing colors over time then choose a darker color as this can help hide some of the potential problem areas. 

On the price scale marble will be on the more expensive side. Unlike quartz the slabs for a natural stone will all be slightly different so if you have a surface area that requires more than one slab keep in mind that each slab will look a bit different. Some slabs come larger which will give that ideal seamless look but if a project requires more than one slab it’s important to consider a bookmatched slab. Bookmatched slabs do add cost but it can help control the pattern and color as much as possible. It is a softer material so it can scratch when cutting or prepping food. This means if you do choose to use a darker material you might see scratches more so than with a lighter color or even a white marble. 

Bookmatched marble backsplash:

Photo courtesy of Pinterest, Backsplash.com

3.Granite-The “super stone” in my opinion. Granite does have a signature look. It has more movement in terms of color and pattern versus a white and gray marble slab because of its material make up (it’s an indigenous rock made up of minerals, quartz and feldspar). In terms of durability…. It’s remarkable. Overall, granite would similar in price next to a marble slab and more expensive than quartz. However, when pricing out any of these materials there will be a wide price range of each type depending on the slab size, manufacturer, and color. 

Granite will also need to be sealed and as like all natural stone it can and will absorb anything spilled on its surface. It is impervious to heat and mostly scratch resistant due to its density, which makes it ideal for high use areas in homes and commercial spaces. It is also easy to clean aided by cleaners made especially for granite. Just don’t leave spills on the surface for long periods of time as bacteria can also be absorbed. 

Granite countertops:

Photo courtesy of Pinterest, Countertopsnews.com

4. Quartzite-The name is confusing for many of us. When you hear “quartz” you might automatically think man-made but quartzite is in fact a natural stone. It does offer that fresh, veined aesthetic similar to some of the man-made quartz and natural marble but it boasts a more earthy feel in terms of color, pattern and texture. Similar to granite, quartzite is a hard material so it can take the heat and is resilient, though not immune from scratching. 

This material will be on the more expensive side next to quartz. Since it’s a harder rock in general this means cutting and installing this type of stone is more difficult and can be more costly to install. It also requires care when cleaning and will need to be sealed like other natural stones. If you want the look of marble but the toughness of granite and quartzite would be a great fit for your project. 

Quartzite countertops with a waterfall edge:

Photo courtesy of Pinterest, Primestones.com.

All of this information can be a bit overwhelming so be sure to find a good resource for your project either an interior designer, architect or a supplier with a good reputation that sells the material and is willing to work directly with homeowners.Do your research and make sure whoever you are purchasing the material from will let you know where it’s coming from and can ensure the stone is authentic. Countertops are an expensive purchase and you only want to do it once. 

Dream. Design. Redefine.

Niki