From trendy to timeless, here are the best kitchen countertop options.
Choosing the right kitchen countertops hinges on many factors: aesthetics, kitchen function, maintenance, and cost.
Read on to find out which kitchen countertop material is suitable for your space.
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Quartz
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Quartz countertopsare synthetic countertop materials that are durable and low-maintenance.
Held together with resins, it is shaped into slabs for use in countertops.
The material can also be molded into one-piece units with sinks integrated into the countertop.
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Minor scratches can be buffed out with fine sandpaper.
Solid surface materials are prone to scorching,cracking, and scratches.
It is not the most heat-resistant.
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Tile is an inexpensive countertop material, costing between $1 and $100 per square foot.
While it is easy for a DIY project, remember that tile is brittle and prone to cracking.
Repair is difficult, requiring full replacement of damaged tiles.
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Grout seams are easily stained and are also hard to clean.
They are very heavy and durable.
No two pieces of granite are alike, making each countertop unique.
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Long considered a premium building material, granite countertops tend to improve home real estate values.
Do know you will need a substantial kitchen remodel budget for granite.
Like many other types of natural stone, granite requires periodic sealing to protect it from stains.
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Not at all a DIY-friendly material, granite must be installed by pros.
Granite slab costs between $40 and $100 per square foot.
They are usually fabricated and poured on-site by a specialist crew who creates forms to match the space.
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Concrete can be colored and textured, or the concrete can be highly polished to a shiny gleam.
Concrete countertops can be shaped to fit any size.
Concrete countertops are very heavy, requiring special bracing.
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These are expensive countertops, requiring the work of custom technicians.
Concrete countertops cost between $50 to $150 per square foot.
They’re the ultimate way to warm up a kitchen and impart a healthy dose of rustic appeal.
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In the event of any messy spills, you must clean them immediately to prevent damage.
Like granite, marble is available in three formssolid slabs, modular marble, and marble tiles.
As with granite, solid slabs are the best choice when a continuous, low-seam surface is desired.
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A relatively soft stone, marble is easily scratched by knives and other kitchen utensils.
Like most natural stones, marble is one of the costlier materials to use for kitchen countertops.
On average, marble slabs cost between $40 to $100 per square foot of the material.
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Stainless steel counters are custom-fabricated to precise specifications and installed by technicians specializing in this material.
Stainless steel is germ-resistant and sanitary.
Difficult to fabricate, stainless steel requires specialty workmanship that may be difficult to find.
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Stainless steel ranges in price from $70 to $215 per square foot.
Tip
Featuring recycled glass, these are very green products.
Slate countertops warrant consideration for homeowners looking for something unusual but subtle.
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Slate is non-porous and resists stains and bacteria well.
Although not uncommon, this is generally not a very functional countertopglass tiles are better suited for backsplashes.
Seams between tiles are subject to staining.
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Glass is a brittle material, prone to breaking, chipping, and cracking.
Less porous than other stones, soapstone resists stains and is fairly easy to clean.
These countertops should be oiled periodically to maintain their patina.
Hannah Tyler Designs
Soapstone costs between $20 to $70 per square foot.
The result will be a truly unusual countertop with several virtues.
For one, glass is one of the very best materials for resisting bacteria and iseasy to clean.
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High-tensile glass is heat-, scratch-, mold-, and stain-resistant.
Still, glass is glass.
With enough force, glass can crack.
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Prices vary, but higher-quality varieties can be expensive.
They are made of 97 percent recycled waste aluminum flakes, solid surface scrap, and recycled acrylic.
The aluminum flakes are added in for appearance, not to create a homogeneous surface.
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The product is trulyeco-friendly,using no VOCs.
Limited availability
Can dent upon impact
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood countertops take green remodeling one step further.
Look in architectural salvage yards for raw materials.
Msistone
The epitome of green and eco-friendly, wood does require significant sealing with tung oil.
If not carefully maintained and sealed, wood countertops can harbor germs.
Reclaimed wood has highly variable pricing depending on the punch in and the source.
Paperstone
Found fairly often in bars and other commercial configs, zinc kitchen countertops are a rare sight.
The high cost makes zinc impractical for most residential kitchens.
Even so, zinc is an absolutely unique countertop material.
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Bamboo is a very hard substance and in many ways is better than wood for countertop use.
Bamboo gives your kitchen an eco-friendly aspect.
since bamboo is a fast-growing and completely renewable resource.
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Its high heat resistance and non-porous surface make it perfect for food prep.
This can be considered a green kitchen countertop alternative to that other, more common composite countertoplaminate.
Even the resins in these products are greenplant-based rather than petroleum-based.
Devon Grace Interiors
The time may not yet be right for paper countertops.
Because this is a special order item, prices are high and supplies are limited.
The process of installing a skim-coat concrete countertop typically doesn’t require you to uninstall your current countertops.
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Instead, you simply cover them with a thin coat of concrete.
This makes skim-coat concrete a great solution for DIYers.
Keep in mind, that skim-coat concrete isn’t a 1:1 replacement for standard concrete countertops.
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While honed granite isn’t cheap, it may add resale value to your home.
Honed granite is more porous than traditional granite, so frequent sealing is a must.
The key difference is the word “slab.”
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However, the rougher edge profile is more difficult to clean than a smooth edge profile.
Successful installation results in high heat resistance, easy maintenance, and a beautiful appearance.
To maintain its durability and avoid stains, travertine should be resealed often.
Play Associates
And, while it’s generally considered durable, it is prone to scratching.
These aggregates include but are not limited to glass, granite, marble, and onyx.
Terrazzo’s composition of materials makes it incredibly durable and gives it great heat resistance.
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If you’re after durability, heat resistance, and resale value, contact paper isn’t for you.
The other thing copper is known for is its rich patina, which happens naturally with time.
Copper is antimicrobial, easy to clean, and naturally beautiful.
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Quartzite is incredibly durable with high heat resistance.
It costs between $80 to $120 per square foot to install.
Silestone countertops share many qualities with quartz countertops, with some additional styles and colors available.
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Silestone costs between $50 to $100 per square foot (excluding installation).
Corian countertops are acrylic, yet mimic the look of natural stone.
People often only choose polyester countertops over acrylic due to their glossier appearance.
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River Rock
River rock countertops give kitchens a natural, earthy look.
And, no, river rock countertops aren’t just river rocks with mortar between them.
This creates a beautiful countertop material with beautiful tones and textures.
Top Kitchen Colors & TrendsDekton
How to Choose Kitchen Countertops
Here is a breakdown of five popular kitchen countertop materials.
See the pros and cons to choose the one best for your home.
Laminate countertops are the least expensive countertop options.
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That said, the average cost of installing or replacing kitchen countertops falls between $1,872 to $4,429.
Several countertops take the prize for easiest to maintain, namely laminate, quartz, and stainless steel.
Granite is the most heat-resistant kitchen countertop material.
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It is also durable to scratches, chips, and moisture.
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