Kitchen Countertops go way beyond ordinary
Caroline Marwitz
homesoul@gmail.com
 Laminate and granite win the prize for most popular kitchen counter choice, but many other surfaces also provide a counterpoint to culinary fun. Some are pricey and some require extra babying. A few are just plain cool, such as concrete countertops, pressed paper countertops and recycled glass.
Kitchen Countertop include Granite, Concrete, Quartz, and Tile
> Acrylic resin: Known by such trade names as Lumicor, it can be shaped, molded and embedded with all kinds of stuff. It's translucent and can be made to glow with lighting installed under the counter.
> Butcher block or other wood: Cheaper than granite, but still not cheap, butcher block counters are a classic. Burns and knife marks can be sanded away, but it does require regular oiling.
> Ceramic tile: Especially popular here in the West, tiles can be found in almost any color. Typical costs can run about $25 to $30 a square foot installed. It requires regrouting every few years.
> Concrete: You'd think it would be inexpensive, but unless you pour it yourself, which is not easy, concrete is pricey, running as much as $50 or more per square foot. The surface needs to be sealed and you'll need beefy cabinets to support the weight. Concrete Countertop photos
> Engineered stone: Engineered quartz material, such as Zodiac, Silestone, and Caesarstone, isn't cheap but it's durable and safe to directly prepare food on. You can find it in a variety of colors, including candy apple red.
> Fiber cement: Looks like slate, resists heat and scratches and is easy to install. You'll find it under such names as Fireslate2 or SlateScape. It costs from $20 to $40 a square foot to install. Like concrete, it does have to be sealed regularly to prevent stains.
> Granite and other stones: Stone is great eye candy, hence its popularity. Granite is harder than other materials, resists heat and stains and comes in a plethora of colors, both shiny and matte, or honed.
Prices vary regionally, but it runs at least $60 to $100 per square foot, though stone tiles cost less than slabs. Kirkstone, a slate from England, is durable with lovely markings in greenish tones.
Marble is beloved by pastry chefs and looks elegant but it stains easily and requires care. Limestone has a light, natural color but is very porous and requires regular sealing. Slate is found in muted greens, blues, grays and purples. It resists heat better than granite. Soapstone is soft and heavy, with a luscious dark color, but definitely can show wear.
What to choose? Consider your budget, your willingness to maintain a surface and your need for durability and environmental sustainability. Next week, we'll continue down the alphabet and look at other cool choices for kitchen counters. Calculate Countertops Cost
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