5 Strong Countertops For Your New Kitchen

Renovating a kitchen and buying new countertops can be a daunting task with the plethora of options available in today’s market. You obviously want the best for your home, and we do too. That is why we compiled this list of 5 different countertops, each with their own quirks and faults to aid in your purchasing decision.

Granite
Pros:
Granite is the most popular natural stone of choice by most buyers, as it is very practical for heavily used areas. Apart from its strength and durability, many buyers also choose this countertop because of its natural beauty—like fingerprint, no two slabs are alike. Granite also comes in a variety of color options and sizes, which may reduce the number of seams when purchasing a large slab. It is also highly stain and heat resistant.

Cons:
Unfortunately, granite requires a lot of upkeep. It requires sealing upon installation as well as annual resealing for optimal preservation. If you’re looking for a very singular, uniform color and design, granite might not be your best option. Additionally granite can become highly expensive, especially more exotic selections.

Quartz
Pros:
Quartz is an engineered stone, meaning it is constructed using crushed quartz crystals that are then bound by adhesive materials. That being said, quartz comes in a wide variety of vivid color options with more uniform colors and patterns compared to granite and other natural stones. Quartz is also a very strong material and is stain and scratch resistant. It can mimic the look of granite without requiring a seal like granite does.

Cons:
Quartz, although durable, is not as heat resistant as its competitor granite is, and can come with a heftier price tag compared to solid surface countertops.

Concrete
Pros:
Concrete countertops have been on the rise among trendy renovators. They are manufactured using dyes, pigments, and epoxy coatings to provide that look and feel of natural stone, metal, or wood. Concrete countertops are very versatile and durable, heat and stain resistant, and can come in many color options.

Cons:
Like granite, concrete countertops require an initial sealing upon installation and an annual sealing thereafter. The installation process can also take longer due to the longer curing requirements.

Plastic Laminate
Pros:
Plastic laminate is an economical choice among many contractors and homebuyers. They are heat, stain, and scratch resistant (to an extent), easy to clean, and cost much less than its natural stone competitors.

Cons:
Plastic laminate is a low-cost, high-volume, manufactured product made with plastic resin overlaying particleboard or plywood. Because of this, plastic laminate can give the appearance of lower quality, and can unfortunately be damaged by high heat and deep cuts.

Solid Surface
Pros:
Solid surface countertops are man-made from a unique blend of acrylic resins and natural materials. This makes them non-porous—meaning they are more resistant mildew and mold growth. In addition, they are highly stain resistant, renewable and repairable, come in multiple color options that mimic the look of stone and concrete, and are easy to clean.

Cons:
Solid surface countertops are not as heat resistant as some other countertops. They can also be scratched; however, repair is very cheap and easy simply by filing or sanding down the surface.

Cabinetry and Stone Depot provides Northeastern Pennsylvania with quality cabinets, vanities, granite countertops and sinks for low prices. We offer a huge variety of cabinets, sinks and granite countertops in stock to help you choose the ideal piece for your home. We have thousands of cabinets in stock at our Wilkes-Barre PA location. We also have a trained design and sales staff and in-house installers to assist with your purchase. Call us or visit our website to review more of your options and receive an estimate.