Choosing a Kitchen Countertop: Pros and Cons of Popular Materials

Countertops are the centerpiece of the kitchen. With all of the choices available, from laminate to granite, it's easy to become overwhelmed when deciding what to install in your kitchen. Here are some things to keep in mind when making this all-important design choice:

Granite

• Pros: Durable, beautiful, popular. Granite is currently the darling of the kitchen design industry.
• Cons: Expensive (although prices are gettiing lower as more people go with this option), not a do-it-yourself option. Granite can also stain if it isn't properly sealed.
• Price: Anywhere between $50 and $125 per square foot

Tile

• Pros: Durable, classic, plenty of color options.
• Cons: Requires some upkeep to keep grout looking fresh, strong colors can become quickly dated or tiresome.
• Price: Anywhere between $15 and $100 per square foot, depending on type of tile.

Solid Surface

• Pros: Durable, heat and stain resistant, nonporous.
• Cons: Not scratch resistant, not as popular as it once was. This is not a DIY option.
• Price: $50 to $75 per square foot installed.

Stainless Steel

• Pros: Sleek, modern, resists bacterial growth.
• Cons: Expensive, may scratch or dent, not a DIY option.
• Price: $80 to $110 per square foot installed.

Wood/Butcher Block

• Pros: Provides a warm look to the room, great cutting surface.
• Cons: Requires regular maintenance, porous, susceptible to stains, not a DIY option.
• Price: $40 to $65 per square foot installed.

Concrete

• Pros: Modern look, solid stone durability, able to be stained a variety of colors to match kitchen decor. Good option for patient do-it-yourselfers.
• Cons: Porous, expensive to have installed.
• Price: $75 to $200 per square foot professionally installed, less than half that if you do it yourself.

Laminate

• Pros: Least expensive option, fairly durable and stain resistant. Easy to install, wide variety of color choices.
• Cons: Scratches and chips are nearly impossible to repair, doesn't add much resale value.
• Price: $30 to $40 per square foot.

Hopefully, this information helps make picking a countertop easier for you. Take your time with this decision. You'll be living with this choice for a long time, and it's a choice that can ultimately add or subtract resale value of your home when you decide to sell. Good luck!