THE DESCRIPTION AND COST OF THE BEST KITCHEN COUNTERTOP MATERIALS
Choosing a countertop material for your kitchen is one of the top decisions during a kitchen renovation. This is because the countertop provides you with surface to perform your kitchen activities.
You have to look out for durability, maintenance, suitable budget while considering your lifestyle. Hence, we provide here a compilation of the best countertop materials you can choose for your kitchen. You’ll learn why to choose or not choose each of them.
Quartz Countertop
A top-choice countertop for your kitchen is quartz. This is a stone engineered from mineral occurring in nature. Quartz can resist stain and is very durable with an appearance like granite.
Advantages of Quartz
Disadvantages of Quartz
Cost (per sq. ft)
More durable than granite
High cost of purchase
$60 – $80
Stain resistant
Sharp rectangular edges weaken easily (go for rounded edge)
Simple maintenance practice
The design fades with time unlike true natural stones
No scratching or chipping like most other materials
Valuable for the cost
Granite Countertop
One of the natural occurring stone is granite. Very durable usually given a matte or high gloss finish for appealing look. To use granite as kitchen countertop, you have to seal it to reduce its porosity.
Advantages of Granite
Disadvantages of Granite
Cost (per sq. ft)
Gives off beautiful modern look
Very high cost of purchase
$80 – $100
Varieties to make your choice
Maintenance cost is quite high considering the sealing and resealing to avoid harboring stains
With sealing, resists stains and heat
A good amount of force will cause the edge to chip
The beautiful appearance stands the test of time
Marble Countertop
The most luxurious kitchen countertop material is marble. A natural stone that is timeless and exquisite in looks. Sealing is necessary for marble to avoid harboring stains and germs.
Advantages of Marble
Disadvantages of Marble
Cost (per sq. ft)
The appearance is timeless and doesn’t fade
Very expensive material
$80 – $120
Varieties of designs and color to enhance choice
Maintenance cost is quite high considering the sealing and resealing to avoid harboring stains
Always maintaining cool temperature
The edges will chip with applicable force
Resist stains when sealed
Stainless Steel Countertop
Stainless steel countertops are for kitchens with heavy workloads. As a result, most industrial and commercial kitchens adopt stainless steel as their countertop material. You may love to mix it up in a residential home as going all-stainless steel may not appeal visually.
Advantages of Stainless Steel
Disadvantages of Stainless Steel
Cost (per sq. ft)
Withstands heavy and constant use
Scratch overtakes the polish with time
$120 – $140
Very functional and practical
Easily acquires dents
Ease of maintenance (clean with cloth)
No choice of colors or style
Stain resistant
Great creativity required to make it appeal for the home
Go green with the recycling process
Laminate Countertop
The choice of most people on budget is laminate. It is cheap with variety of styles. You can find stone appearance, wood, even fabric on laminate.
Advantages of Laminate
Disadvantages of Laminate
Cost (per sq. ft)
Cheap and valuable for the cost
Looks in inferior on closer approach
$20 – $40
Modern appearance for your kitchen
Doesn’t stand the test of time as with other countertops
Can resist stain
Direct cutting leaves scratches
Variety of styles
Butcher Block Countertop
The butcher block is the combined strips of wood added to the kitchen countertops for slicing and cutting. It simply serves as the traditional cutting board. Maple, oak, teak, cherry, walnut are common woods for butcher block.
Advantages of Butcher Block
Disadvantages of Butcher Block
Cost (per sq. ft)
Adds extra functionality
Frequent cutting can lead to scratches
$60 – $100
Provides a cutting surface
Not heat resistant
Kitchen looks more genuine
Excess water can damage the wood
Can resist stain
Cost is on the high side
Renovating Your Kitchen with the Best Countertop Materials
When you compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various countertop materials on this page and consider your budget, you can choose the best for your kitchen.