Granite is not the only smart choice for a kitchen, bathroom or bar countertop. To make the best decision, consider where the material will be used, what the primary function of the surface will be, whether you’re willing to clean it daily and reseal it periodically, whether it fits your budget, and if you have a good resource for the material and installation. Then hit the showrooms, take home samples and test them out. One amateur chef lived with a possibility for months, cutting on it, spilling red wine and resting hot pots on it.
Here are some new and old favorites:
Granite: It can stain even if sealed, because it’s porous, though less so than some other stones. It also can develop cracks, its seams are noticeable, and some say it’s overused and–horrors!–trite. But it has become affordable. It also comes in myriad colors and patterns, is a natural, strong material, is fairly easy to clean, can withstand heat and comes in polished, honed and flamed finishes.
Limestone: One of the softer stones, it’s very, very porous and is susceptible to scratches and stains. But it’s consistent in color, particularly Indiana limestone and French limestone. Price depends on the type of limestone used.
Concrete: Many find this surface a cool, spare choice and love that it can be molded into wonderful shapes and cast in large sizes without seams. But others have found that it cracks, chips and stains easily. It also can be more expensive than most natural stones.
Marble: A popular choice for bathroom countertops, tops of furniture and floors, it’s not universally adored for kitchen countertops since it stains, breaks and requires maintenance to keep looking its best. It’s also softer than some comparable materials and more porous than granite and quartz. Yet it’s favored by some because of its English look with wonderful colors and veining.
Corian: Nonporous, affordable, stain resistant and easy to clean. It can be scratched and burned, though it is renewed easily. It’s an acrylic rather than a natural material, is available in many new colors and patterns and can be fused on a site in large expanses. Usually priced a bit less than most stones, including granite.
Quartz: Available in many variations from Zodiaq to Cambria, Caesarstone and Silestone, these manmade materials are green, strong, durable, consistent in color and less porous than most stones. Seams are also less noticeable than with other materials. On average, they cost the same as middle-of-the-road granite.
Slate: Not as durable as granite and as expensive as middle-to-upper-middle granite, it can be polished or honed and comes in different colors and shorter slabs than some other materials.
Stainless steel: Popular with chefs and serious home cooks because it wears well, is heat resistant and nonporous. A downside is that it’s pricey and scratches. But some like the aged look that results.
Cast glass: Gorgeous, colorful, luminescent and hard, this may be the hottest new look. It’s nonporous, requires almost no maintenance and gives a total “wow” look. It can be constructed into various configurations without seams. One negative is its steep cost.
New metals: Pewter, antiqued bronze and copper are gaining fans, particularly as accents. While they may scratch, they also age beautifully. Different metals can be antiqued, oiled, hammered or brushed for different looks.
Other green choices: Paper composites are made of layers of paper held together with a resin. Richlite Corp.’s offerings (richlite.com) come in luscious colors like merlot and indigo, have a leathery look and don’t need to be sealed. They’re also nonporous. Another good choice is bamboo, which is highly renewable and affordable. Alkemi’s recycled aluminum shavings come in rich colors and don’t require sealing (alkemi.com). The price is comparable to quartzes.
Pyrolav: Among the most expensive surfaces–twice the cost of granite–this French product is made from lava stone that’s been enameled and fired. It’s favored by those who desire what’s unusual and like its crazed look. It’s also chip-resistant, nonporous and available in custom colors.
Laminates: Still a viable choice for those who want a basic surface that’s affordable and wears well, laminates come in more new colors and patterns than previously. A negative is that they’re not heat-resistant.
Sources: Doug Durbin, NuHaus Kitchen & Bath Design, Highland Park, nuhaus.com; Dave Raymond, Earthstone Surfaces, Libertyville, earthstonesurfaces.com; Kevin Jandt, Etched in Stone, etchedinstonetile.com
