Countertop Comparisons
Choosing a countertop for your kitchen or bath can be difficult with so many options to choose from. Download our Consumer Reports Countertop Comparisons Report as a guide to help you pick what’s right for your situation. Our specialists and projects managers are here to help as well. Please contact us with any questions or visit our Countertop FAQ’s for more helpful information.
Starting a kitchen remodel? New construction? Need to select a surface but not sure what countertop options suit your needs? Don’t know what’s in your budget? Use our professional countertop estimation guide to help you obtain an accurate estimate for your remodel project. Or maybe you need some help selecting the best island layout for your kitchen.
Pros:
Granite and quartz surfaces are very durable and capable of lasting a long time 50 years. They are both heat, scratch, chemical and stain resistant. Quartz surfaces are engineered from natural quartz while granite, in and of itself, is a natural stone. Both surfaces are low maintenance. While granite is limited to all the colors nature has produced, quartz is artificially colored. While granite and quartz are in the upper tiers of cost, they will give you the longevity and durability associated with their price. Granite will take a hot pot while quartz is less resistant to high heat.
Cons:
Quartz is a manufactured stone and it is hard to duplicate the veining and pattern look you get from genuine marble or granite. Quartz is approximately 20% to 40% more expensive than granite. Granite can be cold to the touch but will also make it ideal to prepare baking goods on.
Pros:
Both Granite and Marble are made of genuine natural stone which means each slab is unique and beautiful. Marble is famous for it veining, which has led to the term “marbling.” Marble also ages beautifully. Granite and marble comes in a large variety of colors and the options and patterns are endless.
Cons:
Marble is more porous and should have a quality sealer to reduce staining. Because the minerals that compose marble are sensitive to certain chemical agents, it is important to wipe spills away quickly. Anything acidic will leave an etch mark if left on the stone for too long. Marble needs to be cared for in the same manner a fine piece of wood is cared for.
Pros:
Corian is man-made and created by combining minerals and acrylics. Corian offers more accessories such as integrated sinks and coved backsplashes. Both come in a wide variety of colors. Corian is easier to get in specific colors than granite. Corian and granite are comparable in the cost of the original installation.
Cons:
Granite offers many more pros than Corian in that fact that it is heat, stain, scratch and chemical resistant. Granite also requires less maintenance then Corian and other solid surface materials. Cracks and scratches are inevitable in Corian and though they can be repaired Corian can also become damaged if exposed to heat. Corian slabs are 30″ wide, so if you have a wide island or peninsula, or an usual shape (id. boomerang), it will require more seams than granite or quartz surfacing. The seams are inconspicuous but not invisible.