Countertops, the big decision.
There are a vast number of countertop materials that help set the tone for every room. It is one of the biggest design decisions for every project and should be reviewed with extensive thought. We’ve outlined several of the available countertop materials below.
MARBLE
PROS
Natural beauty
Timeless & elegant
CONS
Porous - will stain & etch
Needs to be resealed every 1-2 years
Expensive
QUARTZITE
PROS
Natural stone
Lots of colors available
More durable than Marble
CONS
Needs to be resealed every 1 year
Expensive
QUARTZ
PROS
Stain, scratch, acid, impact, & heat resistant
Non-porous, does not need to be resealed
Low maintenance
CONS
Man made
Every slab is the same - identical patterns
SOAPSTONE
PROS
Natural stone
Non-porous, does not need to be resealed
Easy to repair with mineral oil
CONS
Easy to scratch
Typically only in gray colors
BUTCHERBLOCK
PROS
Sanitary when properly sealed
Adds warmth & character
Great workspace for chopping & baking
CONS
High maintenance - seal often
Easily scratched & dented
GRANITE
PROS
Natural stone
Wide variety of colors
Cost effective
CONS
High maintenance - seal often
Absorbs liquid if not properly sealed
CONCRETE
PROS
Stain, heat, & water resistant
Customizable thickness
Unique
CONS
Will patina over time
Requires sealing every year
LIMESTONE
PROS
Natural Stone
Variety of colors
CONS
High maintenance
Absorbs liquid fast
Etching is common
Can burn
PORCELAIN
PROS
Stain, heat, scratch, & acid resistant
Variety of colors
CONS
Man made
Printed design
Can scratch from metal knives
Limited edge details due to printed design
SOLID SURFACE
PROS
Cost effective
Variety of colors
CONS
Man made
Repetitive patterns
Easy to repair
EDGE PROFILES
Not only is the material important to the design, but we must also choose an appropriate edge profile for the countertops. Our standard edge profile is “Mitered” but we can provide any of the pictured profiles. The popular trends today are Eased, Mitered, and Half Bevel.