COUNTERTOPS

countertops are one of the most defining items in your kitchen or bathroom, they come is a wide variety of colors, patterns, materials and prices. Each selection has advantage and disadvantages which need to be considered in the overall design.

Granite

Price: $35 to $200+ per square foot

Advantages: Variety of colors and patterns, scratch resistant, impervious to stains, heat and water resistant.
Disadvantages: Annual sealing, chipping, expensive.

Marble

Price: $40 to $150 per square foot

Advantages: Varity of colors and patterns, small nicks can be sanded, elegant, good for pastry baking.

Disadvantages: Acid stains common, scratches easily, annual sealing.

Butcher Block

Price: $35 to $70 per square foot

Advantages: Great for slicing/chopping, variety of colors and species, naturally anti-bacterial, warm look and feel, strong and durable.

Disadvantages: Requires annual oiling, not heat resident, easily stains.

Zinc

Price: $150 to $275 per square foot

Advantages: Naturally non-porous, anti-bacterial properties, decorative edges in various shapes and styles, patinas wonderfully, scratches easily removed.

Disadvantages: Acid stains, scratches easily, not heat resident.

Ceramic Tile

Price: $10 to $80 per square foot

Advantages: Heat resistant, scratch resistant, resists stains, easy to replace damaged tiles, variety of colors and patterns.

Disadvantages: Must seal grout, difficult to work on, difficult to clean.

Stainless Steel

Price: $65 to $125 per square foot

Advantages: Nearly indestructible, heat resistant, stain resistant, nonporous and easy to clean

Disadvantages: Dents and scratches, shows finger prints.

Concrete

Price: $75 to $125 per square foot

Advantages: Easy to shape, durable surface, variety of colors.

Disadvantages: Not heat resistant, heavy, requires sealing, stains easily, prone to cracking.

Soap Stone

Price: $70 to $150 per square foot

Advantages: Resistant to etching from acids, Scratches easily removed, heat resistant, patinas with time.

Disadvantages: Scratches easily removed, requires regular sealing.

Quartz

Price: $60 to $100 per square foot

Advantages: Extremely hard and durable, variety of colors, easy to clean, does not require sealing, scratch resistant.

Disadvantages: Not heat resistant, may look uniform.

Laminate

Price: $10 to $30 per square foot

Advantages: Endless colors and patterns, affordable countertop material, stain resistant.

Disadvantages: Not heat resistant, not suitable for wet locations, scratches easy, difficult to repair.

Solid Surface

Price: $30 to $100 per square foot

Advantages: Non porous, Seamless installation, various colors and patterns, no sealing required, stain resistant.

Disadvantages: Not heat resistant, scratches easily, uniform finish.