Countertop Material Pros and Cons

  • Laminate Countertops

These countertops have been around for a long time. The most well known brand name is “Formica”. We sell the Wilsonart brand of Laminate top. Seamless sink integration can be achieved using select models of the Karran brand sinks, however the edge of the sink does have a tendency to chip at the edge, because of the sharpness of it. 

Pros

  • Most Economical
  • Scratch resistant with the higher grades
  • Wear resistant with the higher grades
  • Many color options
  • Stain Resistant

Cons

  • Not good with water due to the particle board substrate it is glued on. (a water resistant mdf can be used for a upgraded price.)
  • Not good with heat due to the glue being activated with heat
  • Square edge with black line(this can be eliminated with an upgraded edge option, but that comes with a higher price)
  • Wilsonart Thinscape Countertops

This countertop material is brand new (mid 2019). Manufactured with the same process as Laminate. It only comes in 1/2 thickness, so it would be ideal for desks and bathroom vanity tops. The 1/2 thick material adds a European look to a kitchen. Due to its thickness, you will need to watch the height in the kitchen. The top printed layer is as durable as a mid-grade Laminate top. The countertop edge is a coordinating solid color. Here is a link to the products website. A standard undermount sink works great with this top.. The seamless intergrated sinks have not been tested, therefore are not recommended yet.

Pros

  • An economical choice between Granite and Laminate in price
  • Water does not affect it
  • Seems to be heat resistant
  • Stain resistant 

Cons

  • 1/2 inch thick is a con in certain places
  • Not totally scratch proof
  • Only a few color choices
  • Cultured Marble

Cultured Marble is typically used in bathroom vanity tops.  It is made of Marble dust and Polyester resin cast in a mold. Often the vanity bowls are cast in along with the top making a seamless transition between the bowl and the top. I would not recommend this product for a high wear area like a kitchen top. Here is a link to the Cultured Marble brand we sell.

Pros

  • An economical choice for bathroom vanity
  • Water does not affect it
  • Bacteria and Stain resistant 
  • Low Maintenance
  • Seamless sink integration

Cons

  • Not as durable as higher end products like quartz, or granite
  • Fast, repetitive changes in temperature from hot to cold can develop cracks around the drain.
  • Solid Surface(Corian)   

Solid Surface was a high end choice several years back. The name brand “Corian”is what a lot of people know this surface by. It is a manmade material made of a combination of alumina trihydrate (ATH), acrylic, epoxy or polyester resins and pigments. The seams can be polish flat so that they can not be seen. 

Pros

  • Scratches and Seams can be polished away
  • Warm feel, unlike Granite or quartz
  • Seamless Integrated Sinks can be used
  • Good with water

Cons

  • Can Stain
  • Soft, scratches easily, but can be polished out.
  • Granite

Granite is a good  choice for a kitchen countertop. This product, due to its porous nature, is not naturally stain resistant, however, with modern sealer it is stain resistant. This product is mined out of the earth in large slabs. These slabs are then made to a consistent thickness, and polished. The color and veining depends on what nature provides. Granite is often used with standard undermount sinks. Top Zero brand sinks are now available that provide a seamless transition from the top to the sink. We sell Granite from two fabricators, Classic Rock Fabrication out of Mechanicsburg, and M.R. Stone out of Monrovia, MD. Depending on your situation, we may recommend one fabricator over the other. Follow this link to learn more about our granite fabricators.  

Pros

  • Very Durable
  • Water does not affect it
  • Stain resistant with the modern sealers used 
  • Low Maintenance with modern sealers that last many years
  • Seamless sink integration with the Top Zero brand sinks

Cons

  • Cold surface, removes heat from hot foods quickly. Recommend using a hot pad for this reason when the cooling of the food is not desired.
  • Color depends on what nature gives us, including character, that might be considered a flaw.
  • Although sealed, prompt cleanup of messes that may stain, is recommended(wine etc,,,)
  • Quartz

Quartz is a very durable and hard product.  This product is mined out of the earth as gravel, and mixed with manmade resins to bind it together. Due to the resins, it is not porous, therefore very stain resistant. The lower grade quartz manufacture it with a lower percentage of the actual quartz, therefore a difference in durability is seen. Heat resistance is higher in the better grades of quartz due to the higher amount of quartz content.  Like Granite, Quartz is often used with standard undermount sinks. Top Zero brand sinks are now available that provide a seamless transition from the top to the sink. We sell Quartz from two fabricators, Classic Rock Fabrication out of Mechanicsburg, and M.R. Stone out of Monrovia, MD. Depending on your situation, we may recommend one fabricator over the other. Follow this link to learn more about our Quartz fabricators.  

Pros

  • Very Durable
  • Water does not affect it
  • Stain resistant 
  • Low Maintenance 
  • Color more consistent than Granite, due to more control over the process
  • Seamless sink integration with the Top Zero brand sinks

Cons

  • Cold surface, removes heat from hot foods quickly. Recommend using a hot pad for this reason when the cooling of the food is not desired.
  • Heat may affect the color of the resins that bind the quartz together, It is recommended to use a hot pad or trivet.
  • Wood   

Wood is poplar on living room cabinets, such as entertainment centers and other unique low wear areas. Can be painted, stained, or left a natural color.

Pros

  • Very versatile as far as design. Can be painted, stained or left a natural color
  • Warm feel, unlike Granite or quartz

Cons

  • Does not handle water well
  • Very Soft, not for high wear areas
  • May warp or crack due to humidity change, especially if the windows in the room are left open often. Best to keep room with airconditioning, and humidity controlled.
  • Other Materials

The list of other materials can go on and on.. Including concrete, glass, stainless steel, or about any other material that can be machined flat. There is also many types of other natural stone, than just quartz and granite. Here is a link to a description of other stone options. The durability depends on the material. Most are higher priced than the common materials.