Countertop Materials Pros and Cons: How to Choose the Best Material for Your Kitchen

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While granite is a tough stone, it is possible to crack or chip when something heavy is dropped on it. This presents a challenge as replacing big slabs is expensive and repairing damaged areas leaves you with visible seams.

In addition, while granite is stain-resistant when properly sealed, it is a highly absorbent material when not adequately maintained. You should plan to reseal your granite countertops every 3 to 5 years, depending on the type of sealant used.

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Quartz is a beautiful mineral that comes in various colors and patterns. With options in both natural quartz and manufactured quartz, there is a lot of variety to choose from.

While manufactured quartz countertops are “human-made,” created from crushed quartz bound with resin,
the final product looks like it’s straight from nature.
Being a hard stone, it is an excellent selection for high-traffic areas like the kitchen.

One of the most significant benefits of quartz is that it requires minimal maintenance. When properly taken
care of, this material should last for many generations.

One of the main cons of natural quartz, in particular, is that it is a highly porous stone, meaning it will absorb all liquid if it is not properly maintained and sealed.

Highly acidic liquids like wine and juices must be cleaned up immediately, or you risk permanently damaging the stone. Re-sealing should take place every one or two years.

Manufactured quartz, however, is harder to stain and easier to clean. On the flip side, it does not tolerate significant direct heat.

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Marble is another beautiful natural stone option
with no two pieces looking alike.

A unique feature
of this natural stone is that it lends character to your space as it is prone to patina over time.

While marble is a stunning option, it must be treated
with care to be kept in good shape.

Marble is only a three on the hardness scale, meaning it is more porous and soft compared to quartz and granite. Soft stones are more likely to easily scratch and chip.

Additionally, being made of natural carbonate, marble can be etched with acidic foods like vinegar and lemon juice and easily scratched with abrasive cleaning products and sponges. Marble is also high maintenance because it's recommended to re-seal your marble countertops every three months to one year. Different sealant products have different durations on how often they need to be reapplied.

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If your countertop material priority is sanitization, stainless steel may be the right choice for you. It’s not sensitive to acids, chemicals, or heat, making it very
easy to clean.

Because stainless steel countertops usually come in one piece, installation is relatively easy, and there aren’t any joints to harbor germs.

Stainless steel is a complementary material to a more modern/industrial aesthetic and comes in various
surface finishes (mirror, matte, satin, antiqued, etc.).

Stainless steel is one of the most low-maintenance materials you can select as it requires no re-sealing.

While stainless steel doesn’t require re-sealing, it is easily scratched. Abrasive materials as small as salt can scratch the surface. For minor scratches, a scouring pad may be able to buff them out, but deeper scratches may require professional repair.

If you’ve ever had a stainless steel appliance, you know how hard it is to keep them looking clean and streak (or fingerprint) free. While water won’t absorb if left standing, it will leave water stains.

Similarly, acidic foods and cleaners are safe to use but don’t leave them sitting too long, or they may stain.

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Butcher block countertop provides a beautiful, warm
look. There are a variety of wood species options to choose from, offering some customization, but the
most common selections are maple and oak due to
their hardness.

Another benefit of the butcher block is that it is
relatively affordable to maintain. If you know how to
take proper care, butcher block can last a long time.
If you begin seeing more wear than you care for, you
can simply sand it down and re-seal the wood for a counter that looks like new.

Butcher block countertops can easily harbor bacteria. Think of how you don’t put raw chicken on a wood cutting board, then imagine all of your countertops being like that. Wood is highly susceptible to scratches and knicks from knives, and it’s not heat resistant - hot pans will scorch your countertop!

Depending on the wood market at any given time, butcher block may be an expensive material to source and install. For maintenance, butcherblock must be oiled and re-sealed frequently to fight off cracking from moisture, and the sealing process can be toxic.

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Concrete may be the most customizable countertop material option of all. You have unique options for coloring, texturizing, and staining that you don’t find
with other materials.

Due to its heavy nature, concrete is usually formed
and poured directly in your kitchen, which means
less chance of breaking during shipping and
handling.
On-site pouring also makes it easier to adapt to
unique shapes in your kitchen, like curves rather
than sharp angles.

With skilled concrete pouring, you can also integrate custom features like built-in drainboards and trivets.

While concrete is extremely durable, it needs to be re-sealed regularly, and the type of sealant used dictates how often that is. An acrylic sealant will need to be done every one to three years, whereas epoxy sealant will typically last ten years before it must be reapplied to avoid staining and cracking. The type of sealant you use also dictates the level of heat and scratch resistance.

With regard to affordability, while materials are cheap, labor can be more expensive due to its handcrafted, custom nature. If re-sale is in your future, it may also be worth considering that concrete countertops may seem too industrial for future home buyers and be detracting from sellability.